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No bulky letters, no padded packages and no crudely-wrapped parcels. Just a plain, simple message: Stop, before you kill someone. You have already scarred and maimed Scotland's image. Please, let that be enough. Fortunately the potentially lethal devices posted to Neil Lennon and some high-profile Celtic fans and officials haven't led to any loss of life or injury. But if the morons who are sending these packages get lucky, just once, the consequences could be horrific. This has to stop. They have to be stopped. And so, too, must the singing. Surely we've had our fill of that as well. The Old Firm meet up at Ibrox tomorrow for the final time this season and if there is an ounce of decency left among the people who have been shaming Rangers they'll change their tunes. Not because it's Easter Sunday or because UEFA are homing in Rangers. Just because it is wrong. The songs and chants are anti-Catholic, primitive, offensive and also illegal. They are an affront to all of us and Scotland cannot take much more of the publicity it has had to endure this past week even though we are far from a nation of bigots. The vast majority of us are not anti-Catholic or Irish and it is wrong to suggest we are anything other than a country willing to absorb and embrace other races, minorities and cultures. It really is okay to be Scottish. Of course many of us have links to Ireland but many of us prefer to promote our Scottishness first and that should never be regarded as some kind of denial of or insult to another country. Anyone who says it is lacks tolerance. But if we don't confront the deranged who are casting us all in a dark light we might get to the point where we will be ashamed to belong to this country. But not yet. This is a decent place, even if among us there are twisted bands of bigots who use Rangers as a platform from which to lay down the soundtracks to their grotesque images which present us as a nation of poisonous and violent madmen and women. We're not, although the people who are posting explosive devices undoubtedly are and we should be clear they are not doing this in our name. And the people who sing the songs do not act for us either. Neither do those who are fond of throwing out lines that Scotland is institutionally biased or that sectarianism is endemic. None of them speak on behalf of me and I believe I am a fairly typical Scot. The overwhelming majority of Scots are decent and tolerant and we support Neil Lennon against those who want to do him harm. He is a football manager who believes passionately in his club and their fans and that is not a crime. Neither is his faith but there are dangerous people out there who see him as an affront to whatever it is they stand for or believe. Hopefully they'll be rounded up and put where they belong but in the meantime, can the Ibrox chanters do the right thing and shut up. If they have any intelligence they'll realise by now they've gone too far and that the club they claim to support don't want to be associated with them. If they can't see that and pipe down they should be rounded up by Strathclyde Police and taken away. And when they are the rest of us should stand and applaud. But before the police have to act, messages slamming sectarian behaviour and songs should be flashed up on the Ibrox screens - that's if they are still working properly despite the maintenance cutbacks - in the names of chairmen Alastair Johnston and John Reid and chief executives Peter Lawwell and Martin Bain. All of them should be united in their condemnation of anyone who wants to sing about Fenians and Huns or insult the Pope or the Irish. And let's have none of the IRA chants either. These are not political chants. These are downright offensive and these people do not speak for us either. It is asking a lot but we have to hope and believe the players will behave as well. They also have a responsibility to keep a grip on their tempers even though this game will have a massive bearing on the championship race. If we are asking fans to show more respect and tolerance the players must do the same, even in a game which is bloated with importance. If Celtic, who appear to have greater energy and flair than Rangers, win they would be even more confident and unlikely to drop points in the run-in. Same with Rangers, although they do have a weary look about them. They beat Dundee United 4-0 away last week but the Tannadice side finished the game with only eight men. Walter Smith's players will have to find added zest from somewhere and hope they can cope with the tempo which Celtic will want to dictate. And of course, there is the Lennon factor itself. The packages meant for him and the way he's been forced to live his life this year with 24-hour protection have drawn the fans and players to him in a way no other manager can have experienced. They want to win the title for him and that could be telling in tomorrow's match. But Celtic are also a better and more exciting side than Rangers and this added twist should make them even more determined. They want to protect and reward their manager and that could be crucial. However, there is a resilience about Rangers and if they can stand their ground in midfield they might just take the sting out of Celtic. But to do that Smith needs huge performances from Steve Davis, Mo Edu, Jamie Ness and Stevie Naismith. And, of course, he needs Nikica Jelavic to damage Celtic's defence. If the Croat gets the supply he will be a real threat. Rangers, you imagine, will need to score first because they have to put pressure on Lennon's men. They need to put doubt and fear into Celtic, especially at the back. But there is something about this Lennon side. They are brimming with confidence and belief and tomorrow just might be the day they wrench the title from Rangers' grasp. Of course it is never wise to predict which side will win any Old Firm encounter but since the outside world probably thinks we are all insane by now, Celtic just might win this 3-1.

RANGERS have learned it WAS a Scottish campaigner behind the damning FARE dossier sent to UEFA. Gers face playing two Euro games behind closed doors and a hefty �£100,000 fine after they were hit with TWO charges of sectarian singing by supporters. The SPL champs have been targeted by anti-racism group FARE and are back in the dock following the recent Europa League last-16 clashes against PSV. FARE director Piara Powar insisted last week that his employee had no political, religious or football affiliations. But SunSport can reveal the person behind the complaint about Gers is a Scot. Rangers remain convinced a deliberate and targeted campaign exists against them. Just one Rangers fan was nicked in Eindhoven compared to 63 PSV arrests. And Gers want to know why no investigation into the Dutch club's supporters has been launched. An insider close to the investigation told SunSport: "There is concern about a lack of transparency. "No one is saying anyone has to be named publicly, but there has to be accountability in the process. "That is the only fair and just way of going forward so everyone can have confidence that an even-handed approach is taken." Gers chief Martin Bain will represent the club at the UEFA disciplinary hearing in Switzerland next week. But FARE chief Powar last night insisted: "The reports were gathered as part of an ongoing monitoring programme prompted by concerns at sectarian singing at previous Rangers matches in Europe. "There is debate in some quarters as to the qualification of the FARE observer at the games. "I can confirm the person involved has no political, religious or football affiliations that would bring into question their ability to act as a neutral observer. "There are suggestions emanating from Rangers of 'a deliberate and targeted campaign against the club', but we have no axe to grind with any club." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3538883/Scot-put-em-in-the-dock.html#ixzz1K6q3W4q8

Apr 20 2011 Exclusive by Keith Jackson DIRECTOR Paul Murray last night emerged as the mastermind behind a new bid to take over Rangers ââ?¬â?? but he faces a battle to persuade Lloyds Bank to accept his proposal. The shock new bid is the reason Craig Whyteââ?¬â?¢s planned buy-out has been delayed but it does not yet have the backing of Lloyds. Murrayââ?¬â?¢s camp claim their takeover would provide new boss Ally McCoist with an instant Ã?£25million war chest. But Whyteââ?¬â?¢s people hit back last night, claiming their bid is worth Ã?£52.5m. And a source close to Whyte also suggested if he is forced to further delay his attempt while Rangers directors scrutinise Murrayââ?¬â?¢s plan it might be too late. The source said last night: ââ?¬Å?He will not wait much longer.ââ?¬Â Record Sport understands Murray has assembled a consortium of wealthy Rangers fans who are willing to pledge a small fortune to get the club back on its feet. Financial expert Murray wants new shares to be released and has told the Rangers board his group have the cash in place to underwrite the scheme to the tune of Ã?£25m ââ?¬â?? all of which would then be pumped into McCoistââ?¬â?¢s first-team coffers. But the plan hinges on Lloyds keeping the current credit facility in place and allowing the Ibrox debt to be repaid in instalments. The bank still favour Whyteââ?¬â?¢s bid because it guarantees them their money and Murray still has to persuade them to back his offer. Murray made his move after holding crisis talks with current owner Sir David Murray last week. It is understood Murray, who was at Tannadice last night to watch his team take on Dundee United, now plans talks with Sir David and Lloyds in a bid to thrash out a deal. But the word last night was that Murray ââ?¬â?? who teamed up with exiled Rangers director Dave King in a failed Ã?£18m bid for Murray Internationalââ?¬â?¢s shareholding in 2009 ââ?¬â?? wants to do business quickly. Murray, 46, has almost two decades of experience in the private equity industry, working for companies including 3i plc and Deutsche Bank in executive positions. We understands his shock ââ?¬Å?plan Bââ?¬Â proposals have already gained support at boardroom level and also with the current management. A source close to Murrayââ?¬â?¢s group told us: ââ?¬Å?Paul felt it was time to act with a matter of urgency. ââ?¬Å?He has now acted and is looking to get everything finalised as quickly as possible. There is no reason why this canââ?¬â?¢t be concluded in a four to six-week timescale. ââ?¬Å?This is a credible and real solution to the situation which is crippling Rangers. ââ?¬Å?Paul expressed an interest a while ago, as was reported at the time. It came to nothing but things have deteriorated a lot since then. When Craig Whyte arrived on the scene Paul was open-minded. He was prepared to try to help the guy. ââ?¬Å?But itââ?¬â?¢s been dragging on for six months, meanwhile the situation at the club has been getting worse. ââ?¬Å?That is why Paul acted last week. He felt things had reached the point of no return. ââ?¬Å?He loves the club and he could not stand back and allow this crisis to continue. The situation inside the club is critical. ââ?¬Å?He would not put his name to this if he wasnââ?¬â?¢t confident of getting it done.ââ?¬Â Murrayââ?¬â?¢s move came to the fore yesterday in a statement from club chairman Alastair Johnston which was also made to explain to supporters why his board have moved to block Whyteââ?¬â?¢s takeover until the end of the season. Whyte had hoped to conclude the deal on Monday afternoon but the independent five-man board set up to run the rule over any bids refused to pass his offer. They donââ?¬â?¢t have power of veto but business etiquette and boardroom politics means they can delay the process further ââ?¬â?? to allow Murray time to make his move. The independent board will have to examine and question Murrayââ?¬â?¢s plan just as they have tried to do with Whyteââ?¬â?¢s package. And Johnston, in a statement last night, hinted the documents detailing Whyteââ?¬â?¢s offer did not add up. Whyteââ?¬â?¢s team then claimed that any suggestions he didnââ?¬â?¢t have the money or funding he said he could provide were not only untrue but defamatory. Whyte was said to be furious about the further delay but the independent board ââ?¬â?? Johnston, chief executive Martin Bain, finance director Donald McIntyre and non-executive directors John McClelland and John Greig ââ?¬â?? insist they have only recently been able to look at the detailed agreements which David Murray, Lloyds and Whyte have been working on. And it is fair to say they are far from happy or convinced. Johnston said: ââ?¬Å?Based on the documents we have only been able to review within the last week, we are disappointed they did not reflect the investment in the club that we were led to believe for the last few months would be a commitment in the purchase agreement. ââ?¬Å?Given the requirement to repay the bank in full under the proposed transaction, there appears to be only a relatively modest amount of money available that would positively impact the clubââ?¬â?¢s operations, especially as it relates to an urgent requirement to replenish and upgrade the playing squad.ââ?¬Â http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2011/04/20/rangers-director-paul-murray-reveals-rival-bid-to-buy-club-as-craig-whyte-bid-falters-86908-23073941/

Can everyone please remember this guy already has �£20 million invested , which Murray is about to flush down the pan , there was no way that he was going to go quietly , himself ,AJ and Martin Bain are the three directors behind this plan . Administration is not an option .

RANGERS chairman Alastair Johnston has sparked a high-stakes game of poker - with the club's future in the pot. Late on Monday night, with would-be Gers buyer Craig Whyte desperate to finally seal his �£25million takeover, Johnston REFUSED to be railroaded into rubber-stamping the deal. Instead he listened to another Gers director - understood to be chartered accountant Paul Murray - who promised he could broker a rival �£25m bid to underwrite a new shares issue in the club. SunSport believes that proposal is backed by the financial muscle of South African multi-millionaire Dave King and Lanarkshire motoring tycoon Douglas Park. As manager-in-waiting Ally McCoist sweats over what funds he will have, though, the nightmare news for Gers fans is that process could take 10 WEEKS. Forget all the financial posturing and alleged stalling tactics, the reality is that new boss McCoist could be marooned on July 1 with NO IDEA what his transfer budget is, with the SPL season due to start on July 23. Johnston, though, insisted he had grave doubts whether the transfer budget Whyte promised would materialise. And he said: "Based on the documents we have only been able to review within the last week, we are disappointed that they ultimately did not reflect the investment in the club that we were led to believe for the last few months would be a commitment in the purchase agreement. "Given the requirement to repay the bank in full under the proposed transaction, there appears to be only a relatively modest amount of money available that would positively impact the club's operations, especially as it relates to an urgent requirement to replenish and upgrade the playing squad. "Whilst the proposed transaction has addressed the interests of Lloyds Bank, the Murray Group and Craig Whyte, our perspective is solely directed towards the future of Rangers Football Club." Whyte had pledged McCoist would get at least �£5m per season towards improving the champions' threadbare squad. Johnston, though, is prepared to gamble on examining the shares issue option. He said: "The board has had an approach from one of its directors who wishes us to consider an alternative funding option. This would involve a fresh issue of new capital to raise �£25m to be invested directly into the club. The board believes it has a responsibility to examine this proposal whilst continuing its review of the Craig Whyte transaction. "After six months of limited engagement in the process, the board believes it is not in the best interests of its stake-holders for it to be pressed into an unrealistic timescale." The Independent Sub-Committee of the Rangers board has taken a huge risk. Johnston's soundbites claim he is desperate to make sure the best interests of the 26,400 minority shareholders are served. When the fan in the street picks through the legal language and peers through the smokescreens, though, this looks like one thing. A stalling tactic. Majority shareholder Sir David Murray, Lloyds Bank and Whyte himself are desperate to get the deal over the line. The bankers are CONVINCED the funding is there. Johnston, chief executive Martin Bain, finance director Donald McIntyre, non-executive directors John McClelland and John Greig CAN'T veto the Whyte deal but can shunt it into the sidings at a critical time. Meanwhile, the fans suffer once more. Johnston, though, said: "We have only very recently had the opportunity to meet Craig Whyte and his team. "Moreover, it is only in the last few days we have started to receive the draft agreements outlining the transaction. "We are still awaiting a detailed working capital statement demonstrating there is sufficient funding in place to meet the club's pressing needs. "On Monday, I had a lengthy conversation with Craig Whyte explaining the dilemma the board faces. It was a constructive dialogue, and whilst he expressed his frustration, he understood our position." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3536471/We-wont-be-railroaded-into-selling-Gers-Craig.html#ixzz1K0whqlEN

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13127427.stm Come on Ally, defend the club a bit more, lets have a statement saying in black and white what is not allowed. Cant be 1 law for Rangers fans and other laws for the rest. The filth Celtic and Aberdeen fans sing should be in the same boat. I think it should be passed in law that certain songs are illegal.

In the most important week of the season so far on the field, it's no coincidence that off-the-field a variety of matters are also coming to a head. Be it our HMRC tax tribunal in Edinburgh resuming for the next fortnight or the takeover saga taking its daily twist, we're not spoilt for discussion. Yesterday this website revealed that today was the day with respect to the club announcing to PLUS that the takeover was complete. Unfortunately this doesn't look like coming to pass with a late 'snag' halting the deal in its tracks. According to the media the independent bid oversight committee (comprising of Alistair Johnston, Martin Bain, John McLelland, Donald McIntyre and John Greig) want to delay any takeover until the end of the season. The question on everyone's lips is why? Throughout this ownership saga doubts have been cast on Craig Whyte's ability to fund his bid - not with regard to the purchase price (that was agreed over a month ago and those funds are in place) but in respect of the provision of ongoing financial investment (i.e. the �£25million/5 year budget rumoured in the media). It appeared that over the weekend such doubts had been allayed and the deal was set to complete. Not so! Thus, what has changed then? Have Whyte's financial backers changed their mind on which horse to back? Or have the oversight committee picked up on a controversial aspect of his plans that they want examined? Moreover, how much credence can we place in renewed speculation that there may be a management buy out in the pipeline? Unfortunately, despite the conjecture we read in the media and across the forums, answers to these questions are difficult to find. After all, surely if a management buy out was viable, these directors would be in breach of their independent responsibilities to the bid panel? What other reason can be given for a delay given Whyte is apparently ready to buy immediately? Recent weeks have been most interesting in the takeover debate. As this site uncovered Lloyds Banking Group have said they will not interfere while Alastair Johnston also inferred he was happy with the Whyte presentation. Unfortunately, delayed interim financial results and two different tax cases will have contributed to further legal wrangles. Meanwhile, two separate UEFA charges could also indicate fiscal problems for any new owner. The current Rangers board will be busy people! We were told at last year's AGM that their responsibilities were always to the club and fans. To that end, it is interesting that despite all the latest gossip, they've chosen not to comment to the shareholders/support. This is even more surprising given the support are about to invest another �£20million of our money into the club for next season. Surely, it is beyond time for this committee to either approve or reject the Whyte bid? Of course even then it's not as simple as the bid then being dead. MIH still have the majority shareholding required to sell irrespective of any committee recommendation. However, it's been rumoured that Craig Whyte doesn't fancy this route due to the time-scales involved in thereafter removing what would be a 'hostile' board. On the other hand, if Whyte does say enough is enough where would that leave us then? Would other interested parties step into the breach and 'save' the club from a bank still keen on clawing back its debts? And if they did, how could we as a support trust these people given their mistakes over the last decade? Moreover, why are they waiting so long to make their move? Unfortunately, there are obviously still far more questions than answers. None of us know if Whyte has the wherewithal (financial and strategic) to run Rangers in a better fashion that we've seen of late. As such, we have no option to defer to the oversight committee to act on our behalf - despite their poor performance as directors previously. As ever the support stand confused and alone. A RFC Management buy out may well be out of self-interest or an unavoidable financial necessity but until they share with us their concerns they're guilty of making the same mistakes again by treating our worries with disdain. In our season ticket renewal letters, manager-in-waiting Ally McCoist said our huge financial commitment is 'not one we (the club) take for granted'. Unless the club sorts out the takeover shambles soon then that is not just a patronisation but an outright lie.

A must signing for me he is worth about 15 points per season.

WANTAWAY Rangers star Madjid Bougherra has been warned he's going NOWHERE. Algerian stopper Bougy revealed last week his plan to quit Ibrox this summer. But Gers boss Walter Smith last night warned that contracted players will NOT be sold - and Bougy admitted he is NOT a certainty to leave the club at the end of the season. Smith said: "The whole thing about the summer will be about the club's overall circumstance. "Everybody says that people will be leaving but I don't see how we have the capability to let anyone leave. "We have reached the stage where if we sell players and can't re-invest then Rangers won't have a team for next year. "But I don't know what will happen. That is something for the future." Bougherra, who still has a year left on his current contract and rejected a new deal, returns from injury for tonight's vital SPL clash with Dundee United at Tannadice. And Smith admitted: "We're glad at the minute to have Bougherra back. "He has played well for us over the season and are just pleased to have Madjid fit again." Bougherra held talks with Gers chief executive Martin Bain over a new deal seven weeks ago. And although he turned down his offer on the SAME money he's currently on, the stopper insisted last night his future has still to be decided. Bougy, 28, said: "I am focusing on giving the title to Rangers and then I'll talk about transfers at the end of the season. "There are some possibilities but I like Rangers and this is a very big club. I have a contract until 2012, end of story, so we have to wait to the end of the season." Smith, meanwhile, has heaped praise on Steven Whittaker for the job he did in central defence while Bougherra was injured. He said: "He's not just been useful for us when Bougherra's been out - he's been doing it for us all season. It's not often you have one player playing in six different positions for you over the course of a season. "We had a fair idea we would need to move quite a few of them around this season, but Steven's been invaluable for us because he's so able to do it. "Even in a one-off game, there are very few players who could move from right-back to outside-left but he does it. "He does the whole lot without complaining. So he has been terrific for us this season." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3534377/Dont-bank-on-a-move-Bougy.html#ixzz1Jv0owJKh

17 Apr 2011 THE question you have to ask Rangers fans who sing sectarian songs is this: do they really care about the club? Because if you do, it has got to stop and it has got to stop now. You canââ?¬â?¢t just say it is a tiny minority that do it, or alternatively that it is all of the fans, but a good percentage of Rangers supporters are still singing these songs. It is something Rangers have been fighting against for years, and I donââ?¬â?¢t know if they will ever be able to change it, but they canââ?¬â?¢t ever give up trying. Just when you hoped it might have gone away, suddenly it has raised its ugly head again over the last season or so. I was very young when I went down to Chelsea to start my football career but my dad brought me up in Ayrshire as a Rangers fan. I went to the Scottish Cup final with him in 1976, when they beat Hearts 3-1 and Derek Johnstone scored a couple. We were in the Hearts end because there were so many Rangers fans there. But I never went to many games and I swear I never had a clue about the songs. I remember once I arrived at Rangers as a player, the fans would try to get me to play the flute and rubbish like that, but I didnââ?¬â?¢t play along at all. I didnââ?¬â?¢t know the songs, I didnââ?¬â?¢t know the words, and I didnââ?¬â?¢t want to know. Things are changing now and the fans have got to realise that some things are no longer acceptable. It is like racism, which has moved on hugely since the Mark Walters situation arose with the banana throwing. Times are moving on and fans have got to do the same with sectarianism. I know these fansââ?¬â?¢ mindset. Some of them will never change. It is defiance. Now they are humming these songs at games, so they are determined to get their message across whatever. But if they are not going to change for themselves, they should change for the sake of the club. The Rangers fans that are doing it are doing the club harm. They should be trying to help, but instead they are making it worse. The last thing the club needs is to be tarred with this. Pictures of games being played behind closed doors will affect the image of the club in the eyes of the world and the potential Ã?£2 million loss is the last thing the club needs financially with the way things are, and in the throes of a takeover which may or may not go through. The Craig Whyte deal is already taking so long, and this kind of thing could drag it on even further. I never played in a game which had to be played behind closed doors due to crowd misbehaviour but the closest I got was that famous game in Tallinn when I won my first full cap for my country. The Scotland fans were all there but it was eerie. Donââ?¬â?¢t get me wrong: I think Uefa are making an example of Rangers, I really do. They are using Rangers as an example to stop sectarianism across Europe, because there are other clubs out there that do it. I understand what Martin Bain is trying to say about it and he has to defend the clubââ?¬â?¢s interests. But that is not the same as saying Uefa are somehow in the wrong on this. They made their point about the PSV game away, and now they are making their point about the PSV game at home. You canââ?¬â?¢t say Rangers are unlucky or being picked on or that it is just a witch hunt. The phrase ââ?¬Ë?witch huntââ?¬â?¢ suggests people are looking for things that arenââ?¬â?¢t there. This problem is there for all to see. I donââ?¬â?¢t think if you are a Rangers director you could say otherwise. I want to speak about football, not political stuff. But the main talking points in Scottish football havenââ?¬â?¢t been about the football: there have been refsââ?¬â?¢ strikes, Celtic versus the SFA, now Paul McBride versus the SFA and Rangers and sectarianism. There needs to be a change in mentality given the way that Scottish football is going and the sooner we change it the better. You wonder how are we going to get the TV deals and sponsorship we need to make Scottish football better again. We start a campaign in this country then we forget all about it. Then suddenly it gathers pace again and we bring it back out. Once a month we should have an anti-sectarianism mission just like the Show Racism the Red Card campaign. Letââ?¬â?¢s keep it in peopleââ?¬â?¢s minds. I grew up knowing about sectarianism but not knowing about it, if you see what I mean. But my wee boy is into football now and he doesnââ?¬â?¢t have a clue about it. It would be great if we could keep it that way. I HAD a pop at Aberdeen in last weekââ?¬â?¢s column and they seemed to be fired up against Rangers in midweek. I expected that and I am sure they will be up for the game against Celtic this afternoon. I would never doubt their professionalism or how much they want to win but I just donââ?¬â?¢t think they are good enough and I expect Celtic to go through. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/rangers/rangers-fans-must-face-the-music-billy-dodds-1.1096666

By Tom English RIGHT, who did it? Who ratted them out? Has Hoopy the Huddle Hound accounted for his whereabouts on the nights of 10 March and 17 March this year? Has anybody combed the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven and Ibrox and found his paw prints anywhere near this controversy, has anybody established a link between Celtic's canine cheerleader and this organisation with a dramatically elevated profile, Football Against Racism In Europe (FARE)? Such an ironic name, really, given the supposed unfairness of what is happening to Rangers at the moment. Two UEFA charges for sectarian chanting and both of them thanks to FARE's shadowy presence in Holland and Glasgow. This is the burning issue, is it? Who are the people landing Rangers in trouble? Who would sink so low as to orchestrate what Martin Bain calls a witch-hunt against the club? Well, let's just go along with the Rangers take on things and call it a conspiracy. Let's say that FARE, and their leader, Piara Powar, were put up to it by Celtic supporters who are either (a) genuinely perturbed at the songs being sung by Rangers fans or (b) are gleeful about the songs and the opportunity they present to land their rivals in some serious bother. Powar goes into work one morning and switches on his laptop and, suddenly, whoooosh! Hundreds of e-mails from "concerned citizens" of Glasgow asking them to investigate the truly awful behaviour of these people from across the city, this bigoted rabble that shame Scotland. They include newspaper articles and, just to be helpful, a collection of YouTube videos with a helpful lyrics guide just in case the words don't come over loud and clear on the links. This, after all, is the raison d'etre of FARE. They want supporters to contact them if they feel they're being victimised or if they've witnessed behaviour that is racist, homophobic or sectarian. That is why they are here. So Powar listens, as he must. And he mobilises an observer to go to Eindhoven and Ibrox and report on what is being sung. And, lo, sectarian chanting is heard. So, I guess you could call this a witch-hunt if you like. But then witch-hunts are commonplace between Old Firm fans. These people, clearly with too much time on their hands and too much hate in their bones, are inventive in the way they create trouble for each other and social media has it made all the easier. Wasn't it a witch-hunt that saw many people - could they have been Rangers people by any chance? - contacting Strathclyde Police a little while back stating categorically that they heard Neil Lennon using racist language against El-Hadji Diouf, when he did not. And before that, wasn't it a witch-hunt - inspired by Celtic fans, perchance? - that had the inbox of Peter Kearney, the spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland, bursting with indignation about Hugh Dallas and a stupid e-mail that eventually cost him his job? The tit-for-tat has been around for a long, long time. It's part of life in the Old Firm. And it's going to continue. Can you imagine Powar's inbox now? I'm guessing it's about to explode from all the e-mails from Rangers folk pointing out the things that Celtic fans sing and do, how their songbooks are bigoted, how they warrant investigation also. Bain says this: "This now has all the hallmarks of a deliberate and targeted campaign against the club. What else are we to expected to believe when UEFA officials give us favourable reports at our matches only to indict us later on the evidence of an outside unaccountable body?" Well, that's not strictly accurate. Since FARE receive a lot of funding from UEFA then they are answerable to them. Bain says that the official UEFA reports on both PSV games were favourable, but Geir Thorsteinsson of Iceland was UEFA's man in Holland and he made note of sectarian chanting on the night, so it can't have been all that favourable. William Campbell, the head of operations for the Irish Football Association in Belfast, was the UEFA delegate in Glasgow for the return leg of the PSV tie. He didn't mention sectarianism. Rangers people are, understandably, getting exercised about who exactly is feeding FARE their information to begin with. It's not exactly the point, though. The point is that wherever they are getting it from - a spiteful fringe of the Celtic support or wherever else - the information is correct. It's not vicious gossip, it's the truth. There was sectarian singing. Not just in the ties with PSV, but also in earlier games. I reported on the home match with Sporting Lisbon. A line from my piece on the night: "The songs (early on at any rate) were not upbeat dreams of Europe but rather grim reminders of domestic strife. Chants about Celtic and fenians filled the Broomloan Road stand for a short while. What desperados are these? Sunday, clearly, was too long for them to wait to cut loose with such poison." Sunday was the Old Firm derby. More singing. From both sides, no doubt, but Rangers have been under UEFA surveillance for years, they have been fined and they have been warned and the fact that they may now be banned should come as no surprise to anybody. Let's face it, it's been a long time coming, if it happens. Bain talks about an orchestrated campaign. Well, there wouldn't be a campaign at all if there was nothing to campaign about, but there is. The vermin rump that sing these songs will not shut up. They are a desperate burden on their club and a weight on the shoulders of the majority of Rangers people who want nothing to do with that kind of chanting. The SPL won't act against them. The wretched SFL have still said nothing after the epic bouts of Rangers sectarian chanting during their own Co-operative Insurance Cup final, so along come FARE and UEFA and maybe now something will be done. Maybe. The Rangers chief executive says he is "astounded". He is talking about "alleged" sectarian singing. He is looking for "urgent meetings" with UEFA at the highest level. He is clearly suspicious about how these charges came to pass. Fine, you'd have to worry about FARE and how they might be manipulated by the cyber warriors hell-bent on landing "the other mob" in trouble. But the bottom line is this. Was there bigoted singing during the PSV tie? Was there bigoted singing during the Sporting Lisbon tie? Was there bigoted singing in other European ties this season. Yes, yes and yes again. It might trouble Rangers people as to how FARE came to know about their chanting problem, but it's really quite irrelevant. If you're guilty then no matter how many times you shoot the messenger it's still not going to make you innocent. http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/top-stories/Tom-English-39If-you39re-guilty.6753199.jp?articlepage=3

UEFA blasted back at Martin Bain last night. Rangers face a huge fine and the prospect of playing Euro games behind closed doors in a row over sectarian singing among fans. Bain said he believes that a deliberate and targeted campaign against Gers is being waged. But UEFA slammed those suggestions and insisted the Ibrox club only has itself to blame. A UEFA spokesman told SunSport: "Rangers have been warned in the past but it is not necessarily even that, it is just fact. And now disciplinary proceedings have been opened in relation to these facts. "The past actions against Rangers will also be taken into account when the judgement is given. We have to define what is acceptable singing and what is not. "Rangers only have themselves to blame for these charges. If they are found guilty let's hope it doesn't happen again for the sake of sport." Gers have been told they face playing their first two Euro games of next season behind closed doors after reports of sectarian songs in the Europa League ties against PSV Eindhoven. Bain has 14 days in which to file his defence with a vital hearing in Nyon set for April 28. But UEFA, who confirmed for the first time that anti-racism group FARE filed the scathing report on Rangers fans, insists there is NO agenda against Gers. The spokesman added: "It is ridiculous to claim an anti-Rangers agenda exists within UEFA. "The reports were given to UEFA by FARE. This is an independent organisation and they were not commissioned by UEFA. The FARE organisation can pick up matches freely. "They have chosen these two matches and have given us this report. But there is also a report from the match delegate from the first leg which highlights discriminatory singing or chanting. "Our stance could not be any clearer. We are against all forms of discrimination and will fight it on and off the pitch." FARE executive director Piara Powar stressed he also has no axe to grind with Rangers. Powar said: "The reports were gathered as part of an ongoing monitoring programme, in this case prompted by concerns at sectarian singing at previous Rangers matches in Europe. "There are explicit suggestions emanating from Rangers FC of 'a deliberate and targeted campaign against the club'. "The FARE network is focused only on our core mission of tackling discrimination in football and encouraging social inclusion through the game. We have no axe to grind with any club." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3530480/Dont-blame-us-Bain.html#ixzz1JdTrUsO4

Every day as the wife goes into the kitchen to put the spuds on the gas I take the chance to lie long out on the couch and zap the telly on to Deal or no Deal. The fact that it is the only time of the day that I get the chance to hold the remote control is totally irrelevant to this story. As I lay on the couch watching the end of countdown and that beautiful bird that hangs up the numbers or letters I must have suckled into a light sleep. I then heard Noel Edmunds welcoming the east wing and then the west wing. I couldnââ?¬â?¢t believe it when I saw. Ally McCoist Walter Smith Martin Bain and all of the coaching staff on the west wing. On the east wing were eleven first team Rangers players. Then Noel thanked all the pilgrims for coming. Unbelievable that all the pilgrims had red white and blue scarfs on. Tonightââ?¬â?¢s game will be played by Craig. Craig Whyte! ââ?¬Å?I am so looking forward to this gameââ?¬Â says Noel. ââ?¬Å?Craig what are your Photoââ?¬â?¢s?ââ?¬Â ââ?¬Å?This is Ibrox stadiumââ?¬Â says Craig. Unfortunately it is slowly becoming run down. I remember going there as a boy and it really hurts me to see it in decline. Craig has a tear running down his cheek. Your next photo is of the Rangers team. Yes, while everything looks okay in the photo, the truth is that the team suffers from Murraytitus. That is a disease that explodes short term but burns out in the long term leaving serious illness and possible death. I hope to win some money tonight so that I can turn the health of the club around. ââ?¬Å?Ladies and Gentlemen this is Craigââ?¬â?¢s gameââ?¬Â Craig opens 5 boxes and then gets a call from the banker. Noel Edmunds imitates the bankers voice. Why does it sound like David Murray? 33 million is your offer Craig, deal or no deal. It is a great offer Mr Banker but remember that tax problem you left us with so it has to be ââ?¬Å?No dealââ?¬Â Nobody ever deals at the first offer and Craig certainly wasnââ?¬â?¢t going to be the first. As the game continues Craig seems to be hitting all the red numbers. The Banker is making it more and more difficult for Craig to do a deal. Then getting down to the eight box Craig has just hit an all blue round and the tax issues have been swallowed up by the banker. Craig your offer is 24 million but unfortunately another little tax issue has suddenly appeared making the total offer 27 million pounds. Deal or no deal. Sorry Mr banker it is a great offer but that tax issue is Mr Murray's problem so it has to be ââ?¬Å?No dealââ?¬Â The Pilgrims groan in disbelief. Another three boxes are opened and Craigââ?¬â?¢s game reaches the five box. Craig thinks he has got an advantage over the banker. He is disappointed as the banker points out there are problems not only with the tax but also with the Albion car park. Craig your offer stays at 24 million pounds but you now have two problems to sort out, is it deal or no deal. "Sorry Mr Banker but you are forcing me to go to the end and open my own box" As the game reaches its climax there are only two boxes left. The 1 penny box and the Jackpot. Will Craig win his fight to give Rangers the life-changing money they so need or will Rangers become a member of the 1 penny club. Noel Edmunds Pulls the seal from Craig Whyteââ?¬â?¢s box. He delays opening the box to build up the suspense. "Craig, all the pilgrims are praying that this will give you your life changing money that Rangers football club so badly need." As the lid of the box slowly opens. I hear ââ?¬Å?Dad your dinnerââ?¬â?¢s on the tableââ?¬Â and I wake up just in time to see wee Sammy from Shettleston win 250 quid and a steaming plate of mince and tatties on the table. I may never know what happened to Craig Whyte.

From The Daily Mail. Fair do's.

Don't know what to think seeing as it's the Record afterall but I thought I'd post it anyway. Is it just something to take away from the takeover or do you think there may be some truth in it? http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2011/04/07/rangers-to-be-hit-with-three-match-european-ban-over-sectarian-chanting-86908-23043583/

I suppose it all depends if we can spend any money.

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3517875/FAREs-file-ammo-for-Dutch-rap.html A LEADING European protest group are behind the report which could see Rangers fans banned by UEFA. SunSport can reveal Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) compiled a damning dossier on the behaviour of Gers fans in Holland last month. The report was drafted by ONE individual and is thought to contain references to songs allegedly sung by Rangers fans in Eindhoven which are NOT criminalised. Rangers are now working hard behind the scenes in a bid to establish whether the report was commissioned by UEFA or whether FARE have acted pro-actively. A total of 63 PSV fans were arrested when Gers held the Dutch side to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League clash in Eindhoven on March 10. Just ONE Rangers fan was held on a breach of the peace charge away from the ground. Now Rangers chief executive Martin Bain is set to go to war with UEFA as they fight the charges. We told yesterday how the Ibrox club believe a campaign to get them kicked out of Europe is being waged in Scotland. Ibrox bosses are stunned by UEFA's threat to ban their fans from away games and fine them. Gers chiefs claim the UEFA delegate present at that game PRAISED the fans in his report. Now SunSport has learned UEFA also had a security officer present in Eindhoven to specifically monitor sectarianism and racist behaviour. He too gave the Ibrox club a clean bill of health. Gers' case will be heard in Nyon on April 28. Rangers, who have already been fined and warned three times by UEFA since 2006 over either sectarian songs or offensive behaviour by fans, do not believe they should be in the dock again. London-based Kick It Out are the UK arm of FARE but spokesman Danny Lynch refused to comment on the story when contacted by SunSport last night. Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3517875/FAREs-file-ammo-for-Dutch-rap.html#ixzz1J0SLPxix

Rangers have no skeletons in the cupboard, but these songs do the Ibrox men little credit By JOHN GOW When the news that UEFA are looking to bring charges against Rangers for sectarian singing, there is hardly a Rangers fan who did not groan with displeasure. It's in the nature of being a supporter that you dislike bad PR for the club you love. It would be easy to metaphorically put your head under the pillow and wish it would all go away. Well it isn't going away. It was never going away. Some fans pretended it was and nothing could touch the club. They are wrong. There are people who spend most of their waking life writing about and trying to hurt The Rangers any way they can. In a world without meaning this is their raison d'�ªtre. However, let us be clear. Some of the songs Rangers fans sing have become unacceptable, and frankly bizarre, in modern society. It's not necessary to sing about Chapels and Nuns considering there are more than enough Championships, Cups and victories against Celtic to cheer. Rangers are standing at a crossroads that has two paths. The first is to blindly walk on the current course. It will be a 'death by a thousand cuts' with a long, slow degradation of Rangers reputation and standing. There will almost certainly be bans from UEFA and the SFA/SPL or Scottish Authorities will eventually be forced to make their mark. This road is exactly what many non-Rangers fans secretly desire. The second option is to embrace Zero Tolerance, completely forbid the singing of those songs and chants like 'No Pope of Rome', 'The Billy Boys' and 'The Famine Song' but also in return demand Scottish football and society stop all offensive and sectarian songs. Including the terrorist-chic of IRA songs. The charge by some fans that if these songs are banned the club will start to lose part of it's identity is false. Singing about Rangers or even your pride in Britishness is not the same as pejoratively referencing another religion or nationality. In 1960, James Handley writing in 'The Celtic Story' wrote that: until a Catholic centre-forward in a Rangers blue jersey scores a goal against a Celtic team the tension will persist. If that should ever come to pass then the rabble would be bewildered and all its fire extinguished. The notion that the mob can be ultimately educated to see the folly of its way is a hollow one, for the creatures who compose it are ineducable. Not only is the text highly inflammatory and surprisingly reminiscent of Graham Spiers, he fails to understand The Rangers support. In the end when his Catholic Rangers player scenario once again came to life, the Maurice Johnston goal did not cause depression amongst Rangers fans but sheer joy. In fact it was even sweeter because it made the Celtic fans feel worse than usual after such a late decider. In the end it has always been about the club winning Championships and beating Celtic. That is Rangers' identity. This is a crucial point. Stopping songs about Catholicism or Ireland is not the same as asking Rangers fans to stop singing about Rangers and even of Britishness. Some fans have fallen into the trap of forgetting an identity is for something and not just against something. If the fans do stop then the club can legitimately defend the support. They have done this in the past when certain journalists questioned some pro-British songs. It soon became obvious that their query was not completely driven by an anti-sectarian stance, but to a reaction against any mention of British identity. In the end they had to back down. They had no case. However if the singing does persist, Martin Bain can hardly be seen to be defending the support if fans mention Famines and Priests. No-one can. Not Bain or any other CEO in the future. It doesn't matter if fans say they are not insulting those who died in a famine. If you mention a famine you can hardly blame people taking offence. If another fan group quoted the Ibrox Disaster - even if they were not belittling the tragedy - Rangers fans would still find it unacceptable. It doesn't matter if you elaborate some response that you dislike Catholicism as a religion but have no problems with Catholics. If you sing about "No Pope of Rome" and "No Nuns and no Priests, fuck your Rosary Beads" you will not be taken seriously. It doesn't matter if you sing 'The Billy Boys' and explain that Fenian does not mean Catholic and that Celtic fans sing in praise of Fenians. Society is not a debating chamber. Ideas are transmitted crudely. Sometimes those who make the most noise win. It has already been decided Fenian means Catholic. Game over. And lets be honest, in the same way some people use Hun to mean British or Protestant and then pretend it only means Rangers fans. There is no way a sizeable - especially young - section of the support does not equate Fenian with Catholic. Now before you get the impression I am just putting on a hair-shirt after a good beating with the big guilt-stick, I would like to re-emphasise - that as well as stopping those songs seen as offensive - Rangers FC and fans should demand zero-tolerance of sectarianism and discrimination from everyone. Demand that everyone should actually follow through on their strong zero-tolerance campaigns and expose them when they don't. Continue to ask questions if you see double-standards. Ask why it is a crime to be up to your knees in Fenian blood, but not Hibee or any other blood? Politely ask why offensive songs about the Pope are worse than offensive songs praising the IRA? Ask why journalists like Graham Spiers of The Times believes pro-IRA songs are "political" and why Andrew Smith of The Scotsman thinks "any acknowledgement of the Irish Republic can be viewed as pro-IRA" and that "The British Army are guilty of acts of terrorism in Iraqw" (sic) . Demand to know why glorifying guns and violence is acceptable? Query why IRA songs are "political" but UVF songs are sectarian? (Please note I am against both.) Once questions are asked it will surprise you how many secretly support or defend the IRA, or their own form of bigotry. They get off lightly because they are never asked any difficult questions by a support too busy navel-gazing over a few indefensible songs. Only recently I came across an article by a St Johnstone fanzine interviewing the BBC's Stuart Cosgrove who said: "One time we were through at Hearts, and we were at Falkirk station on the way, on the same day Rangers were playing Falkirk. It was Huns galore - thousands of them, and there were maybe 40 of us in the CYS from Perth. We got on the train at Falkirk Station, we just opened the windows as it started moving, and gave them "Orange wankers" and all the rest of it, and of course as soon as we were moving - the train stopped and started moving back into the station! The driver must have been a Hun or something." http://www.blueheaven.org.uk/cos1/cos3.php This is an employee of the same BBC who lecture others on sectarianism. This is the level of debate we are dealing with. It only needs the light of day for it to be exposed for what it is. (Ask yourself if you hear Stuart Cosgrove in the future discussing sectarianism that you won't be better informed about him by knowing that quote.) Rangers fans welcome fans and players from all religions and nationalities. From Dubliner Alex Stevenson who went onto coach the Republic of Ireland national team to Nacho Novo of Spain and Lorenzo Amoruso of Italy. From the supporters in Rome called 'the Italian Gers' to the Dublin Loyal of Ireland. From a report that show 5% of Rangers fans in Glasgow are Catholic (4% of Celtic fans in Glasgow are Protestant) to the Gers proud Asian fans. No-one cares because they share the support of The Rangers Football Club. However, wider society doesn't see this. They only see the stereotype projected and hear nonsense songs. They naturally assume the worst. So accept the challenge. Take the opportunity to make the Ibrox experience noisy and colourful. Sing about the magic of Rangers history. If there are non-football songs make sure it is for a positive identity we can share together. Society wants Zero Tolerance so lets give it to them. Start demanding the zero tolerance of all offensive/racist/bigoted songs. Not only is it the right moral choice but it's the best action for the club. There is nothing to fear. Rangers have no skeletons in the cupboard. Let us see if others can say the same. http://www.theawayend.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=677:uefa-charge-is-an-opportunity-for-rangers&catid=51:features&Itemid=109

RANGERS believe that a campaign to get them kicked out of Europe is being waged in SCOTLAND. Ibrox bosses insist they are stunned by UEFA's threat to ban Gers fans from away games and fine them. That threat follows a UEFA probe into sectarian singing at Gers' Europa League clash with PSV in Eindhoven last month. Ibrox chiefs claim the UEFA delegate at that game PRAISED Gers fans in his report. They believe the potential punishment has come as a result of an internet campaign designed to put the boot into the club. SunSport understands that UEFA delegate Geir Thorsteinsson's dossier was NOT overly scathing of Gers' fans behaviour although he did highlight 'anti-IRA chants'. Gers, who have been fined and warned three times by UEFA since 2006 over sectarian songs and offensive behaviour by fans, do not believe that is enough to land them in hot water again. UEFA beaks confirmed the SPL champs will face disciplinary action - and they are bracing themselves for a three-match fan ban AND a �£100,000 fine. A senior Ibrox source told SunSport last night: "Rangers believe there is a campaign to undermine them. "If you look right across Europe there are similar incidents with a whole host of clubs. "There are issues with Serbs, Croats and look at the problems with crowd violence in Russia right now. "Yet UEFA, once again, are putting the focus and the spotlight on to Rangers again. "We believe this is a campaign UEFA have reacted to." Ibrox chief executive Martin Bain was informed on Monday of the investigation and last night a UEFA spokesman said: "There is a disciplinary case open against Rangers. It will be discussed on April 28 by the control and disciplinary committee." Bain is now praying Gers don't suffer a setback in their fight against sectarianism. He said: "As a club we have been saying to the minority for sometime now they are going to ruin it for everyone. "We would have liked them to go away, but they haven't. "Now there is a possibility sanctions could be imposed. "I am not going to defend anyone who is singing sectarian songs, absolutely not. "What I am going to defend, very vigorously, is what the club has done in trying to eradicate the problem. UEFA have commended us, they know the hard work we've been doing and continue to do. Quantcast "We have done more than any club in Europe to eradicate the problem of sectarianism." Bain admits the threat of a three-match ban on fans travelling abroad could have a major impact on gaffer-in-waiting Ally McCoist. Bain confessed: "This is something nobody here wanted to see happen. "Our fans have come a long way and they have been praised and commended this season. "We work harder than any other club in Europe and we have made tremendous strides in tackling and addressing the issue of sectarianism. "We believe it is absurd to think only Rangers fans sing offensive or sectarian songs. The vast majority of Rangers fans deserve to see their team play in Europe. "It will be disappointing for Ally and the players if supporters are not there next season." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3515831/Theyre-out-to-get-us.html#ixzz1IvMbjOZ9

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/8422821/Rangers-chairman-admits-the-club-could-go-bust-if-no-white-knight-is-found.html The protest organisers took absolute pelters last year over him, plenty of people on RM particularly went all out to prove him a friend of the club, attending clandestine meetings and publishuing articles in an attempt to discredit the protests and now our chairman has broken his silence over him. He truly is the enemy within, to coin a phrase.

Darrell King Share 4 Apr 2011 Almost a year ago, this newspaper broke the story that Rangers were under investigation from HMRC over the use of Employment Benefit Trusts for over a decade. In the same article, we said that Lloyds Bank only had one plan for the club ââ?¬â?? cuts, cuts and more cuts. This would leave a team made up of players on low wages, with the squad supplemented by kids from Murray Park. Star names would go and, on top of that, the stadium was being neglected. We said that administration was a possibility, and that a sale would be unlikely unless someone agreed to offer a warranty on the potential tax bill that could, if found a case was there to answer, amount to tens of millions of pounds. The reaction? We were accused of scaremongering; in fact, some reckoned there were agendas at work to devalue the club just as they were going through an attempted take-over bid from Andrew Ellis. The day after we ran the story ââ?¬â?? which came about after weeks of investigation, including talking to players who at that stage had received letters from HMRC saying they would be part of a future probe, and talking to sources inside the boardroom ââ?¬â?? Sir David Murray responded. It was April 30 last year and, unless Iââ?¬â?¢ve missed it, that was probably the last time he went on record to talk about anything to do with the club. ââ?¬Å?This amounts to scare- mongering. Rangers are not in any danger because of their financial position,ââ?¬Â said Sir David. ââ?¬Å?People can think what they want of me, but one thing I would never do is put the club in danger. ââ?¬Å?If anyone wants to buy, let them make their play. They do due diligence and see where they are ââ?¬â?? but there is nothing to hide. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢ve had the club up for sale for two years. I am not going to be hard to deal with. It is a straightforward process.ââ?¬Â Subsequently, as we also predicted, Ellisââ?¬â?¢s bid fell. The ââ?¬Ë?for saleââ?¬â?¢ sign came down, well publicly anyway. And Rangers drifted on. Behind the scenes, Lloyds tightened their grip, squeezed more and the squad was asset-stripped further and further. Only Walter Smith ââ?¬â?? and his guidance of the team to two successive championships ââ?¬â??saved them from oblivion. Anyone who doubts that, just pause for a minute. Read the words of Alastair Johnston on Friday and imagine life at Rangers Ã?£30million poorer from what the Champions League has earned the club in the past two years. In fact, every Rangers fan should read what Johnston said over and over. Last Friday was the day when someone finally told it as it is. The day the chairman said enough was enough. Sure, he maybe got carried away, the nod of his head to a query on whether the club could go bust sparking all sorts of doomsday headlines and a subsequent retraction to the Stock Exchange. But Johnston showed guts and, in doing so, endorsed what this paper said a year ago. I wonder how the Lloyds Bank PR person felt on Friday when Johnston revealed that Donald Muir was the bankââ?¬â?¢s man, and that the only reason Rangersââ?¬â?¢ credit facility was rubber-stamped was because he was on the board. Or the fact that Lloyds refused to speak to Martin Bain ââ?¬â?? the man paid to run the club ââ?¬â?? for the first six months after they moved in back in October 2009, preferring to do all their business through Muir, who was acting on their behalf. This is the same Lloyds PR man who challenged us at every turn, asking us to remove any mention in articles that Muir was ââ?¬Ë?Lloyds Bankââ?¬â?¢s manââ?¬â?¢ and insisting that he was actually there are at the behest of the Murray Group. What Johnston did was brave, honourable and truthful at the same time. He laid it bare for Rangers fans who looked at our headlines a year ago and said ââ?¬Å?No way, not us. We are Rangers. Taxman? Administration? Not a chance.ââ?¬Â Well, the truth is out there now. Johnston is a fan first, chairman second. He knows itââ?¬â?¢s quite outrageous to ask the clubââ?¬â?¢s supporters (as is about to happen) to collectively shell out in the region of Ã?£15m in season ticket money when they donââ?¬â?¢t actually know what they will be watching next term. He also put pressure on all those involved in the current situation ââ?¬â?? Craig Whyte, Murray and the bank. Itââ?¬â?¢s time to do a deal, or move aside. His message, essentially, is this: If the status quo is to remain, let us know so we all know what we are getting into ââ?¬â?? especially Ally McCoist. Murray spoke of a straight-forward process, yet Ellis couldnââ?¬â?¢t see it through after months of hanging around. Whyte has been on the scene for five months, and we are now told it will be this week when a decision is finally made. His camp say he is getting little help, especially over issues like the Ã?£2.8m tax bill that popped up last week at the 11th hour. Murray wants Ã?£6m for his shares, when it could be argued that they are worthless in light of the possible tax liability that could sink them out of sight. The bank want their full Ã?£24m when they are selling off bad debts all over the place at 60p in the pound. They are looking after themselves, fair enough, but at least be straight. Donââ?¬â?¢t kid people on you are supportive when you are looking after your own interests. And what of Whyte? We know nothing really of this man, except that he appears to have patience, money to back him up, and that he has impressed Johnston and the board. If he walks, for whatever reason, he should tell the Rangers support why. If he does a deal then, even with tax problems still hanging around their neck, the club has a chance. But the time has come for him to show his hand. Buying Rangers is, after all, said to be a straightforward process. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks/the-truth-is-out-there-1.1094453

By Roddy Forsyth 11:00PM BST 01 Apr 2011 It soon became clear, though, that settling accounts was more on the Ibrox chairmanââ?¬â?¢s mind when he sat down in one of the stadiumââ?¬â?¢s plush lounges to offer a candid appraisal of the clubââ?¬â?¢s situation and the progress of the takeover bid being mounted by the London-based Scottish venture capitalist, Craig Whyte. By the time he had finished, he had delivered blistering criticisms of Lloyds Banking Group and Donald Muir ââ?¬â?? one of the bankââ?¬â?¢s placemen on the Rangers board. Johnston also confirmed that, if Whyteââ?¬â?¢s takeover is not concluded by close of business on Monday, Rangers are likely to go into administration if they lose their battle with HMRC over offshore payments to players. The clue that this was not going to be a soporific drone through questions of disposable assets and amortisations lay in the text of Rangersââ?¬â?¢ interim accounts to Dec 31, 2010, released earlier in the morning. They were pretty much in line with last yearââ?¬â?¢s equivalent figures, although turnover was down by Ã?£4.1 million to Ã?£33.7 million, with the same reduction in retained profit. The downturn was accounted for by home games postponed because of severe winter weather and by a five per cent reduction in season ticket sales, ascribed to the economic climate. However, amidst a note on the extension of credit facilities it was remarked that, ââ?¬Å?while we appreciate the support of the Lloyds Banking Group ... certain provisions imposed on the club continue to compromise, in our opinion, managementââ?¬â?¢s ability to conduct its role with maximum efficiency.ââ?¬Â There was meat in that and, as soon as Johnston sat down with a small group of correspondents, it was served up in ample portion and more or less raw. Asked how Lloyds had ââ?¬Ë?compromisedââ?¬â?¢ Rangers, Johnston said: ââ?¬Å?The bank look on us as a short-term project to the extent that at every opportunity theyââ?¬â?¢re not willing to concede that there isnââ?¬â?¢t an occasion or a transaction where they might want to participate. ââ?¬Å?If we sell players, do we have any certainty that we will get all the money, 90 per cent of it, 80 per cent of it, whatever? It makes it tough for our management to understand and to plan for selling players when we donââ?¬â?¢t know how much of the money weââ?¬â?¢re getting to keep. ââ?¬Å?The management team is reluctant to sell players because they donââ?¬â?¢t know if theyââ?¬â?¢ll get enough money to replace them. So when I say they compromise us, I mean they compromise our ability to plan three-year cycles. ââ?¬Å?They [Lloyds] have been fairly assiduous at saying, ââ?¬Ë?While we are willing to look at this on a case-by-case basis, weââ?¬â?¢re never going to give you carte blanche to think itââ?¬â?¢s all your money ââ?¬â?? if you get into the Champions League weââ?¬â?¢ll want part of itââ?¬â?¢. Therefore our management team is wary of doing certain things that in the long run might come back and haunt them.ââ?¬Â But wasnââ?¬â?¢t the purpose of having Muir on the Ibrox board to ease communications between the directors and the bank? ââ?¬Å?Letââ?¬â?¢s be very clear on the situation with Donald Muir ââ?¬â?? itââ?¬â?¢s a condition of our credit facility agreement that Donald Muir is the representative of the bank on the board. "Itââ?¬â?¢s very tough to engage in conversations at board level about strategies with the bank when we know that the bank guy is sitting there,ââ?¬Â said Johnston who, when asked why it had been denied previously that Muir was Lloydââ?¬â?¢s man, had a sharp retort. ââ?¬Å?I think it was Donald that denied that. Itââ?¬â?¢s been denied by a lot of people, but Iââ?¬â?¢m telling you what the issue is right now. I decided that I might as well,ââ?¬Â said Johnston. ââ?¬Å?What happened when I got here was that the banker that was involved with us refused to talk to our chief executive or to our chief financial officer. It was one of the most stupid aberrations that Iââ?¬â?¢ve ever come across and I said that to the bank. "He had never met our chief financial officer. He had never met Martin Bain [Rangersââ?¬â?¢ chief executive], so all the communications had to go through Donald Muir and Mike McGill, the other director, although essentially it was more through Donald than it was Mike. ââ?¬Å?So a lot of stuff got lost in translation.ââ?¬Â Would it be better for Rangers, therefore, if Muir ââ?¬â?? who is understood to have left the Murray Group on Thursday ââ?¬â?? also departed the club? ââ?¬Å?No question that his presence compromises things,ââ?¬Â said Johnston, although he added: ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢ve always got on well with Donald Muir but I deal within the context of who he is.ââ?¬Â Johnston revealed that there were two HMRC issues, the latest ââ?¬â?? and much the smaller ââ?¬â?? being a claim by the tax authority for Ã?£2.8 million. ââ?¬Å?It relates to more than two or three players, but it relates to an issue 10 or 11 years ago ââ?¬â?? I donââ?¬â?¢t know the context of doing it,ââ?¬Â said the chairman. "As the Americans say, this one came right out of left-field. It really, really is frustrating. No one knew about it a couple of months ago ââ?¬â?? and let me put on record that if we did know about it we would have had to put it in our annual report and take liability for it in the accounts. ââ?¬Å?I donââ?¬â?¢t think it is a deal breaker. It wasnââ?¬â?¢t in any plan, it wasnââ?¬â?¢t in our budgets or anything that we have been trying to do. We have a very disciplined approach and I didnââ?¬â?¢t like that appearing over the horizon suddenly.ââ?¬Â As for the Whyte bid, it is understood that Murray had set a deadline of March 31 for completion but that other delays ââ?¬â?? including slow delivery of the bankââ?¬â?¢s authorisation for the bid to go through ââ?¬â?? required an extension. Still, it is surely a case of deal or no deal by Monday? ââ?¬Å?Exactly ââ?¬â?? that is the scenario that I am expecting,ââ?¬Â Johnston said. ââ?¬Å?I have to share with you the fact that amongst my fellow board members we have different views ââ?¬â?? but the board are reflective of my view which is, if we can get this thing right it will be good. ââ?¬Å?The club is the commodity ââ?¬â?? we donââ?¬â?¢t have a seat at the deal. We have to shove ourselves into the room. Our mission has been to represent Rangers Football Club and hundreds of thousands of supporters. We have no legal right to request it ââ?¬â?? but we have a moral right to request it.ââ?¬Â And if the deal fails and the HMRC judgment goes against Rangers in a few weeks? ââ?¬Å?Thereââ?¬â?¢s a 10,000lb gorilla in the room and you donââ?¬â?¢t know what its appetite is,ââ?¬Â Johnston replied. ââ?¬Å?Even accessing all the resources we have access to, we couldnââ?¬â?¢t pay the bill.ââ?¬Â From which the only conclusion is that, if there is no Whyte knight and if faced with an adverse judgment in the main HMRC case ââ?¬â?? which could amount to as much as a Ã?£30 million liability ââ?¬â?? Rangers would go bust after 139 years of existence. Johnstonââ?¬â?¢s silent nod of assent when asked that question was even more eloquent than any of the scalding words he had just uttered.

I would be surprised if Stewart Regan didnââ?¬â?¢t know exactly what he was doing when he commented on the happenings of the League Cup final; Iââ?¬â?¢m sure he had reasons for doing it that way; one would be that he didnââ?¬â?¢t want to make an enemy of the establishment team in Scotland. He has called a summit this Wednesday at Hampden and invited along the clubs; the police; and the politicians; he has failed to invite the people who have made it necessary to have the summit in the first place; the most poisonous football supports in Europe. I have a certain sympathy with Mr Regan; he is in the unenviable situation of being surrounded by bigoted oafs like George Peat; he also has in the office another clown; Billy Singh of Show Racism the Red Card; an organisation that took a full year to admit that the ââ?¬Å?Famine Songââ?¬Â was racist; he just happens to be a Rangers supporter; surprise; surprise. Reganââ?¬â?¢s statement is classic they are two sides of the same coin; ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m conscious that it (sectarian chanting) is becoming more of an issue in recent times; Iââ?¬â?¢ve been told its gathering momentum and itââ?¬â?¢s more prevalent now than it was this time last year. Now why would that be Mr Regan? Would it because all the threats of closed door matches and point deduction were a bluff; the SFA; and indeed UEFA have failed miserably in that respect. He also talks of political songs and sectarian songs; I donââ?¬â?¢t think you would need a degree to define the songs which fall into which category; but I think I can say without fear of contradiction; No Pope of Rome; the Famine Song; and being up to your knees in Fenian Blood certainly are not political songs. The media have completely brushed this issue under the carpet; they know for an absolute fact who is responsible; and therefore who need to be punished; but apart from Graham Spiers and George Galloway; nobody has come out and said who is to blame; guys like Gordon Waddell didnââ?¬â?¢t even mention it in his column yesterday; and today in the Daily Mail John Greechan is calling for the person who threw the banana at Neymar to be tracked down and banned forever; why isnââ?¬â?¢t he calling for 50,000 bigots to be banned forever? So what will happen on Wednesday at the summit? People like justice minister Mac Askill and assistant chief constable Corrigan have actually backed themselves into a corner with their comments after the last match; so how do they now come out and say there is a problem? Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell played a blinder in the last summit; he came out and applauded our fans for their positive and inspiring support; what did Marin Bain say about his fans? Zilch; his silence told its own story. Finally let me say this; I think the Celtic fans need to stop contributing to the media; not only by not purchasing their rags; but also by not appearing on their radio shows; we never get a balanced report; all these people are doing is using the Celtic fans to stir up controversy and therefore boost their listening figures; just ask yourself this; when was the last time Keevens or Traynor stood up for Celtic? Or maybe more important; when was the last time any of the two of them said anything disrespectful of Walter or his team? Joe O'Rourke Administrator http://www.celticsupporterassoc.co.uk/showthread.php?t=867&p=4164#post4164

THE reason for the delay in Rangers publishing their half-yearly figures is ,there are those on the Ibrox board who quite simply do not trust Lloyds. However, I believe that recent top level talks with the new men at the top of Lloyds will see Rangers release the figures this week. It surprises me that not much has been made of what has been going on at Lloyds' top table in the last month. For the fact is that since the last update on the power struggle on the Ibrox board, and my revelations about why the half yearly accounts had not been published, there have been massive changes at Lloyds. It now remains to be seen whether those changes will undermine the position of Donald Muir and Mike McGill, the two Ibrox directors who are seen as Lloyds men. Somehow, and for no reason I can fathom, the huge upheaval at Lloyds has not made its way onto the sports pages of the nation's newspapers. Though what's being going on at Lloyds has appeared on the business and financicial pages of such reputable media outlets as the Daily Telegraph and the Scotsman. Let's kick off right at the top of the tree. The man who was in charge of Lloyds as chief executive, Eric Daniels, is no more. And a good thing too, many may believe. Closer to home for Rangers, the executive director of Lloyds, who had special responsibilities for the bank's business in Scotland, Archibald Gerard Kane, is also no more. An even better thing those on the Ibrox board with the good of Rangers in their hearts, Martin Bain, Alastair Johnston John McClelland, Paul Murray and Dave King, may well believe. The new Lloyds chief executive is the Portuguese born Antonio Horto-Osorio, who took over three weeks ago, and who is believed to be a hands-on supremo. Certainly it did not take him long to express what many interpreted as his dis-satisfaction with the performance of Lanarkshire born man-of-mystery Kane. One of the new chief executive's acts was to show Kane the door and replace him with Philip Grant. My research into Grant seems to show he was previously with the Royal Bank of Scotland, but the probe is ongoing. More of Lloyds new man Grant at a later date. For the moment, it is better to examine just what has been going on between Rangers and Lloyds during this period of turmoil at the bank. You may recall that last month I revealed the four page document which contains Rangers half yearly figures, plus a statement from chief executive, Bain, was pulped after Muir and McGill were reported to have objected to what Bain had written. There followed a round of briefings by Donald Muir to a small cherrypicked group of reporters, which surprisingly exiled the Daily Record. WHY? Rangers were believed to be furious that the outcome of these clandestine meetings was a series of stories which claimed Lloyds had saved Rangers. There was even some talk that what Muir had done may have breached the strict confidentiality laws governing the relationship between a bank and its customer. While this was all going on, Bain met with the bank again to try and thrash out a new business plan. When he reported back to the Rangers board, McClelland, Murray and Johnston were unhappy with what the bank proposed. That led to a further delay This happened against the backdrop of Horto-Osorio was getting his feet under the Lloyds boardroom table. Now, with the arrival of the new executive director at Loyds with special responsibilites for their business in Scotland, Philip Grant, Rangers have a new man to negotiate with. The latest delay to the publication of the half yearly accounts is a direct result of those talks, with Rangers hoping they get more sense out of the new man than they did from Archibald Gerard Kane. Or from the man who was responsibe for business banking at Lloyds when they took over Rangers banking arrangements, the now departed founder board member of the Celtic Trust, Manus Joseph, J Fullerton. Rangers can point to the fact Lloys inherited a debt of �£31M, largely due to the club's absence from Europe in the year before, which had fallen to �£23M by the time the annual audited accounts were published in the summer of 2010. It is believed that debt to Lloyds will now be around �£20M....or even less. Which will show the new men at Lloyds the ability Rangers have to reduce their debt, provided they are allowed to conduct their business in a way geared to bring that business success. As the business of Rangers Football Club is football, success financially is relative to the success on the park of the team. Therefore, playing in Europe - even in the Europe League - increases the club's income. In turn making Rangers more able to continue to reduce its debt to Lloyds. That is neither brain surgery nor rocket science. The amazing thing is that Eric Daniels, Archibald Gerard Kane or Manus Joseph J Fullerton seemed to realise that. Or if they did, the gave every appearance of wanting to ignore the fact. For whatever reason. Now, perhaps trust will finally be established between Lloyds Bank and Rangers Football Club. http://leggoland2.blogspot.com/

I really doubt Ally would say to any possible future boss to put up or shut up. It would be very stupid if he did.