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http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/gordon-waddell-rangers-players-shrug-4678381 ALL for one – and every man for himself. Clearly Ian Black’s motto for Rangers’ new era. If ever you needed confirmation of the mink-lined vacuum some players live in, the Rangers midfielder was happy to provide it last week. “The only time it affects you,” he said, talking about his club’s off-field circus, “is when it gets to the stage when you’re not getting paid. “That’s the only time it will affect the players. Until then we don’t really pay attention to it.” Ten staff made redundant, 10 lives ruined six weeks before Christmas, 10 families thrown into upheaval. But as long as there’s unleaded for the Bentley and foie gras for the dinner table in the Black household, eh? Talk about being detached from reality. A month of Black’s wages would have kept a couple of those staff – his fellow employees – in jobs for a year. It never works that way, I get that. It’s never that simple. Like when Gers plunged into admin what seems like a lifetime ago and the players took pay cuts on the guarantee that no staff would be emptied. It was flawed logic at the heart of an even more flawed administration – but at least it showed the dressing room had some kind of conscience at the time, a little integrity. A base layer of decency. Clearly not the case these days. And perhaps wholly indicative that the complete Ashleyfication of the club is moving ever closer. The ‘he said, she said’ debacle between the Easdales, David Somers, Dave King, George Letham, Brian Kennedy and the entire ensemble cast has become a daily weeping sore, a little more pus seeping out every few hours on the wires. The court actions against those at the centre of the club’s shambolic descent. The giant cartoon sticking plasters that are Mike Ashley’s temporary loans, covering over one burst financial pipe only for another one to spring a leak right next to it. Fred Quimby would’ve had a field day with this kind of material. And those job losses. Always the staff, usually always the good guys who plod away in the background trying to keep the place ticking over while the bombs drop around them. You end up asking yourself who’s going to be left to switch the lights on and off, make the place function on a day to day basis, so many of them have been given deals. Then again, is that all part of the plan? If there is a plan? A few weeks ago, this column indulged in a little bit of devil’s advocation, asking whether a profit-oriented pragmatist such as Ashley wasn’t exactly what Rangers needed to get them running on an even keel, rather than the regimes who openly admitted to blowing £67m in 18 months. What price will they pay for it, though? Are Rangers just going to become a footballing branch of Sports Direct, a strip-lit, soulless outlet, centrally administered by faceless call-centre minions? What will become of the Rangers Charity Foundation? What about all the work in the community they do? The Rangers Study Support Centre? Are all these things still going to be funded, or will they be stripped away? Are they about to become a bare-bones operation without a care for what or who they represent? Will they have any values, or is it simply about value? From everything you hear about Ashley, he won’t give a toss about the periphery and the frippery. But they are questions that need answers because these are all things that make a club. They’re constituent parts of something that’s bigger than 11 players, four stands and two goals. Look at Celtic’s agm the other day. Look at how much is made of the culture of the club, its history, when it comes to things like the living wage and their staff being looked after. Look at an organisation like Big Hearts and the amount they do in the community, how much retaining its reach meant to them when they emerged from admin. Then look at Rangers and wonder what they’re going to look like when this is all done. If it’s ever all done. Wonder at what point an Ian Black WILL care about what’s going on outside his cocoon and whether there will be anything left of them to care about anyway. ************* Ian Black, your time is also up. Never have i disliked any Rangers player so much. The very definition of imposter. All this after the betting scandal and him asking fans "what the fuck do you expect" ? embarrassment.
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According to Liewell at their agm. "Lawwell made his assertion after contextualising the Hoops' earning potential at the club's packed annual general meeting at Celtic Park on Friday. He claimed that the 40,000 season tickets sold for this campaign was only bettered in Britain by Manchester United and Arsenal, then told shareholders that winning the Scottish Premiership title brings in £1.8million while claiming that clubs relegated from the English top flight rake in £65million. At a press conference in the Celtic Park boardroom afterwards he expanded on the theme, claiming that, if the Scottish champions had access to the sort of broadcast monies available to the top clubs in England, Celtic would be peerless. "I believe that," he said. "If you go back 25-30 years and compare us to Manchester United before the media and TV boom, there probably wasn't much in it. "I think our story is unique, it is rich - it is the best. "We have a potential fan-base of Scots/Irish diaspora around the world to support that and we have fantastic, strong fan-base in Scotland. "I don't see any barrier if you compare Celtic to Manchester United or Arsenal, the top clubs down there. "I don't see any barriers if we were getting the same media values as they are getting regularly." Asked about comparisons with Real Madrid and Barcelona, Lawwell replied: "Similarly. The media values in England will outweigh the media values or be similar to the top in Spain or Germany. "Therefore if it is a level playing field with our strong fundamentals. I don't see any reason why we couldn't be." In a more cryptic way, Lawwell suggested that moves were afoot all across Europe for clubs in a similar situation to Celtic - essentially big fish in small ponds - to increase revenue potential, having earlier mentioned regional leagues or supranational leagues. "We are not alone," he said. "Other leagues and nations are suffering the same problems and there needs to be a solution, and I think more than ever UEFA are open to a solution . "There are no concrete plans, but it is getting to become more of a discussion item." Lawwell, who hopes to convince striker John Guidetti to make his loan move from Manchester City permanent, reiterated a previous assertion that the absence of traditional rivals Rangers from the top flight costs the Parkhead club £10million per season. However, he was unimpressed when reminded that former Hoops boss Gordon Strachan, currently the Scotland national team coach, had recently spoken about the need to get Rangers, Hearts and Hibernian - all battling to get out of the Championship - back into the top flight. Strachan said: "People say you can't manipulate it, but I think you have to get them back in." However, Lawwell said: "I love Gordon dearly. He is a pal, but he is way off the mark there. We would never support that. "It is sporting integrity. It is a football competition and above all else you have to apply the rules, and to manipulate those rules would be wrong and there would be clubs who would suffer, as well as clubs who would benefit." There were relatively few nods to Ibrox during the AGM, which lasted just over two hours, but Lawwell was later asked, in his capacity as member of the main board of the Scottish Football Association, whether there was a possible conflict of interest in the shape of Rangers shareholder Mike Ashley, who appears to be increasing his power-base at the Ibrox club while still the owner of Newcastle United. Lawwell said: "I think potentially there is, but I am sure the SFA and the other authorities will scrutinise, analyse and do the right thing.""
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I think we all know the answer to that.
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http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/rangers-blazers-war-dave-king-4670042
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@mrandrewdickson Can now confirm I've left Rangers. Got the biggest, most exciting challenge of my career ahead of me in early 2015, looking forward to it. @mrandrewdickson 4m4 minutes ago Sad to leave the club but looking to the future with lots of optimism I can take my career to the next level in a way I've always hoped to. @mrandrewdickson 52s52 seconds ago Very many thanks to the people who have made working for Rangers such an enjoyable experience. I've some wonderful times to look back on. mrandrewdickson 47s48 seconds ago It has been a pleasure and a privilege to report on events at Ibrox and Murray Park, all the best to the colleagues I've worked with.
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...and says manager Ally McCoist is being 'hung out to dry' by the board. THE former boss gave a withering assessment of the men at the top of the marble staircase and claimed they’ve hung McCoist out to dry. WALTER Smith last night accused the Rangers board of making Ally McCoist the worst prepared manager in their history. The former boss gave a withering assessment of the men at the top of the marble staircase and claimed they’ve hung McCoist out to dry. Smith spoke out in strong support of McCoist in Glasgow in front of an audience of 750 at a question and answer session during a charity dinner. The ex-chairman accused the current regime of failing to back the boss and said boardroom instability is also hampering the team. Asked to reflect on the work of McCoist, who was at the event, Smith said: “Ally will need a little help – in the last three years he has had none whatsoever. “I was fortunate enough to be given great support by the likes of David Murray with the signings I was allowed to make. “People are casting aspersions on Ally’s ability but if I ever had doubts about him I would never have recommended him for the job. “No club can be successful until it is well run from the top, it’s the single determining factor in how well the team plays. “I wish Ally could be given that opportunity but it isn’t being afforded him. Ally is bearing up well under the worst circumstances under which any Rangers manager has had to work.” Smith also turned on former owner Craig Whyte when asked if he was still happy with his decision to step away from the club three years ago. He said sarcastically: “I was quite happy to leave Rangers in the hands of Craig Whyte – well, he was a billionaire, after all. “Where is he now? Costa Rica or somewhere? The wee b******.” Meanwhile, Dave King claims Sandy Easdale was as concerned with his seat on the board as investment in the cash-strapped club. Easdale has labelled the South African-based tycoon’s plan to invest £16million a phantom bid driven by self-promotion. The bus boss and Rangers board snubbed King’s offer and a £3m loan from Brian Kennedy, instead taking a £2m bailout from Mike Ashley. Now King has hit back and said: “When I spoke to Sandy on my recent trip to Scotland his main concern was whether, after investment by our consortium, he would still be involved with the club. “I confirmed we had no immediate intention to remove him or his brother from board involvement. This was clearly not enough to gain his support.” http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/craig-whyte-wee-b-walter-4665444 -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30134269 Sandy Easdale, chairman of the Rangers football board, sought assurances that boardroom changes would not force him out of Ibrox, Dave King has revealed. During discussions about a proposed £16m investment by King and a Rangers fans' consortium, he wanted reassurance that his position was safe. He was advised there was "no immediate intention to remove him or his brother [James] from the board". Sandy Easdale subsequently supported Mike Ashley's offer of a £2m loan. James Easdale is a non-executive director of Rangers International Football Club. A series of disagreements has broken out following the RIFC chairman David Somers' attempt to justify why the board accepted Ashley's offer ahead of the proposed investment from King and the consortium, and a £3m loan offered by Brian Kennedy. The latter has revealed that he was prepared to provide the loan at nominal or zero interest, and wanted Ibrox protected in a trust. Somers explained that the board opted for Ashley's loan, which has since been increased by an additional £1m, because it involved less interest and less security, Sandy Easdale also insisted in a strongly worded statement that he never agreed with the King consortium that they could provide proof of funding and the identity of all of the investors after shareholders agreed in principle to support the investment, which would have seen the group receive an equity share of RIFC and take control of the board. "I have grown tired of Mr King's antics," Easdale said, after offering his support to Somers' stance. This prompted a further response from King, who had already urged supporters to withdraw their financial support from the club on match days and in terms of merchandise. Ashley's Sports Direct already had a commercial arrangement with Rangers through the joint venture Rangers Retail Ltd. The terms of that have since been "normalised" and Sports Direct have entered a "partnership marketing agreement". Sports Direct have also given up the naming rights to Ibrox, but the company still retains "certain advertising rights". Around 10 administrative staff have been made redundant at Ibrox, including commercial and marketing employees. "It remains interesting that Sandy continues to take the lead on public company affairs," King said. "The truth is, when I spoke to Sandy on my recent trip to Scotland his main concern was whether, after investment by our consortium, he would still be able to stay involved with the club. "He indicated that Mike Ashley would look after him if he assisted Ashley in protecting his commercial rights. The new investment proposed by Paul [Murray], George [Letham] and I was seen as a threat to Sports Direct's desire to extend its influence over the Rangers brand in all its forms. "After discussion with Paul and George, I confirmed by email to Sandy that we had no immediate intention to remove him or his brother from board involvement at Rangers. "This concession was clearly not enough to gain his support and the board approved the inferior offer presented by Ashley. "Furthermore, in my meeting with the Rangers board I confirmed that I could give proof of funds within 24 hours of the board accepting our proposal in principle. I was never asked to do this."
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https://twitter.com/Herald_Editor/status/535213375333359618/photo/1
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Grant Russell @STVGrant · 2m 2 minutes ago Rangers football board chairman Sandy Easdale issues a statement through his PR man. "I have grown tired of Mr [Dave] King’s antics." Easdale: "For a bid to be rejected it has to be received first." Grant Russell @STVGrant · 47s 48 seconds ago Easdale: "I can only conclude that Mr King’s phantom bid was designed as vehicle for self-promotion of some kind." https://twitter.com/stvgrant
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Being reported that first ten employees are going.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30106866
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At a RFC plc Board meeting the matter of a repayment of funds to Ticketus came up in relation to the transfer of Jelavic. Donald Muir took a great interest in the deal and spent a lot of time to ensure he fully understood it. Subsequently Whyte's interest stepped up.
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A minute's applause will precede Scotland's friendly against England on Tuesday in tribute to the Scotland fan who died following their victory over the Republic of Ireland on Friday. Nathan McSeveney, 20, died when he fell in a Celtic Park stairwell. Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan said: "We have all been extremely saddened. "It is fitting that Scotland supporters have an opportunity to pay tribute to one of their own at Celtic Park." The tribute was announced after consultation with McSeveney's family, from Cumnock in Ayrshire.
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After 3pm apparently for those on Sky Go or in the house! He's going to be explaining the Ashley loans... Comments: - David Somers claims Dave King consortium investment offer was breaching regulatory requirements so rejected them at 'Stage One'. - Somers claims 8 people were in King consortium but SA businessman refused to provide names and proof of funds. - Somers said that King was prepared to offer up 3 names before giving the rest if agreement made in principle. - Stage Two represented comparing Ashley and Kennedy bids whereby former was approved due to better deal on interest and security - Somers also claims Rangers make a lot of money from existing retail deal with Mike Ashley.
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Some meat on the bones of yesterday's court appearance... http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/6101587/Cash-n-grab.html
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http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/the-recovery-will-start-at-hearts-says-rangers-captain-mcculloch-188835n.25885771? McCulloch and his Gers team-mates were booed off the pitch by their own fans at Ibrox on Saturday after failing to beat the part-time Wasps. It was a terrible result ahead of the massive top-of-the-table showdown with the Jambos at Tynecastle this weekend It allowed Hearts, who beat Falkirk 2-1 away later that day, to pull six points clear at the top of the second-tier table. But skipper McCulloch, who thought he had snatched victory against Alloa with a second-half goal, is confident his side can beat the capital club. He was pleased with the way the League One champions responded to their 3-1 defeat at home at Hibs back in September. And the centre-half reckons Ally McCoist's side can get back to winning against Robbie Neilson's team despite Hearts being unbeaten in the Championship. McCulloch said: "We know the importance of the match. We were disappointed on Saturday and that has made it more important than it already was. "We are going to have to be ready. Tynecastle is always a hard place to go. But we are looking forward to it. "There is going to be a good atmosphere and we will be playing against a good Hearts team. They are very organised. "It is a chance to put right what we did wrong against Alloa on Saturday and I am sure we will be prepared. "We certainly responded to the defeat at home against Hibs in September. We managed to go on an eight-game winning run in all competitions. Hopefully we can do it again." McCulloch was at a loss to explain why Rangers failed for the second time in the campaign to beat Alloa, who equalised with a Liam Buchanan strike. "I honestly don't know what happened," he said. "We were scoring goals freely and keeping clean sheets at the back going into it. "We passed the ball all right at times and created some chances. But we didn't take them, simple as that. "We had a moment of madness after we scored our goal and we couldn't get back in the game." -
A super legend as a player but why is he allowed to still be manager....1 or 2 results could be swept under the carpet but the following shows he isn't the man. Peterhead 2-2 Rangers Berwick 1-1 Rangers Annan 0-0 Rangers Stirling 1-0 Rangers Rangers 1-1 Elgin Rangers 1-1 Montrose Stirling 1-1 Rangers Rangers 1-2 Annan Rangers 0-0 Stirling Montrose 0-0 Rangers Rangers 1-2 Peterhead Rangers 1-1 Stranraer Rangers 3-3 Stenhousemuir Raith 1-0 Rangers (cup final) Forfar 2-1 Rangers Rangers 1-1 Albion Rangers 1-3 Dundee Utd Brora Rangers 1-1 Rangers Ventura Fusion County (no laughing at the back please) 3-1 Rangers Rangers 1-2 Hearts Alloa 1-1 Rangers Rangers 1-3 Hibs Rangers 1-1 Alloa
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Have we really spent more than £20M on players wages over these three seasons? And for what, two minor league titles? Our manager is a disgrace, will leave it at that.
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ALLY McCoist is pleased for Rangers fans that Mike Ashley has given up the naming rights to Ibrox. The Gers this week announced that major shareholder Ashley had agreed to turn down the chance to rename the stadium. Supporters were vehemently opposed to the move and had staged protests outside the Sports Direct stores owned by the billionaire. He said: "I can understand people trying to rename stadiums for financial purposes. "But I think to the vast majority of supporters it will still remain Ibrox no matter what you put in front of it. "It would remain what it has been for years and all through the generations. "From the Rangers point of view you could call it whatever you wanted but it would still be Ibrox. "I'm just glad we won't get the opportunity to find that out. "Any good news is welcomed by the Rangers supporters and I think the majority see it that way. I'm delighted for them." McCoist received some good news himself yesterday when he discovered that Lewis Macleod would be available for the SPFL Championship match with Alloa today. Macleod has been training with the Scotland squad this week - but the 20-year-old midfielder was not needed for the Euro 2016 qualifier with the Republic of Ireland last night. And the Gers manager is hopeful that being away with the national squad will have given the youngster a massive lift ahead of the league game. He said: "Lewis has trained with us and is in our squad. "I had a chat with Gordon Strachan. Thankfully, he's in agreement that we would like him to get a game at the weekend. "I think he has a chance of being in our squad! It's safe to say that he is in the Scotland squad for a reason, and the reason is that he has been doing well. "We are delighted that he is back in the squad for the Alloa game because we want all our best players available. On current form Lewis is certainly one of them. "I would imagine he would join back up with the Scotland squad after the game. He's loved it. I spoke to him and he has thoroughly enjoyed it. Gordon said he's done just fine which is encouraging but not surprising." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/rangers-boss-mccoists-delight-over-name-game-188737n.25877768
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Teams: Marshall, Whittaker, R.Martin, Hanley, Robertson, Mulgrew, Brown, Maloney, Naismith, Anya, S.Fletcher Forde, Coleman, O'Shea, Keogh, Ward, McGeady, Hendrick, Gibson, McClean, Long, Walters
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http://news.stv.tv/west-central/299623-four-men-detained-after-police-probe-into-sale-of-rangers-in-2012/ I'd like to remind people of their legal obligations in speculating over individuals and alleged criminal behaviour. -
Found this on twitter this morning - apparently this can be purchased from Burtons. https://twitter.com/theZhangx/status/533173253448417280/photo/1
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Strapped in for yet another transfer window? Well, here we go! Graeme Shinnie (Left-back, 23, Inverness Caledonian Thistle) Max Power (attacking midfielder, 21, Tranmere Rovers) Express Graeme Shinnie on wiki -
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ibrox-hate-figure-brian-stockbridge-4625845 Rears his head.. Sorry, on mobile... Hence lack of copy and paste
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I don't always agree with the UoF but this statement is well worth sharing.
