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  1. ...as Trust increases Ibrox stake. The likelihood of a shareholder shoot-out has increased in recent days following the moves by Dave King and the Three Bears - a consortium comprising of Douglas Park, George Letham and George Taylor - that saw them separately snap up significant stakes in the Gers. The shares held between those two groups, supporters and other like-minded individuals and investors could be enough to oust the current board if an extraordinary general meeting is called. And Union of Fans spokesman Chris Graham knows the vote will make or break fans' ambitions of seeing their club wrestled away from the under-fire regime. He told SportTimes: "If it does go down to a vote, this is really the last chance for the club to end up back in the right hands. "It will be a straight battle between Dave King and the Three Bears on one side and the Easdales and Mike Ashley on the other. "There will be floating voters in between. There is only one side that will bring the fans back and if anyone is voting from a financial viewpoint then they really should be backing the Three Bears and King. "I would think the board would show a bit of common sense and it wouldn't get to an EGM but the longer it goes on and the more delays there are, it becomes more likely that is the way it will need to be resolved. "Between King and the Three Bears, they have 35% and they can rely on a reasonable percentage of the fan vote. "We will be doing our best to make sure fans use their shareholding, it could be worth a crucial few per cent. "I think there are enough unattached shareholders there who, having looked at the level of mismanagement and anger from fans, would take the common sense approach and see there is only one option here." While any move by King or the Three Bears to vote off the under-fire board would be welcomed by fans, it would not be the end of Rangers' current crisis. The Light Blues require immediate funding to see them through to the end of the month, and help them fulfil an assurance to the SPFL that they can see out the Championship campaign. Mike Ashley and American businessman Robert Sarver could yet do a deal to provide another quick cash fix to keep the lights on at Ibrox. Graham said: "There is no option now other than some form of short-term loan. "We would be extremely reluctant to see someone like Mike Ashley provide that because we have already see the cost of that in terms of his control of the board and everything else. "The board are not going to get a share issue away quickly enough to deal with the cash issues. "The Sarver bid is frankly a distraction right now. The board can't accept it, it is only the shareholders who can. "Given the determination of the Rangers men to get in there, I don't see why they would step aside to allow him to take up a majority shareholding. They have the means and the will to fund the club." If an EGM is called, the shares held by fans could prove decisive in swinging the vote and toppling the board. And the Rangers Supporters Trust have announced that they have increased their stake to more than 1% with the purchase of another 100,000 shares in RIFC plc. An RST spokesman said: "A recent influx of new members and contributors to Buy Rangers has allowed us to make this purchase and with the continued support of the Rangers community we hope to increase our shareholding further in the near future. "All funds from the sale of Red and Black and Lion Brand shirts have been retained for use in a future share issue. "We will continue to work closely with those pushing for change at Rangers and we would ask fans to visit http://www.therst.co.uk and help us to take back our club." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/fans-fear-egm-is-last-chance-to-rescue-rangers-as-trust-increases-193866n.115833069?
  2. Lifted from FF: SoS - Ashleys next dastardly plan revealed The latest Mike Ashley dastardly plan uncovered. Mikes latest attempt to secure more of our blue pounds may yet come to fruition. If it is successful it will be no doubt sold to us as a " "normalised deal" His offer before Christmas was to obtain another 25% of Rangers Retail and he would pay for the privilege which could let the board sell it to the fans as cash not a loan. He is still trying to push this through. The boards plan is however to have some sort of buy back clause put in that would in effect make it just another loan. There is absolutely no need to give away even more future income streams nor do what would essentially be a fancy loan if the buy back was successful as there's money available immediately from those wishing to invest proper money in to our club.
  3. rbr

    Rangers first

    Great day for the Rangers first schemem , now sitting at over 2170 members , superb , hopefully this is just the start , I know there is an off line campaign starting soon which has been funded by separate donations.
  4. I emailed the pensions regulatory authority yesterday expressing my concerns about David Somers, chairman of the Fujitsu pension scheme. I attached the Somer's email 'leaked' a few days ago. Initial response received:- Dear govan_derriere, Thank you for your email. The Pensions Regulator's role is to enforce the legislation surrounding work-based pension schemes in the UK. Our primary objectives include protecting member’s benefits of those schemes, promoting good administration and improving understanding of work-based schemes. Our primary focus is to educate and enable those responsible for managing pension schemes to ensure that the right member outcomes are achieved. We do, however, have a number of enforcement powers that we can use to help meet our objectives, such as imposing fines where a breach of legislation has occurred. We are a risk based regulator and we apply this approach when dealing with concerns around the conduct of trustees. The regulator appreciates you bringing these concerns to our attention. We will make initial enquires about the information you have provided and subject it to our risk assessment process. We may ask you to clarify the information you have already provided, but we do not encourage you to try to get any new information. If appropriate, the matter will be referred for further investigation. Please note that we are unable to supply any feedback to you about the outcome of any possible investigation. Once again, thank you for bringing these concerns to our attention. Kind regards http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/contact-us.aspx http://www.trusteetoolkit.com To whom it may concern, David Somers, chairman of Fujitsu pension scheme, Dear Sir, I understand that Mr David Somers is chairman of Fujitsu pension scheme. I have reservations about the suitability of this gentleman to hold this post & fear that he does not meet the fit and proper test. I am a shareholder in Rangers International Football Club. As chairman of Rangers International Football Club, David Somers has failed miserably to apply appropriate standards of Corporate Governance and has fallen considerably short in meeting his fiduciary duty. The attached email was released into the public domain several days ago. In this email, I believe that David Somers reveals that he has been operating on his own behalf for personal gain and not on behalf of the company and its shareholders. The email also indicates that he has backed a minority shareholder, Mike Ashley, who only owns around 9% of the company! These are not the actions of a trustworthy chairman of a publicly listed company. On 31st December, Colin Kingsnorth from Laxey Partners released this statement:- In this statement he provides a damning description of Mr Somers as 'just a wet fish agreeing anything Ashley wanted'. On PA wires: Laxey partners chairman Colin Kingsnorth confirms he has sold his 16% stake to the Three Bears: "I sold because a fans-based group were hopefully going to be the best placed to take on Ashley's power. After Ashley removed Norman Crighton, Ashley's most vocal critic, it was obvious David Somers was just a wet fish agreeing anything Ashley wanted. I am sure the Three Bears are an upgrade on us for fans and hopefully this is the start of the ownership being in the right hands." As a shareholder in RIFC, I have grave concerns about the lack of integrity shown by David Somers in his role as chairman of RIFC. I believe that any chairman needs to display personal qualities that are above reproach. He has singularly failed to do so at RIFC. I feel duty bound to bring my concerns to your organisation given he also serves as chairman of Fujitsu pension scheme Yours faithfully govan_derriere Shareholder in RIFC I append some web links that provide some additional background. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/11311642/Rangers-chairman-David-Somers-pleaded-for-Mike-Ashley-takeover-to-succeed-emails-reveal.html http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/fans-chief-demands-rangers-chairman-david-somers-quits-over-email-193484n.115565781 http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/548420/Shambolic-David-Somers-told-to-give-up-Rangers-chairman-s-role http://www.directorstalk.com/rangers-dave-king-slams-chairman-david-somers-bids/
  5. PRIOR, who owns more shares than current director James Easdale, says he has no confidence in the competence or motives of the current board and is backing Douglas Park's consortium. IBROX investor Kieran Prior last night backed the Three Bears and urged them to throw every deal ever signed with Sports Direct in the dustbin. Prior broke his silence on the way forward for the cash-strapped club as he declared his shareholding to the Stock Exchange in the aftermath of the takeover bid by Robert Sarver. Prior owns more than one million shares, 1.35 per cent of the club, almost twice as many as current plc director James Easdale and more even than Ally McCoist. He allowed his stake in his boyhood favourites to be diluted after the last share issue in August because he was “unwilling to continue funding people clearly not fit to run the club”. However, his current shareholding is not for sale and he is keen to invest again in future, so long as Rangers are under the stewardship of those he feels has its best interests at heart. That’s why he’s backing George Taylor, George Letham and Douglas Park, as well as Dave King, as he offered a withering assessment of those currently in control, including Newcastle owner Mike Ashley. Prior said: “I’ve yet to meet the three new investors but I’m happy to throw my hat in with them because their credentials as men with the best interests of Rangers at heart is impeccable. “I’ve been in email contact with Dave King, an astute operator. He now has what he wanted – a stake in the club without funding the incompetence of current boardroom incumbents. Fair play to him. “I do not trust the people in control of the boardroom. Their unpopularity with the fans sets alarm bells ringing and their willingness to take shortcuts at every turn is a dreadful example of corporate governance. “I have no intention of ever backing them. Nothing they can say or do will change that. I will be voting with the fans to help re-shape the future of the club. “Rangers need a board that’s financially astute, of good business sense and logical – and they don’t have it at the moment. Hopefully, if the Three Bears and King take control the first thing they will do is hire forensic financial analysts to understand where money has been mis-spent and when the interests of individual shareholders appear to have been put before those of the wider club ownership. “I’d start with Ashley’s Sports Direct deals and if they are as ridiculous as reported I’d tear them up, throw them in the bin - and tell him to sue us and we’ll see him in court. “I’d rather not spend money on legal costs at all but if it came down to forking out £411,000 from Sports Direct on shirts the club can never sell, or on barristers and QCs to argue against those contracts in court, I know where I’d invest. “If these deals are not legally questionable – and we should seek counsel to establish if they are – then they are certainly morally repugnant. “Ashley has been mortally damaged in the eyes of fans by his own actions. The games he has played with the stadium naming rights and advertising are a nonsense. “He also appears to have reneged on obligations under dual interest rules, which is somewhat insulting to the SFA. Rangers have been punished too much by the football authorities as it is. “If he comes back to me on that, tough. I’m combative by nature – let’s get the contracts out in court where they can be examined openly and transparently. “I still don’t know why the current board haven’t resigned and the Easdales haven’t walked away. They know the value of the club would rise if they quit. “If all they want is a blazer and a seat in the Blue Room it’s disgusting. Those are not the actions of a real plc board.” Prior arrived on the scene 18 months ago and promised to look under the bonnet and, if he liked what he saw, he would invest further. Suffice to say, he didn’t see a Rolls-Royce engine. Manchester-born and London based, the former Goldman Sachs trader has spent much of the past 12 months in California, working on the launch of a multi-million dollar software firm. He rejected overtures from Brian Stockbridge to become a pivotal player on the board. He added: “He offered me board membership, all informally, when Craig Mather was chief executive. I thought Mather might have been a decent operator but maybe I was wrong. “I didn’t trust Stockbridge. I wasn’t going to try to polish his turd. I won’t be associated with anything that’s not world class. I don’t want a blazer for the sake of a blazer. “It’s important I clarify my position to supporters. I’ll continue to support good people running Rangers. “I’m intrigued by the emergence of Robert Sarver. If he wants to buy the club and elect a legitimate board that’s honest and transparent, then fine. “However, I do believe George Taylor, George Letham and Douglas Park are the best way forward. Dave King will be a key figure too. He has had issues with the authorities in South Africa but his net worth speaks for itself. “If Rangers are in good hands I’ll also increase my own holding.”
  6. ...and says 'Throw all the Sports Direct deals in the bin'. PRIOR, who owns more shares than current director James Easdale, says he has no confidence in the competence or motives of the current board and is backing Douglas Park's consortium. IBROX investor Kieran Prior last night backed the Three Bears and urged them to throw every deal ever signed with Sports Direct in the dustbin. Prior broke his silence on the way forward for the cash-strapped club as he declared his shareholding to the Stock Exchange in the aftermath of the takeover bid by Robert Sarver. Prior owns more than one million shares, 1.35 per cent of the club, almost twice as many as current plc director James Easdale and more even than Ally McCoist. He allowed his stake in his boyhood favourites to be diluted after the last share issue in August because he was “unwilling to continue funding people clearly not fit to run the club”. However, his current shareholding is not for sale and he is keen to invest again in future, so long as Rangers are under the stewardship of those he feels has its best interests at heart. That’s why he’s backing George Taylor, George Letham and Douglas Park, as well as Dave King, as he offered a withering assessment of those currently in control, including Newcastle owner Mike Ashley. Prior said: “I’ve yet to meet the three new investors but I’m happy to throw my hat in with them because their credentials as men with the best interests of Rangers at heart is impeccable. “I’ve been in email contact with Dave King, an astute operator. He now has what he wanted – a stake in the club without funding the incompetence of current boardroom incumbents. Fair play to him. “I do not trust the people in control of the boardroom. Their unpopularity with the fans sets alarm bells ringing and their willingness to take shortcuts at every turn is a dreadful example of corporate governance. “I have no intention of ever backing them. Nothing they can say or do will change that. I will be voting with the fans to help re-shape the future of the club. “Rangers need a board that’s financially astute, of good business sense and logical – and they don’t have it at the moment. Hopefully, if the Three Bears and King take control the first thing they will do is hire forensic financial analysts to understand where money has been mis-spent and when the interests of individual shareholders appear to have been put before those of the wider club ownership. “I’d start with Ashley’s Sports Direct deals and if they are as ridiculous as reported I’d tear them up, throw them in the bin - and tell him to sue us and we’ll see him in court. “I’d rather not spend money on legal costs at all but if it came down to forking out £411,000 from Sports Direct on shirts the club can never sell, or on barristers and QCs to argue against those contracts in court, I know where I’d invest. “If these deals are not legally questionable – and we should seek counsel to establish if they are – then they are certainly morally repugnant. “Ashley has been mortally damaged in the eyes of fans by his own actions. The games he has played with the stadium naming rights and advertising are a nonsense. “He also appears to have reneged on obligations under dual interest rules, which is somewhat insulting to the SFA. Rangers have been punished too much by the football authorities as it is. “If he comes back to me on that, tough. I’m combative by nature – let’s get the contracts out in court where they can be examined openly and transparently. “I still don’t know why the current board haven’t resigned and the Easdales haven’t walked away. They know the value of the club would rise if they quit. “If all they want is a blazer and a seat in the Blue Room it’s disgusting. Those are not the actions of a real plc board.” Prior arrived on the scene 18 months ago and promised to look under the bonnet and, if he liked what he saw, he would invest further. Suffice to say, he didn’t see a Rolls-Royce engine. Manchester-born and London based, the former Goldman Sachs trader has spent much of the past 12 months in California, working on the launch of a multi-million dollar software firm. He rejected overtures from Brian Stockbridge to become a pivotal player on the board. He added: “He offered me board membership, all informally, when Craig Mather was chief executive. I thought Mather might have been a decent operator but maybe I was wrong. “I didn’t trust Stockbridge. I wasn’t going to try to polish his turd. I won’t be associated with anything that’s not world class. I don’t want a blazer for the sake of a blazer. “It’s important I clarify my position to supporters. I’ll continue to support good people running Rangers. “I’m intrigued by the emergence of Robert Sarver. If he wants to buy the club and elect a legitimate board that’s honest and transparent, then fine. “However, I do believe George Taylor, George Letham and Douglas Park are the best way forward. Dave King will be a key figure too. He has had issues with the authorities in South Africa but his net worth speaks for itself. “If Rangers are in good hands I’ll also increase my own holding.” http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-investor-kieran-prior-backs-4937812
  7. Ashley's man is now Financial Director.
  8. Rangers board in crisis talks after emergency £500,000 loan Roddy Forsyth explains the ongoing power struggle at Rangers between Mike Ashley, Dave King and the Three Bears, and Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver Email Ibrox - Rangers power struggle takes new twist after Mike Ashley loses key ally in his quest for Ibrox boardroom coup Battleground: The battle for power at Ibrox took a new twist on new year's eve Photo: PA Roddy Forsyth By Roddy Forsyth11:19AM GMT 05 Jan 2015Comments27 Comments In a day of high drama at Ibrox the Rangers board is negotiating under severe pressure to save the club from financial meltdown for the second time in three years. The plc directors are frantically trying to strike a deal with the investor alliance of Dave King – a former Rangers director – and the Three Bears consortium, who last week scooped up available shares in an audacious raid. The astonishing development followed Telegraph Sport’s disclosure last night that the unpopular Ibrox regime had reached a crisis, which was confirmed today when the club’s board announced to the Stock Exchange that they had accepted an emergency loan of £500,000 from its football chairman, Sandy Easdale, to stay afloat for another few days. The Telegraph had revealed that a major announcement to the LSE was imminent, in respect of Rangers’ parlous economic situation. The trigger was a bill from HMRC for payment of National Insurance, under threat of a petition by the tax authority for the club to be placed into administration if the account was not settled immediately. Easdale’s loan is secured on the fee – believed to be £1 million - obtained from Brentford for the transfer of the highly rated 20-year-old midfielder, Lewis Macleod. When Rangers confirmed MacLeod’s sale to the Stock Exchange on Friday, the announcement said that the proceeds would “be used for immediate working capital”. The announcement of Easdale’s loan stated that the £500,000 would “be used by the Company for general working capital purposes over the next few days”. The statement added that the loan had been offered and accepted “on a fee and interest free basis and it will be secured against the income from the sale of player announced on 2 January 2015”. Related Articles Rangers board to lose power unless Mike Ashley steps in to save directors Rangers board to lose power unless Ashley steps in 04 Jan 2015 Rangers' squad could be decimated in January 01 Jan 2015 Rangers supporters’ group urges fans to displace Ashley 03 Jan 2015 Ashley's plan to own Rangers hits buffers 02 Jan 2015 Even as the Rangers board sought an agreement to avoid the club's collapse, however, a statement from Sandy Easdale's PR advisor, Jack Irvine, brought a sharp retort from King. Commenting on Easdale's secured funding deal, Irvine said: "Once again Sandy has stepped up to the plate with this half million pound loan from his own pocket. Whilst we welcomed the recent share purchases by Dave King and Douglas Park and his consortium, this unfortunately did not put any funds into the club. "Sandy was the only option for this cash injection at such short notice. The Easdale family remain totally committed to achieving a satisfactory financial future for Rangers and they hope all parties can work together in the future with that common goal."Given that Sandy Easdale rejected new funds and was a chief architect in getting the club into this mess, lending a small amount of money is the minimum he should have done. As part restitution he should make the £500,000 a donation rather than a loan." King retorted angrily and told Telegraph Sport: " The situation whereby a short-term loan of working capital is secured on recently obtained and desperately needed working capital is not only designed to stave off immediate administration, but also to keep the club afloat while the directors try to salvage what they can before surrendering to what now looks like an inevitable takeover by the fan-friendly axis of King and the Three Bears. However, three possibilities are in play. One – currently looking the least likely - is that Mike Ashley will come to the board’s rescue, having secured control over the appointment of two directors in return for £3 million of emergency funding in October. However, the Newcastle United owner had previously tried to negotiate with the Scottish Football Association to increase his stake at Ibrox from 8.92% to 29.9% but was refused by the governing body, who insisted that he should comply with his written undertaking not to go above 10%. The second option is an £18 million takeover offer from Robert Sarver, owner of Phoenix Suns basketball club. That offer was also notified to the Stock Exchange at the start of business this morning. Again, Telegraph Sport led the way in revealing that there had been conversations between Sarver’s advisers and those connected with the Three Bears consortium of wealthy shareholders, who have bought a substantial tranche of Rangers shares, as has the former Ibrox director, Dave King. Rangers’ second Stock Exchange statement today read: “The Company notes recent press speculation and confirms that it has received an approach from Robert Sarver (or a vehicle to be established and controlled by him) ("Mr Sarver") that may or may not lead to an offer being made for the Company. “There can be no certainty that an offer will be made, nor as to the terms on which an offer may be made. A further announcement is expected shortly.” Takeover rules mean that Sarver has until 5pm on February 2 to confirm or withdraw his offer, which is worth £18 million and designed to give him complete control of the club’s equity. Again, there are difficulties with this proposal. As the Telegraph disclosed, Sarver has an interest in investing in European football clubs, as opposed to a strategy based solely on a single outfit such as Rangers. A full equity bid would take time to implement, even if it found favour with the majority of investors. When King placed an offer of £16 million in October – the deal rejected by the Rangers plc board in favour of Ashley’s short term fix of loans – it was in the form of a debt and equity mix that would have lent the club sufficient money to keep it going through the takeover process. Another problem for Sarver is that, taken together, the recent share purchases by King and the Three Bears – Douglas Park, George Letham and George Taylor – constitute a little over 34% of Rangers’ stock. They have been pledged support by other disenchanted investors and have also been allocated proxy votes. The King/Three Bears axis know that they can now call upon sufficient support to outdistance the Ashley/Easdale camp by a significant margin. Having got themselves into such a favourable position they are not inclined to stand aside for Sarver although they have, as would be expected, let it be known that they will happily have him on board as a like-minded investor. This is well short of Sarver’s original intent of attaining complete control of Rangers before looking elsewhere to acquire other football interests. One obvious objection to that as a long-term strategy is that it would infringe the same dual-ownership regulations that have prompted a disciplinary complaint against Ashley by the SFA. In any case, time is now the pressing enemy of all the contending parties. If the club runs out of cash and is forced to enter administration for the second time in three years Rangers will be consigned to a fourth successive season in the lower leagues – a prospect feared by the Scottish football authorities as well as other clubs who would benefit financially from their return to the top tier, as a consequence of better sponsorship and broadcast deals than are currently available. Rangers are again teetering on the edge of a financial precipice as the principal personalities jostle on the brink to establish who will be thrust over to the rocks below - and who will be left standing to inherit whatever remains of this once immensely proud and respected club.
  9. Yesterday, I was having a discussion with a couple of mates, Dumbarton had just scored and another cross into our box had been poorly defended. "Big Jig is well done", opined mate seated to my left; "the Yahoos will exploit him time and again on the 1st of February", chimes mate seated to my right. Conclusion is we need fresh investment, to resolve another most urgent issue. Where does the cash come from? Dearest David has informed us that the monies from the sale of Lewis MacLeod are to be utilised immediately as working capital. Lee Wallace's body language suggested he might be next to be sold. Mate seated to my left suggested David save the opportunity cost of sending desperate e-mails at 04.00hrs on Boxing Day, "better selling his arse in the leather bars of Brighton". I don't think the purveyor of wet fishery has much of a future in rough trade? Thus, Kyle Hutton's boots seem the best bet. They look to be size 15/16? I suspect several hundred Syrians would be willing to cough up several hundred pounds each to sail to Italy on Kyle's footwear. I note the abandoned freighter in the Med' on Thursday, realise £3million to the disappearing Skipper and crew. There you go, drive your Bentley to coastal Syria and resolve our central defensive problems. Please note David, before you conclude this to be a ridiculous idea; well, you started it. Now, fuck off!
  10. They're worried, make no mistake about it, not one single positive thing in Merlin's latest propaganda, which fills me with yet more confidence for our future - Transparency Required January 1, 2015 / billmcmurdo The remarks of Colin Kingsnorth upon Laxey’s sale of their shareholding in RIFC do not bode well for the future of the club. Kingsnorth seems to have a personal issue with Mike Ashley and hopes that the group he sold to will ramp up the opposition to Ashley in their new position as shareholders. With these intemperate comments, Kingsnorth has thrown petrol on an already ravaging fire and possibly kicked off a whole new era of turmoil at the club. Ashley’s position as Rangers’ major creditor, coupled with his having Derek Llambias in place, means that he still wields considerable power in the Ibrox boardroom, despite having a lesser shareholding than the Three Amigos. The problem for Rangers fans is what happens if the incoming group decides to go to war with the other factions for control of the club. This would make the boardroom battles of recent times look like an infant spat. If Ashley decides to fight for control of Rangers then things could get very nasty indeed. The Amigos as predicted took advantage of the plummeting price of Rangers’ shares to secure their stake. This has left a bitter taste in the mouth of many Rangers supporters considering it is the actions of those activist groups like the UoF and SoS who support Amigoco that have driven the share price down. It also doesn’t help that Taylor, Letham and Park have bought shares from an existing shareholder and that the monies do not go directly toward the club at a time when RFC is screaming for income. Let’s be fair – if people like Mike Ashley can be criticised for buying shares this way, so can the Amigos. Good for the goose, good for the gander and all that. There are also many fans who question the concept of chasing away a billionaire for people whose combined net worth comes nowhere close to his. The possibility that further bitter infighting could rip Rangers apart cannot be discounted. Imagine, for example, if Mike Ashley chose to take on the pointless rules of the SFA regarding his own shareholding with the Three Amigos supporting the SFA and conspiring against Ashley. An unthinkable prospect as there isn’t a Rangers fan alive who thinks that the SFA will act in Rangers’ best interests. Questions must be asked of the new shareholders – again, in the interests of parity with Ashley. Some of mine would be:- What are their plans – if they have any – to help raise revenues in the future? Short, mid and longer term would be great. What are their intentions in respect of control of the club? Do they intend to oust other factions and wrest control? What are their plans for the management, coaching and playing side of the club? How do they intend to take on the club’s many detractors in the media and elsewhere? These are broad stroke questions but more pointed ones would be how would they propose to deal with the present gardening leave situation of the manager and who specifically do they want on the board? It would also help if we could get a definite answer on whether or not George Letham is on the RST board. All in the interests of transparency, of course. The new shareholders will surely be willing to have exacted upon them the same demands for transparency and openness they expected of others. Mile Ashley’s seeming reticence to share his own plans has not served him well and only breeds suspicion. The Three Amigos would do well to heed this because they can definitely expect to be grilled repeatedly should they fail to be transparent in their own dealings. After all, we have been taught to expect much better from real Rangers men…
  11. I am seeing a rumour that Dave King has purchased Artemis shares "Dave King has purchased just under 12 million shares from Artemis. Equates to 14.57% of club."
  12. Dave King bought a massive chunk of Rangers last night and then told supporters of the long suffering Glasgow giants: I told you I wouldn’t let you down. South-Africa based tycoon King has snapped up a near 15 per cent stake in Gers, after spending £2.5million to purchase the shares held by Artemis and Miton. And King revealed: “Despite being rebuffed by the current board I have never given up and will continue to pursue the commitment I made to the Rangers fans. I said before that I am not going away and this shows I am not.” Castlemilk-born King’s powerplay comes less than a week after George Letham’s Three Bears consortium bought Laxey Partner’s 16 per cent holding. Factor in the ten per cent held by Gers fans — as well as the two per cent owned by previous bosses Walter Smith and Ally McCoist — and the group as whole now command a 45.8 per cent shareholding in Rangers. Both moves are understood to have caught the current Ibrox regime cold. Insiders believe it could spell the beginning of the end for a board of directors so despised by Gers fans, with thousands of supporters boycotting home matches to show their anger. King added: “The current board will never be accepted by the fans.” Johannesburg-based King now plans to return to Glasgow in the coming weeks when the stakeholders could call for an EGM at Ibrox. King said: “I am considering my next steps and must consult with all stakeholders. “I will be back in Scotland in a few weeks for meetings.” It’s believed Laxey, Artemis and Miton made their decision to bail out amid concerns over Rangers’ chairman David Somers conduct at last month’s explosive AGM. The Ibrox share price has been in freefall for months with King snapping up his shares for just 20p yesterday. Asked if he felt under-fire Somers should go, King said: “He should remove himself.” After three years of turmoil, King believes his purchase, coupled with the earlier move by the Three Bears, could prove hugely significant as the businessmen look to rebuild the Light Blues. King added: “I am, once again, hopeful about the future of Rangers. I have never given up and will continue to pursue the commitment I made to the Rangers fans. As I said before.” http://www.cfclatest.com/2012/01/03/king-tells-fans-i-said-id-be-back/
  13. That McCoist will be given his job back as manager? The thought of it fills me with dread
  14. http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/prices-and-markets/stocks/exchange-insight/trade-data.html?fourWayKey=GB00B90T9Z75GBGBXASQ1
  15. Guest

    Reds Fan In Peace

    Hi to all Rangers fans and a happy new year! Well. I've woken up today to find that we've signed one of your lads, Lewis McCloud and I think I'm delighted. But I know little about him and so wondered if you could give us a few pointers on what to expect? I understand he plays midfield which is a little strange as that is one area I would say we don't need to strengthen. I'm guessing we've bought him as cover with a view to developing him for the future. But if called upon, is he ready for the Championship in your opinion? I've read that a couple of lower league clubs (namely Shrewsbury Town and Leyton Orient) were in for him but were put off by the asking price (reported here as around £400k). Interested to hear your views on Lewis. Brentford is a progressive club and a good place for up and coming players so it seems a shrewd move by McCloud, the Reds seem to have signed a promising young player for the future and Rangers have a few bob in the bank so hopefully this will prove to be a good move for all concerned. Good luck for the rest of the season!
  16. The Second Official Semi-Annual Gersnet Dinner (with Special Guest Star Dave Smith) will be held at Malaga Tapas, 213-215 St Andrew's Rd, Glasgow G41 1PD http://malagatapas.co.uk/ at 5.30pm on Saturday, 6 December 2014 (subject to alteration if the Rangers v Cowdenbeath fixture is moved). Rangers Hall of Fame Legend, Dave Smith, who played in our second and third Cup Winners Cup Finals, has kindly agreed to give a short talk on THE ROAD FROM NUREMBERG TO BARCELONA and will answer questions thereafter. (Edit 21/11/2014. Now that we have exceeded 20 persons we will have private use of the new café next door to the original restaurant. The owner, Cristobal has obtained a special licence for the event.) All the other arrangements will be the same as last time. The price of the dinner itself will remain at £18.00. However, in order to cover the cost of Dave’s dinner, the final price will be £19.50. The sharp mathematicians amongst you will note that this is based on a “minimum” of 12 people attending i.e. the same as last time. If we get less than 12, then those present will have to make up the difference; if more than 12, then the balance will go into the drinks kitty. The dinner price really only covers the standard Malaga Tapas deal, which is for 3 tapas per person and a dessert of your choice; however, in our case it will include a primer plato of meats and bread and choice of paellas after the tapas. Again, as last time there will be at least 6 different tapas, x3 per person and three different paellas. If anyone has any particular favourites on the menu http://malagatapas.co.uk/menu/ please post and Cristobal will do his best to oblige. I don’t think anyone will go hungry. To quote GS “Never seen so much food as was at Malaga” Deposit & Payment Whilst it would be easier if everyone paid the full amount up front, I am happy to take a £10 deposit p/p by the end of this month and the balance whenever it suits before the event. For those who were there last time, the bank details are the same. Newcomers pleased PM me and I will supply the bank details. When making any payments please use your Gersnet nom de plume as a reference and PM me a confirmation with your full name and a contact telephone number. (I lost most of the details I had when my phone went into sick bay.) I am very confident that with your support we will build on the success of the first dinner.
  17. Thought this worth sharing from FF: "Lifted this from another forum, some things we didn't know about players, training etc!! Training seems like a hoot! http://www.hat-trick.fr/sebastien-fa...st-jimmy-bell/ You’ve been here for two years now. What does “Rangers” mean to you? (After a long time spent thinking) Well it’s easy to say this and a bit of a cliché, but it’s a religion. There’s football here which is one thing, but then there’s Rangers, the fans, and everyone else associated with the club, it’s amazing…even after the club was relegated to Division 4, people kept their jobs at Ibrox or at Murray Park. And they are just so proud to work here, and they so proud to say “I work for Rangers”. When you are a professional player, you tend to move from club to club, it’s part of the job. It’s not easy to really absorb the culture and ethos of a club, apart from those who stay for years and years and really become ingrained in the fabric of the club, like Lee McCulloch. Sometimes, the supporters shout at you or get angry. But you can’t let it get to you, you can only do your talking on the pitch. They’ve had so much good football over the years that I think they sort of have a right to be angered, to be honest. In any case, playing at Ibrox is far from easy. There’s so much pressure. You can be winning 2-0, but if you misplace just one pass you’ll be whistled. I mean I heard a few boos at the Gerland (Lyon stadium), but never like the one’s you get here sometimes! (laughs) Did it take you long to learn what it meant to play for a club like Rangers? What did you expect when you came over? No, I didn’t expect it to be honest. I knew Rangers were a massive club, but I didn’t know how they were perceived by the other Scottish clubs. The Glasgow clubs really are hated by the other Scottish clubs. It’s incredible! What’s more, you have to understand that I was a but unsure about coming over here in the first place. I said to my agent: “You’re kind, but I’m not sure if I want to be dropping down to play in Division 4 in France” and he said “It’s Division 4 in Scotland”. He said: “Seb, please, just go over for a few days, check out the facilities and the stadium, you’ll soon change your mind.” On the first day of my trial I trained with the reserves, and it went well. That night, I went to see the first team play in the League Cup again East Fife. It was a Tuesday night, we won 4-0 and almost 40, 000 fans were there. It was…mad, just mad. I called up my agent and said: “If you can sort it out for me, I really want to stay here!” Everything you do and say is reported on and scrutinised at a club like Rangers. Has the press had an influence on the atmosphere at the club? First of all you need to understand that the press and its reporters here are a million times worse than in France! I’m sure I’ve seen the word “crisis” used to describe our club just about every day of the year, even when we win. Taking this into consideration, I do think that it’s had an influence. I must say, not on me personally. To be very honest, I don’t read the papers, apart from when they discuss politics or cover stories from France. But at the level of the club more generally, they have definitely had an influence. Ten days ago, an old team mate of McCoist’s, John Brown, said to the Sun: “You are a disgrace!” The coach brought us the article and he had an argument with Kenny Miller. After we got beaten by Hearts, apparently Miller had called up a journalist wanting to speak to him to tell him the manager had made some bad decisions, although it turned out that he hadn’t. McCoist got so angry: he threw the paper, he stamped on it, he was shouting and screaming! It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him like that. Blacky brings the Sun in every morning, and we read it. McCoist reads all the papers every morning in his office at Murray Park, which by the way is enormous (laughs). I think that its mainly at the level of the club staff that the papers have an impact. In your eyes, who represents the soul of the club? Jimmy Bell the kitman. He’s been here since 1972, I think. It’s amazing that he was taking care of McCoist and Durrant when they were players, and now its them who are in charge. It’s an amazing story and an amazing history, one which you wouldn’t get at many clubs at all. Jimmy’s got his own room in Ibrox where he displays all the Rangers kits and all the Rangers photos that he’s collected over 40 years. In his office at Murray Park, there’s a room, which we are forbidden from entering (laughs), which has all of his souvenirs, his trophies…it’s his very own museum! When it looked like they might be re-possessing Ibrox, he had to pack up all his stuff because he was scared that it would be taken off him. He is really the soul of the club, its him, its Jimmy. He’s a great guy, even if he’s always sulking. You need to get to know him…I remember when I arrived on trial, I didn’t speak English. “You don’t speak English, ****ing French!?” he said (laughs). But I mean really nasty to me! But nowadays, along with Bilel, he tells us loads of stories, loads of jokes. He’s really a top guy, he’s golden. I’m trying to help our readers understand the complete devotion that Rangers inspires in people. To give us more of an insight, is it true that one of the players has got the logo of the club tattooed on his calf? Yeah its Danny Stoney! He’s a good lad who we’ve loaned out to Stranraer. He’s got a tattoo that’s blue, with red around it, and five golden stars in the middle. It’s amazing, simply amazing. When I was at Lyon, even though I was also a Lyon fan, I would never have got a Lyon tattoo. It would never have crossed my mind! It’s just a different type of relationship to the club here. At Lyon, if I’d have got a club tattoo while I was at the academy I’d have had the piss taken out of me! “Suck up!” they’d have said. Here, it is praised! But by contrast, at Lyon if you change your hairstyle or your clothes, people will talk about it. Here, no one cares! The outfits people wear here, and I’m talking about the players, are just….Take Lee Wallace for example, I’ve never seen him wearing jeans (laughs)! At Lyon, you dress well to be stylish or whatever, but here, not at all.
  18. Chrissybhoy was obviously wishing for another answer from the SPFL! PS http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30646033 for full context
  19. rbr

    2015

    Going to keep this quick , All the very best to all gersnetters , heres to a royal blue 2015 , and absent friends
  20. Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has launched the search for a new manager with Alan Pardew’s departure for Crystal Palace imminent. The sportswear tycoon and Rangers shareholder, currently on holiday in Barbados, had already put the wheels in motion amid fevered speculation over the identity of the seventh permanent boss to occupy the St James’ Park hot-seat during his seven and a half year reign. Many of the names thrown up by the rumour mill have already been discounted by sources on Tyneside with current skipper Fabricio Coloccini and former York boss Nigel Worthington at the top of that list, while former Palace manager Tony Pulis and ex-Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood are also understood not to be in the running. Managing director Lee Charnley is the man conducting the search on Ashley’s behalf, although the club is unlikely to make a snap decision and it is understood Pardew’s assistant John Carver and first-team coach Steve Stone will oversee team affairs for tomorrow’s Premier League fixture against Burnley and the FA Cup third round trip to Leicester two days later. Carver, who will be without striker Papiss Cisse for three games after he accepted a Football Association violent conduct charge for elbowing Everton defender Seamus Coleman on Sunday, could be considered an outside candidate for the job on a permanent basis, although current Hull manager and fellow Geordie Steve Bruce may have stronger claims. There has been popular support for the club’s football development manager Peter Beardsley, while St-Etienne boss Christophe Galtier has been linked with the club on several occasions. However, Ajax manager Frank de Boer has ruled himself out and Ashley’s unwillingness to pay compensation makes a move for Derby’s Steve McClaren, who signed a three-year deal in August, unlikely. Pardew continues to thrash out personal terms with Palace as the Selhurst Park club search for a replacement for the sacked Neil Warnock. Newcastle granted Pardew permission to speak to Palace on Monday night after the Eagles agreed a compensation package with the St James’ Park hierarchy. Pardew is expected to double his salary in securing a move back to the club he served as a player between 1987 and 1991. Both Pulis and Sherwood, meanwhile, have been heavily linked to the vacancy at West Brom as they look to appoint a new head coach after sacking Alan Irvine on Monday night. The Baggies said in a statement that they “expect to be able to name Irvine’s successor by the weekend” – when they face Gateshead in the FA Cup. Assistant head coach Rob Kelly, along with Keith Downing, will be in charge of the Baggies for their New Year’s Day trip to West Ham. Irvine left after just six months in charge, with Albion 16th and a point above the bottom three following Sunday’s 2-0 loss at Stoke. The Scot had vowed to fight for his future after the game, but the Baggies opted to place the 56-year-old on gardening leave. http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/english/mike-ashley-starts-hunt-for-next-newcastle-manager-1-3647717
  21. BRENTFORD are ready to spark a January transfer scramble for Rangers star Lewis Macleod. SunSport understands the Championship side are poised to make a £1million move for the Ibrox kid. And that could see a host of English clubs enter the bidding for the Scotland squad member. Macleod has caught the eye of Championship promotion hopefuls Bees. Rangers legend David Weir is No 2 there and is fully aware of the 20-year-old’s potential. But several other English clubs, including Premier League strugglers Burnley, are keen on the midfielder. Blackburn were also set to make a bid before being hit with a transfer ban.
  22. They've fronted for charlatans, but city wide boys would have won without them They've bought shares and given interest free loans I know that makes them sound like Ashley, but as far as I can see they've not taken a penny from the club. Can they be accommodated in our future ?
  23. They say a picture speaks a thousand words....... Rangers manager Kenny McDowall (Copyright: 2014 Willie Vass)
  24. Rangers Supporters Trust has demanded that the club keep its promise to answer questions about Mike Ashley. By Roddy Forsyth 7:59PM GMT 29 Dec 2014 Comments4 Comments The Rangers Supporters Trust has demanded that the club keep its promise to answer questions about Mike Ashley which shareholders were unable to put to the board at last week’s stormy annual general meeting. David Somers, the Rangers plc chairman, was widely criticised for curtailing the proceedings before questions could be posed about the Newcastle United owner’s dealings with the club, especially in relation to his Sports Direct retail chain. Somers promised that he would respond by email to questions which were not addressed at the AGM. One question follows the Telegraph Sport’s disclosure that when Ashley gave up the naming rights to Ibrox Stadium notoriously acquired for £1 from Charles Green’s Sevco consortium – he got substantial commercial and advertising concessions within the ground. The Rangers board is exploring its options for fresh funding after the rejection by the Scottish Football Association of Ashley’s attempt to increase his shareholding in the club from 8.92% to 29.9%. It is understood that one possibility – again cited by Telegraph Sport – is to maintain cash flow by a series of emergency loans from Ashley, secured on assets. Ashley has already provided £3 million in loans but Rangers need another £8 million to see them through 2015. They have an offer of £6 million from three wealthy supporters, Douglas Park, George Letham and George Taylor, conditional on board representation. However, Ashley could choose to defy the SFA by increasing his stake in the club despite their refusal to sanction it, a course of action that could lead to the governing body to withdraw Rangers’ license to play football. In the meantime, the RST’s questions include the following: “Can the Board outline the terms of the recently announced new commercial arrangements with Sports Direct? Specifically, can the board confirm if future years’ shirt sponsor revenues will be for the benefit of the club or for the benefit of Sports Direct and does Sports Direct have the right to choose a shirt sponsor after the end of 32 Red three year sponsor period? “It is a widely held view that Mike Ashley tried to undermine the recent share issue by initially offering to underwrite it, then withdrawing this offer, and publicly announcing he would not be taking up his rights, only to then go out in the market the following week and buy further shares in the market for the same price. “This appears to have been a clear strategy to undermine the success of that share issue. On what basis does the Board consider it appropriate to enter into further business relationships with an individual who was clearly attempting to undermine the financial position of the club for his own advantage? “Can the board confirm if it is in discussions with Sports Direct or any other Mike Ashley company to sell a further stake in the Rangers Retail business? If so, what percentage stake is being considered for sale and at what value? “It has been reported that Derek Llambias will earn a salary of £150k as CEO. Will Mr Llambias advise shareholders if he is also entitled to other benefits (housing costs, car allowances, pension) and in particular if he is eligible for any bonus payment? If he is eligible for a bonus then on what basis will this be earned? Has he moved to Glasgow? “Is the Board considering using Murray Park as security for further loans from Mike Ashley, Mash Holdings or Sports Direct affiliated companies? If so, how much is the Board seeking to raise from this asset? “The club appears to have granted considerable additional stadium branding rights to Sports Direct and Mike Ashley companies. Can the board outline exactly how much additional advertising inventory has been given toSports Direct/Mike Ashley and what value or consideration has been received for this? “The club needs major investment. Why did the board not seek to persuade Sandy Easdale to vote his proxy block of 26% to support a new share issue? As Mr Easdale did not support such a new issue, blocking muchneeded fresh investment, is his position on the football board untenable? “Mr Llambias you sat in front of around 200 fans at Ibrox, next to Charles Green, and told us of the benefits and "millions of pounds" the naming rights for Ibrox would bring to Rangers. Did you know at that time that your boss, Mike Ashley, was getting those rights for £1? Why should any Rangers fans trust you when your first interaction with us was to mislead us on behalf of Mr Ashley? “How much did the club receive per £10 spent by fans from retail sales through Rangers Retail in the June 2013-June 2014 financial year? “What has Mike Ashley been given in return for giving up the naming rights that Charles Green handed him for £1? “Can you explain why the board took Mike Ashley’s loans and gave him control of the running of the club despite it clearly being contrary to SFA and UEFA rules and therefore inevitably opening up the club to a charge? “Can the board confirm why, after 40 odd years of service, loyal employees are being cast out the door with the minimum possible redundancy pay and a paltry two weeks’ pay as a 'goodwill' gesture?” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/11316773/Rangers-fans-demand-answers-from-board-over-Mike-Ashleys-involvement-with-club.html
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