chilledbear

Mission Impossible... the Rangers takeover attempt by Ethan Hunt Ibrox stadium Martin Williams Share 0 comments 12 May 2010 It always looked to be a Mission Impossible when the consortium set out its Ã?£50 million plan to buy Rangers Football Club. But when one of the key advisors involved in the takeover bid was revealed to be Ethan Hunt, the namesake of the leader of the Mission: Impossible team, it appeared the assignment might prove too tough. The fictional Ethan Hunt ââ?¬â?? played on the silver screen by Tom Cruise ââ?¬â?? and his team often used intricate disguises and forged paperwork to crack their mission. But it was a fake proof of funding document from a Belgian bank that led to the collapse of the real Mr Huntââ?¬â?¢s bid to take control of Rangers. Now The Herald can reveal that Ian Anderson, the leader of the consortium behind the takeover bid and the business partner of Mr Hunt, is currently banned from being a company director in Britain. Rangers and majority shareholder Sir David Murray had been in discussions with Mr Anderson, head of Spanish investment firm Protocol International, which claimed to have a multinational consortium of investors ready to take over the football club. Mr Hunt is described as Protocolââ?¬â?¢s trade and operations adviser. This week it emerged that the deal collapsed through due diligence after Rangers found a proof of funding letter from Belgian bank KBC ââ?¬â?? the 18th largest in Europe ââ?¬â?? was fake. Sir David and Rangers then discovered that Mr Anderson, who had led the talks, had been banned from holding any directorships in the country until 2013 after a previous investment company took millions in fees without providing any funds. The development has been reported by Sir David to the ethics and fraud unit of KBC and an investigation is expected. Mr Anderson had insisted proof of funding for the Rangers takeover had been provided to Lloyds TSB and there were plans to meet the bank this week. Mr Anderson claimed the consortium involved three investors from Spain ââ?¬â?? himself ââ?¬â?? Holland and Italy and they wanted to spend Ã?£20m to Ã?£30m over three to five years on players. They claimed they wanted to take 91% of shares but retain Sir David as president and Walter Smith as manager. However, The Herald can reveal that Mr Anderson was one of two directors of the Victoria Fintrade investment company that took more than Ã?£3m in processing fees and insurance deposits over four years from numerous clients without every obtaining funding for them. When winding up proceedings commenced against Victoria Fintrade in July 2003, they owed more than Ã?£3.5m and left behind a trail of defunct multi-million pound development projects. A spokesman for Murray International said: ââ?¬Å?I can confirm an approach was made and due diligence was carried out on both the parties involved and the information presented and it became clear that the information was absolutely not genuine. The decision was obviously taken not to pursue the approach.ââ?¬Â Mr Anderson, from Nottingham, is president and chief executive of Protocol, which is based in Mojacar, Spain. His website profile describes him as Dr Ian P Anderson and says he is a member of the worldââ?¬â?¢s largest anti-fraud organisation, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. His online Linkedin CV claims he was national sales and marketing manager at First Finance (Bristol), that he was area and regional marketing manager at National Westminster Bank and had various roles within HSBC. What he does not divulge is his involvement at director level of some 20 companies which have dissolved, including his time with Victoria Fintrade. Protocol has the slogan well-known to Rangers supporters: ââ?¬Å?We are the people.ââ?¬Â A source close to Sir David said: ââ?¬Å?There is thankfully no question of any money changing hands. Sir David does due diligence on both the source and the parties involved. Proof of funds is the first thing that is normally done. ââ?¬Å?It would not be difficult to go to the bank to confirm that the letter was genuine and authentic. Thatââ?¬â?¢s a first step. We donââ?¬â?¢t understand how they think they could get away with it.ââ?¬Â http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/mission-impossible-the-rangers-takeover-attempt-by-ethan-hunt-1.1027050

Put money in to giving Ibrox a facelift, I was in CD7 on Sunday, there is definately no danger of the Stadium falling down, the cobwebs would hold it together. I was under the impression when we gave money for the 'new Stadium', it was a memorial for the ones who died, if so it is a disgrace. The one downer from my trip on Sunday.

KEVIN THOMSON has pleaded with Rangers bosses not to sell him. Gordon Strachan is preparing a shock �£3million bid to take the midfielder to Middlesbrough. The ex-Celtic boss has targeted the 25-year-old Scotland star and believes the financial crisis at Ibrox may help him get his man. Thommo is entering the final year of his contract with the SPL champions but he could be sold now as the club look to ease their cash woes. The moneymen running Rangers would find any bid of around �£3m for the ex-Hibs star very difficult to turn down but last night Thomson begged the bank NOT to sell him. He insisted that he wants only to sign a new deal at Gers. He confessed: "My fate is out of my own hands to a certain extent. "I have a year left on my contract but I have stated numerous times that I would love to sign a new deal. "I see my future lying here at Ibrox. "It's the best club in the world and I hope the banks aren't going to force the situation and tell me I need to move on. "The grass is not always greener on the other side. "If I was to stay at this club for the rest of my life then I would be a very happy boy." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/2969355/Rangers-midfielder-Kevin-Thomson-doesnt-want-to-leave-the-club.html#ixzz0nh3nHUnC Thomson would always be a pick for me, tho' he has to control the rush of blood he seems to get. Also KT will be here when Davis and Edu are long gone, if he gets his wish.

Never mind where it's from, what does it mean??

Just home an hour ago, drove for 10 hours today, absolutely brilliant day.:spl:

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks-ignore/walter-smith-needs-assurances-if-success-is-to-continue-1.1026091 Analysis by Darrell King Share 0 comments 7 May 2010 Walter Smith will receive the silverware this Sunday, but will he get the answers? The weekend ahead promises to be one of the most crucial in Rangersââ?¬â?¢ history, as a behind-the-scenes search for clarity on the future goes on, against the backdrop of the clubââ?¬â?¢s first home SPL trophy presentation day in seven years. Smith is becoming an increasingly frustrated figure, and justifiably so. None of us, try and probe as we might, are likely to find out the full extent of the fires heââ?¬â?¢s been fighting in the past year or so. But the clock is now ticking on the most important issue at any football club ââ?¬â?? just who is the manager going to be? Unless Smith is given guarantees in the next few days that there will be funding to repair a squad that has been hacked at and systematically downsized over recent transfer windows, then he is almost certain to walk. And who could blame him? He has been happy to operate without a contract from the end of January until now, just in case a new owner arrived and didnââ?¬â?¢t fancy him, thus removing any compensation bill to bring in a new man. But isnââ?¬â?¢t Smith entitled to now put himself first over club politics? After everything heââ?¬â?¢s given to Rangers, over many years and not just this second spell, he has earned the right to be treated in a far better way than this. He knows the problems and the issues. In fact, he is the man who has brought many of them into the public domain. More than that, Smith has continued to drive the message in bold red warning letters to the heart of the supporters ââ?¬â?? many of whom still appear to be in denial ââ?¬â?? much to the annoyance of faceless men who have barked orders behind the scenes that he should be silenced. He was one man they could not control, and they dared not push him too far given the chaos that would have ensued had Smith departed during Rangersââ?¬â?¢ title defence. But his patience is now being tested. And if he does go as a result of more financial restrictions being imposed ââ?¬â?? and as of yet budgets have still to be agreed between Rangers and Lloyds ââ?¬â?? then there could be an almighty backlash from a support which holds him in as high esteem as they have done at any time in his two tenures. For instance, last Friday ââ?¬â?? after a week in which the club was again rocked by in-fighting in the wake of revelations that a tax investigation was being conducted with regard to payments made into playersââ?¬â?¢ off-shore accounts ââ?¬â?? Smith met the press to reiterate the need for investment and a plan to take Rangers forward. Almost as he was speaking, Sir David Murray was announcing to the BBC there would be a ââ?¬Ë?limitedââ?¬â?¢ budget for players, which was in stark contradiction to his successor Alastair Johnstonââ?¬â?¢s revelations days before that they still had to meet Lloyds to discover what the business plan would be, a process that will begin next week. With those kind of mixed messages, what chance does Smith have? He has pencilled in 16 players for next term, including the injured Andrius Velicka, two goalkeepers, and two kids in Danny Wilson and John Fleck. He knows that will simply not do. The business plan must identify what will happen to the Ã?£55,000 per week that would be freed up from the possible exits of six out-of-contract players ââ?¬â?? Davie Weir, Kirk Broadfoot, Kris Boyd, Nacho Novo, Stevie Smith and DaMarcus Beasley. Smith knows he needs at least six new players. Does he get that money? Does he get hard cash for transfer fees? And how much? What level of player is he pitching at? These are the issues he must have resolved before any call can be made on what he does next. In the midst of all this, Smith also had to cope with the revelations attributed to would-be buyer Andrew Ellis, who was forced to break cover when the content of his chance meeting and blether with a Sky TV presenter ended up becoming public knowledge. Smith would be offered a new three-year deal, Ellis said in a hurried public declaration, adding that he would offer a life presidency title to Sir David should he gain control ââ?¬â?? which he hoped would happen in three to four weeks. Clearly irked, Smithââ?¬â?¢s response to this was that ââ?¬Å?maybe the chap concerned should speak to me first before speaking about meââ?¬Â. Given the men have never shared a conversation, just what was Ellis thinking about? That episode has only added to Smithââ?¬â?¢s frustration. But there are two key situations at Rangers right now. Firstly, the immediate future of the manager and the budget for next season with, as we have revealed, senior figures inside the club still fearful of what conditions the bank will try to impose when Johnston meets them face-to-face at the start of next week. Secondly, the ownership issue, which is no further forward. As we stated last week, there are many inside Ibrox who simply do not believe Ellis will follow his interest through, unless there is some hidden business going on behind his proposed takeover that has yet to be unearthed. Time will tell on that, but he has no plans to meet Johnston in the immediate future according to his people, which does appear strange. As does his lack of urgency in calling Smith. Ellis, in fact, is close to being bracketed in the ââ?¬Å?put up or shut upââ?¬Â category that was outlined by Murray in reference to other interested parties last week. But will any of them? The ownership issue, however, is of less immediate concern to Smith. Assuming the budgetary issue is resolved to his liking, then the matter of finding a new owner would be no more than a sideshow, a bearable distraction. It would have no material effect on his day-to-day running of the team, as long as he has the appropriate financial plan laid out, guaranteed, and is allowed to manage without interference. Smith simply wants to know what Rangers 2010 will look like ââ?¬â?? then he can make a decision. While he wants to see the clubââ?¬â?¢s long-term future resolved as much as anyone, itââ?¬â?¢s what he will have to play with in terms of his team for next season that holds the key right now. Undoubtedly, people like Johnston, chief executive Martin Bain and the supporters want to see Smith given the resources to rebuild and strengthen a team that has won six trophies in three years. Unfortunately, they donââ?¬â?¢t hold the key to that. The bank do. And given their actions over the past 18 months, will they sanction what Smith needs? If they donââ?¬â?¢t, things may be about to get a lot messier ââ?¬â?? and the most important man of all could be lost in the fall-out.

Thanks Bluedell, we should be ok then.

Driving up from England on Sunday, what would be the latest time I am liable to get a space in the car park? Hoping to get there for around noon. But you never know.

Is the heading of this thread correct? Has there actually been a bid?

I'm sure Jim White said on Sky last night, that he spoke to Ellis on Sunday.

We are Rangers, super Rangers, says it all really.:robbo:

A �£33m bid, Murray a life presidency, Smith a 3 year contract, all talk at the moment. Lets wait and see, tho' it seems strange to me you would give all this to the media, before any deal has been done. Unless you are giving fair warning to other interested parties!!

Can someone tell me what this means.... 'He said the sale of his stake is the remit of chairman Alistair Johnston'.

Murray says it will be down to �£20m, why not wait till then and get even more????

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/8654665.stm Sir David Murray insists "limited funds" are available for Rangers boss Walter Smith to purchase new players. The former chairman, who controls 90% of Ibrox club, told BBC Scotland that directors are planning to help the club through its wait for a buyer. He said the sale of his stake is the remit of chairman Alistair Johnston. Murray insisted it was "obvious" that Smith will require investment after reducing the squad to ease the club's finances with a reduced wage bill. The delay in Murray selling his stake in Rangers continues, while London-based Andrew Ellis carries out background research and mulls over a bid reported to be worth �£33m. Murray was commenting as he filed the accounts of his company, Murray International Holdings, which control of more than 90% of Rangers as a wholly-owned subsidiary. Murray's company reported a �£175m loss, mainly through write-downs in its property portfolio, and also through the price of metal falling sharply during the 17-month accounting period to the middle of last year. Rangers suffered a �£12.7m loss and saw its debt rise to �£31m during the year to June 2009. There's no truth to the bank wanting to ring fence the season ticket money Sir David Murray However, Murray is confident it will turn a profit in the current year and next, having just re-qualified for European competition next season and Smith will be in a position to add players to the Ibrox roster. "There are limited funds available to strengthen the team, which is necessary, and Alistair Johnston and the board are drawing up a business plan for that," said Murray. Murray has denied there was any cross-guarantee of funding between Rangers and other parts of his business empire. However, he has had to disentangle the cross-guarantees used between other divisions. Rangers debt levels are being reduced under pressure from Lloyds Banking Group and are expected to be closer to about �£20m by June. The former Ibrox chairman firmly denied reports that the bank is insisting on using ticket sales revenue to pay down any of the club's debt. "There's no truth to the bank wanting to ring fence the season ticket money," he said. Responding to reports that Rangers are under investigation by HM Revenue and Customs, the former chairman said the club would respond robustly. He added: "Lots of football clubs and other businesses are in a similar situation."

Then it would benefit any potential buyer to wait 6 months, until the debt was lower. Unless there was another buyer on the scene.

"A buyer would pay a figure to buy a debt-free club. Rangers are in a much-improved position." Does this mean the figure would be whatever the debt is at the time.

The Boston Globe was wrong, but we shouldn't gloss over the problem within our Support.

As usual he only speaks when there is criticism. Well done Douglas Park for lighting a fire under his arse.

Rangers owner Sir David Murray tells Ibrox sale critics to 'put up or shut up' Apr 30 2010 Exclusive by James Traynor DAVID Murray last night labelled Rangers' financial critics as scaremongers. The Ibrox owner is raging at millionaire bus group owner Douglas Park after he told a couple of Glasgow papers the SPL champions couldn't be sold while under investigation by the taxman. It was also suggested Lloyds, the bankers for both Rangers and the Murray Group, could seize all the money from season tickets and next season's Champions League matches. But Murray has dismissed those claims - and demanded Park and any others who might want to buy the club to "put up or shut up". He said: "If Douglas, Dave King, Paul Murray or anyone else wants to buy the club they all know what to do. Stop saying why you wouldn't buy it. What's the point continually trying to undermine Rangers when it's clear finances are improving? "Rangers' debts continue to fall and this club will make a profit next year. That's a remarkable turnaround. "So talk about the bank or anyone else ring-fencing Champions League and season-ticket money is nonsense. It just isn't true and it will not happen." Murray wouldn't talk about exact figures but accepts it will be necessary for Walter Smith - or whoever takes over as manager should he decide he's had enough - to bring in new players. That's why he can't understand why it is being suggested the bank would sweep up every penny. Murray said: "It's just not realistic and amounts to nothing more than scaremongering. "It undermines the club at a time when all the hard work people at Rangers have put in over the past two years is beginning to pay off, both on and off the pitch." Murray is still waiting to hear if London-based Andrew Ellis will press home his �£33million bid for the club and it is understood his people have not been put off by HMRC's interest in Rangers' affairs. Record Sport understands Ellis and his people are close to making their decision but Murray believes the rumours of the past few days which he says link Ibrox directors King and Murray and Park have not helped at such a critical stage. He said: "If you care about the club would you endeavour to undermine it by making the kind of statements we've read from Douglas? One can only wonder why. "Is it an attempt to weaken the club in the hope of getting it at a cheaper price? "I don't know but I do know Rangers are not in any danger because of their financial position. "Rangers is a stand-alone company and there are no cross-guarantees tying them to the Murray Group's finances. The two are separate. "Even when the Murray Group were weak about 15 months ago there was never any danger of that hitting Rangers. People can think what they will of me but one thing I would never do is put the club in that kind of danger. "Let me say this again - never at any time were Rangers in jeopardy when the Murray Group were weak. "Rangers and the Murray Group have rallied extremely well and it is annoying to hear people who should know better sniping at us. "I seem to recall Douglas Park got in touch a couple of times. Two years ago he called Mike McGill, the finance director, and offered to buy the club for �£1. "Then he said he'd like to take over the running of the club but we felt that wouldn't have been in Rangers' best interests. I think it's time Douglas stopped shadow boxing and got into the ring. "If he or anyone else wants to buy let them make their play. They do the due diligence and see where they are but there's nothing to hide here. "I've had the club up for sale for two years because I do want to get out of football after more than 20 years in the thick of it. I'm not going to be hard to deal with and it is a straight-forward process. "If Douglas, Dave King or anyone else wants to buy Rangers they all know what to do. But please, stop undermining what has been a tremendous effort by everyone at the club during very difficult and trying times."

According to Ewan Murray on Real Radio. Fact or Fiction?

DK the journo, is hanging his coat, on DK the moneymans shooglie nail. If they succeed, King the journo will have access right to the top. Self interest is what is driving everyone involved.

Not only King, but the ones who are looking into potential owners are culpable.

I wonder why Dave King seems to be turning into the golden boy. Has he not been on the Board while Rangers have got into this state. How desperate we have become.

Rangers in crisis ââ?¬â?? Douglas Park has spoken to director Dave King, but admits takeover is ââ?¬Ë?impossibleââ?¬â?¢ because of tax investigation For sale ââ?¬â?? but whoââ?¬â?¢s buying? Darrell King Share 0 comments 28 Apr 2010 Douglas Park, the businessman who has interests in several car *franchises and a coach company, last night confirmed he has spoken with Dave King, the South Africa-based *millionaire Rangers director who remains interested in taking over the club. Park told The Herald there was a ââ?¬Å?real willingnessââ?¬Â from several individuals who want to help the Ibrox club out of their financial plight. However, with the revelation that an HM Revenue and Customs investi*gation is ongoing into payments Rangers made into playersââ?¬â?¢ offshore trusts over the past decade, Park conceded there would have to be certain conditions agreed with Rangersââ?¬â?¢ owners, Murray Inter*national, and the clubââ?¬â?¢s bankers, Lloyds, before any deal could be done. The SPL championsââ?¬â?¢ debts are still hovering around the Ã?£30m mark, and the HMRC investigation could lead to a tax bill ââ?¬â?? the exact amount yet unknown ââ?¬â?? having to be met if the club is found to have a case to answer. When asked if he had held discussions with King over a potential buy-out, Park would only say: ââ?¬Å?I have had meetings with Dave King since January, but the contents of our discussions are private. There are people out there with a real willingness to put millions of pounds of their own money into the club to try to address the current situation and return the club to stability. However, unless certain conditions are met, it would be impossible for anything to proceed. ââ?¬Å?At the moment, the bank are in total control of the situation as the season-ticket money, and any Champions League money, comes in.ââ?¬Â Rangers are anxious to discover as soon as possible the bankââ?¬â?¢s plans for the biggest revenue stream into the club, season-ticket monies that annually amount to between Ã?£18m and Ã?£20m, with sources telling The Herald there are fears this money will be used to attack the overall debt as the wait for a new owner goes on. Last night, Rangers were guaranteed automatic entry to the Cham*pions League group stages next season after Bayern Munich overcame Lyon 0-4 on aggregate in France. The German side, along with Barcelona and Inter Milan, who contest the second semi-final tonight, are all guaranteed to play in the 2010/11 group phase courtesy of their domestic league positions and, therefore, an automatic position has been freed up for the champions of Scotland. There are people out there with a real willingness to put millions of pounds of their own money into the club to try to address the current situation and return the club to stability. However, unless certain conditions are met, it would be impossible for anything to proceed. Douglas Park This will generate revenue of around Ã?£15m for Rangers and, again, answers are being sought from the bank as to what will happen to that money, and how much will be put into the business plan for the season ahead. Rangers issued a statement last night denying that Champions League income ââ?¬Å?had already been ring-fenced by the bank to reduce the clubââ?¬â?¢s debtââ?¬Â. However, when our sister paper the Evening Times broke the story yesterday, their suggestion was that senior sources at the club feared the Champions League and season ticket money would be used to address debts, not that it had already been agreed. The statement added: ââ?¬Å?Discussions with the bank in relation to the business plan will take place in the coming weeks. The club would also like to reiterate once again that at no time has director Dave King made an offer for the purchase of Rangers.ââ?¬Â Manager Walter Smith has expressed fears since last October over the future of the club, but he will say nothing else on the financial situation, or his own contractual situation, until being informed by the board of what the business plan is. Smith is almost certainly unwilling to commit to another season at the helm if the club is going to continue downsizing. At the moment, with six players out of contract, *Rangers are scheduled to return for pre-*season training in July with a squad of 14 first-team players plus two goalkeepers. Of that number, three are young players in Danny Wilson, John Fleck and Andrew Little, while another is Andrius Velicka who is unlikely to be match-fit for the start of the season after nine months on the sidelines with a knee injury. They could be open to predators in the transfer market for players such as Madjid Bougherra, Steven Davis and Allan McGregor, with no guarantees that any money from sales will be allowed to fund replacements. There has been no scouting network in place because of the financial cutbacks over the past six months; while the pre-season tour planned for America, including a money-spinning Old Firm match against Celtic scheduled for Boston on July 21, *cannot be confirmed until a management team is in place for next season.