Jump to content

 

 

Search the Community

Showing results for tags 'lloyds'.

  • Search By Tags

    Type tags separated by commas.
  • Search By Author

Content Type


Forums

  • Main Forums
    • Rangers Chat
    • General Football Chat
    • Bluenose Lounge
    • Forum Support and Feedback

Find results in...

Find results that contain...


Date Created

  • Start

    End


Last Updated

  • Start

    End


Filter by number of...

Joined

  • Start

    End


Group


Location


Interests


Occupation


Favourite Rangers Player


Twitter


Facebook


Skype

  1. It has been announced that a group of Rangers fans - backed by all official fan groups and all unofficial fansites in the online community (including Gersnet) - are to hold a peaceful protest within Ibrox Stadium this Sunday. You can read the statement released by the group below.
  2. Interesting viewpoint in this RM article by Boss. . http://www.rangersmedia.co.uk/homepage/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=263%3Arangers-protests--qdonald-muir-the-saviour-withinq&catid=41%3Afinances
  3. CHIEF Executive reveals key points at Assembly meeting More...
  4. Join Supporters Group Statement News - Assembly News "The Rangers Supporters’ Trust, Rangers Supporters Assembly and Rangers Supporters Association united today in expressing alarm at recent comments made by the club's Manager, Walter Smith: "anybody who thinks it is going to get better in the summer is deluding themselves. My concerns for Rangers for the long term - not even in the long term, for the end of the season - are genuine concerns as being a supporter as much as being a manager." We call on Rangers fans to stand shoulder to shoulder with Walter Smith and we ask all fans to show public support for the Manager and join us on February 14th at Ibrox where fans will express their frustration at the club's current situation. All fans' groups are united in seeking a public announcement from the Club Chairman on the precise remit and intent of both Donald Muir and Lloyds Banking Group, regarding the future of Rangers Football Club. Finally we ask parties who have expressed an interest in buying into Rangers FC to now come forward publicly with an outline of their plans, specifically on how the Rangers support can be involved and help overcome barriers to a successful, sustainable transfer of ownership which will secure the Club's future." Looks like I'm not alone in wanting to know what Muir's remit is ??????
  5. After listening to various Radio station last night I am even more confused than ever , from Bitter Maguire stating that Rangers are indeed fortunate to have someone of the quality of Muir looking after their interests ( I nearly crashed the car at that point ) , to Radio Scotland going the entirely opposite way with regards to Muir and our present circumstance can someone please explain why Lloyds are taking this current course of action . I realise we have been making loses and indeed action was needed to avoid further loses , 12 players later and over �£5million in fees surely this has been addressed to some extent . �£22 million of our current �£31 million debt is being repaid at �£1million per year over 22 years I accept the interest will be sore but will also reduce every year , the current debt is being forecast at �£25 milion after this years C/L money so in effect we have �£4 million short term debt . So why are Lloyds wanting to get all the debt repaid this summer as is being reported or at very worst suggested by these supposed dramatic cuts to the squad ..
  6. Hope I'm alright posting this here. Northampton Loyalist This is not a piece written for any group or any collection of posters, it is from one supporter who has fought with others on regular occasions. A poster who is today shitting himself We 'on-line supporters' have had it good for a while. Free to express our opinions and defend against the inevitable backlash, free to question each other both as to motive and intelligence, to build 'alliances' and make pretend enemies. Today that has to change. Over the years there has been some fantastic debate, real opinion changing, worthwhile debate and for that alone the advent of the online forum has been a godsend. With it though has come a platform for people to push their own agenda, whether that has been as part of a group or as individuals. Under normal circumstances that challenging of ideas is to be encouraged, it breeds meaningful thought and forces people to challenge their own perceptions. Today we cannot afford the luxury of allowing ego to rule our actions. The biggest bone of contention has gone; Murray may still be a shadow looming over the club but his direct influence, if all the various rumours are correct, has all but dried up. The Murray debate will rage for the rest of all our lifetimes, the outcome will remain, as it ever was, indecisive and people will keep the memories they hold today. The terms applied in the past few years count for nothing today 'Murray haters' and Murrayites' must stand together for the good of the club. Walter Smith too has sparked his fair share of debate. To some he is above any and all criticism, the halcyon days of Nine In A Row and a triumphant return to the club in it's hour of need have assured him a place amongst our managing greats. To others he is a relic of the way football used to be played, safety first and at times boring, afraid to use youth and incapable of adapting his game-plan. Under normal circumstances the debates would be good, necessary even, a spur to the people in charge and aimed at keeping a freshness about the club. Today Smith appears to be the single voice of any note that genuinely has the best interests of the club at heart. Walter Smith was a Rangers fan long before he was given a chance as assistant manager under Souness and he remains as passionate a fan as you will find sitting in the stands. The things that are hurting us today are hurting him as much and perhaps more; we can blind ourselves to the real problems should we so choose, he does not have that luxury and must face the direct consequences on a daily basis. Walter Smith alone has opened a crack in the door for the fans to fearfully peer through; Murray has left the stage without even a farewell and has made no noise at all, Muir has done his damndest to spurn the advances of any journalist asking questions or any fan with the temerity to raise concern, Lloyds have uttered the bear minimum in the way of meaningful dialogue and the upshot is the vacuum of knowledge we now see. Whatever the individuals thoughts on Smith the manager, Smith the man has our best interests at heart and has made the call to arms. Pretty words on a message-board are fantastic in their place but that place is not now, we need cohesion and co-ordination. We need to shelve the more divisive of arguments and fight for the common ground. We are all fans of a club that demands more than simple support, Rangers' gets under your skin, into your life in a way no other institution the world can and because of that when she is under direct and clear threat we have to act as one. I fight with my brothers on a daily basis, always have, but woe betide the person that picks a fight with any of us because the others will step in. As a united front the Rangers support is something far beyond the power of Lloyds to control, never mind an individual like Muir. If you are in the Trust and someone from the assembly has pissed you off, forget it for now. If someone on Rangers Media has upset someone on FollowFollow you need to put it aside, for now at least. Individual arguments count for nothing in the face of a threat that is very real and very clear. Each person on their own is but a single voice and simply cannot achieve what we need today. As a united front the will of our support would be overwhelming. Ego counts for nothing at a time like this, personal victories will be truly hollow if the prize is a club destroyed while the support watched it happen. Far subtler minds than myself will set the true agenda in the coming days, people with a flair for politics will hopefully set the support on the right road and leave simply the walking to be done. In the meantime we need to appreciate that regardless of individual motives Lloyds and Muir are working their way towards destroying our club. The person in the middle has made this painfully clear and we can only ignore Smith's words at our own peril. You owe it to your fellow supporters to do whatever it is you can, be that adding your voice to a protest, carrying a banner or changing who you bank with. The sad fact is if we all wait we may find ourselves pushing too late. For anyone with a login to FF you can follow the thread here http://forum.followfollow.com/showthread.php?t=626154
  7. Credible information on the plight of our club is hard to find amongst the hearsay and rumour we read across the online community. However, once again our club's manager has saw fit to comment on what he sees as a worrying and bleak future for our club under the guidance of Lloyds Bank. No matter whether it is his place to do this, the fact he is commenting again should concern every Rangers fan. What is also clear is that the support should be entitled to know more about the status quo - more so season ticket holders who continue to be the sole biggest investors into the club year after year? The chairman saying one thing, the manager another and alleged sources close to any potential buyer(s) also contributing to the debate; means the conflict of information for Rangers fans is unacceptable. As such, while protest is something that isn't agreeable in the first instance for most people I'm sure, perhaps more direct action may help us find the transparency required for us to make up our own mind. If we're to protest (and to be clear I'm definitely interested in doing so), it needs to be well organised, include all the fan groups, all the websites and have a clear strategy. If possible (and I appreciate that is difficult) it also needs a credible focal point that the 'non-politically active' fans can identify with. Do that and the chances of success are greater. Therefore, as an empirical judgement of intent, I'm interested to see what Gersnet members think. Please take a minute or two to take part in the following poll.
  8. A guy in my work has just started this on facebook looking tio get as many Bears as possible. Stand against Lloyds TSB Running Glasgow Rangers look it up in Groups. If your a member feel free to join and spread the word , the more numbers the better. Cheers (hope its cool to post this)
  9. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/8488667.stm Rangers manager Walter Smith has criticised the club's decision to say that they did not need to sell during the January transfer window. Confirming that Sporting Lisbon's bid for Pedro Mendes had been accepted, he spoke frankly about the wisdom, or lack of it, of such an announcement. "I didn't think it was a good statement to make at the time," said Smith. "I don't think that statement should have been made when it was made because it gives the wrong impression." Earlier this season, Smith told BBC Scotland in a post-match radio interview that the bank (Lloyds) was running the club. Rangers and Lloyds Bank quickly issued statements denying that was the case, though there can be little doubt Smith knew the effect his comments would have. While Friday's utterances were not as powerful, they were nonetheless further evidence of a gulf between what might be termed the "football people" and the "financial people" within the club. Smith went on: "Football is more complicated than that. It's not a matter of needing to sell, at times it's the player's wishes as well. "If a player wants to go, that can happen. There are always going to be transfers and they are not all going to be financially-based decisions that are going to cause a player to leave the club." Though his mood was light-hearted, his frustration at how complex the financial situation is was apparent as he was asked if money would be available to spend in light of Mendes' proposed move. "I'll need to find that out as well. It used to be we could find out a lot quicker than we can now," he added. "I would hope a little bit of money would be freed up but we will wait and see. "I won't take anyone unless it's someone I really feel can come in and make a difference for us." Asked whether he had identified any targets, Smith replied: "It's not quite as simple as that because we had to get rid of a few before we could look so it's not really been possible to do that. "It's just one of those situations that we are in. We can now at least have a look and, if it doesn't come to anything, we just carry on in the situation that we're in."
  10. RANGERS fans are planning their most high-profile campaign yet against the Lloyds Group at Ibrox today. Influential supporters have contributed to the cost of 12 banners, each 20-feet high, as they demand clarification on the future of their troubled club. The banners will be distributed to key fan groups with a view to draping them from the Broomloan, Govan and Copland Road stands before the game with Hearts and again at half-time. Supporters are confident they will not fall foul of police as they turn up the heat on the banking group, tax-payer funded, who now have a significant say in the running of the cash-strapped club. It's believed at least one of the banners reads Lloyds - Heartless Bankers while another focuses on the role of director Donald Muir at the club, labelling him the enemy within. Muir has won a reputation as a turnaround expert but he is viewed with suspicion by many of the club fans who believe his role is primarily to slash debts without concern for the club's well being. Rangers' financial woes were given a lift yesterday when the club finally got shot of French flop Jerome Rothen - and avoided a �£300,000 bill for the wantaway winger. Rothen, 31, flew out to Turkey yesterday to pen a six-month loan deal with Ankaragucu after snubbing the advances of Greek sides Larissa and Kavala. Gers had been servicing half Rothen's �£36,000-a-week wages at French side PSG and would have been locked into the deal had he not been moved on during this transfer window. With PSG refusing to rip up their loan arrangement on Rothen, Rangers feared they'd have to keep him until June. At least we are getting rid of Rothen http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2010/01/23/rangers-fans-plan-bank-protest-at-hearts-clash-86908-21989054/
  11. Unless you've been on Mars, the Rangers ownership debate will have been everywhere in your supporting life of the last six months in particular. From the 'official' newspapers and media, to the 'unofficial' forums and fanzines; from the 'official' fan groups, to the 'unofficial' singing sections; the apparent dispute between Lloyds Bank/MIH and those interested in buying the club has been a hot topic for months now. I say apparent because real, genuine facts are thin on the ground so it is extremely difficult for the average bear to decide what is and isn't authentic when examining the ownership issue. On one hand we hear rumours that Lloyds Bank - via the introduction of director Donald Muir - are in control of the club and attempting to regain their �£31million debt by manners that could cost the club its short, medium and long term competitiveness. On the other we have club chairman Alistair Johnston telling us at the club AGM that these rumours are untrue while the bank say they remain committed to the club's future success. The battle-lines are drawn then but the lines are somewhat unclear. Who is in what army and who is fighting who. And, most importantly, what is the prize and how much will it cost? All confusing stuff for supporters who look at the SPL table and see a six point cushion (in real terms) between us and Celtic. Therefore, as a starting point for those of us without the source with the inside info, what are the facts of the situation? Well, as reported late last year the club is �£31million in debt (as of June 2009) although our participation in the Champions' League group stage will likely have reduced that figure by a few million in the interim. To that end, the debt is owed primarily to Lloyds Bank who are involved in the club via long term loans as well as their shareholding in MIH. Nevertheless, Sir David Murray remains the majority owner of both Rangers and the MIH parent company and people under-estimate his influence at their peril. However, MIH do have alleged serious financial problems and, much in the same way the Rangers board had to renegotiate their loan terms with the bank in 2009, it is believed that Murray has had to do the same with the huge debts MIH have. This much is unclear as the company have delayed the reporting of their accounts until April this year - lending weight to claims he is having difficulty appeasing the bank in terms of restructuring. Back to Rangers and once again dealing with what 'official' information is publicly available we examine the club AGM where the shareholders were told the club did not need to sell any players and could, if necessary, 'trade' their way through transfer windows. Obviously this statement is open to interpretation but given we've not sold anyone (yet!) and contract talks have taken place with several players, Johnston appeared to be correct when speaking in December. The club also strenuously denied that Lloyds are 'running Rangers' as some suggest. Unfortunately this is where the waters become muddied - perhaps deliberately so and certainly by a range of parties - including the club, including the media and including 'in-the-know' fans. Read any Rangers forum (and indeed most newspapers - be it Jim Traynor in the Daily Record or Darrell King at the Herald) then the 'official' lines above are challenged. The rumours and innuendo are rife: Donald Muir is an agent of the bank; the bank want to reduce the playing squad to 14 senior players; contract offers have been taken off the table by the bank; Muir has held meetings with his friend Alex McLeish to sell key players; key club staff members (Martin Bain and the head Groundsman) have been 'sacked' then reinstated; the club is allegedly for sale at �£31million with SDM happy to accept a nominal sum for his 91% shareholding; Dave King is the man the fans must throw their weight behind; Graham Duffy is the only show in town; why are the bank rejecting good offers for the club; the fan groups will unite the support; Murray Park is to be sold to realise funds; paint banners and place pressure on the bank; the fans can run the club; etc etc etc. I'm sure there are more I've missed. To be clear, I don't know if these rumours are true. They may well be and, in fact, I believe some are but I certainly urge all Rangers supporters to be cautious in what they read - no matter the source. I don't under-estimate the intelligence or passion of our fans and to that end we shouldn't be patronised by any side of the argument. Therefore, what is certainly the case and the reason for this article, is that once again we're the ones being treated unfairly. I don't doubt people want to buy Rangers FC and I certainly don't blame them for wanting the best deal possible. After all, the cheaper they buy the club (or the bank debt); the more money they'll have to invest in the parts of the club that desperately require it. Be it an essential improved contract for Kris Boyd or repairs to a stadium built in memory of the 66; tens of millions of pounds are required to take our club forward. Again, anyone under-estimating the scale of the job needed to keep our club as a successful going concern, could be even more fatal than allowing the bank to sell off our assets. Consequently, more than ever, what we need is clarity and leadership from those that are buying (and those that are selling) the club. Of course, Stock Market rules may determine what information can be made available but, while the current method of drip-feeding unsubstantiated rumours to people via the media and unofficial fan forums may help apply pressure to a degree, we need more credible ways of reaching the support than that. After all, the online community may know and trust a few otherwise anonymous user-names, but how on earth do the vast majority of off-line fans - the often apathetic preponderance of the Rangers support; get access to the debate? These are the people any potential buyer (and fan group) need to reach if they want a successful subscription to any ownership model and so far the efforts to do so are below par. Across the community and at recent games I see Rangers fans challenged to open their eyes and be aware of 'the enemy within' our great club. Fair enough, I understand that mantra and, given I'm lucky enough to be in contact with a few interesting people, I also share in it to a degree. However, how can I possibly pass this message onto others without looking somewhat irresponsible? Despite the proclamations from some on the other side of the debate, there's no doubt there are problems at Rangers football club. There is also no doubt people are concerned about that enough to want to spend a lot of money during a difficult financial period to buy the club. For that I'm thankful. However, if these people are truly serious and want their efforts to be respected and supported, I expect to see more. If the situation is as dire as their plants in the media and their associated fan groups suggest by proxy for them, then the odd post on a forum and the odd banner at a game is not enough. We've heard the declarations of unity but there has been little evidence of it when requested. More is required. Meetings are needed. Credibility must be sought. Unification is paramount. Egos need not be massaged. Communication must be used. The fans should be trusted. What cannot be denied is that to be the owner of Rangers FC one must be a true leader of men. We want and need this leader. If you are serious in your intentions, then you must step forward. Are you Ready?
  12. Rangers fans chief David Edgar today urged the Lloyds Banking Group to name their price for the debt-ridden Ibrox club. It has been reported that an Ã?£18million rescue package tabled by a four-man consortium ââ?¬â?? led by South African-based tycoon Dave King and current non-executive board member Paul Murray ââ?¬â?? has been thrown out by the clubââ?¬â?¢s bankers. Sport Times understands King has been in discussions with the bank for the past few weeks and feels itââ?¬â?¢s time to make a move ââ?¬â?? with the backing of Murray, and at least two other wealthy businessmen who have yet to be named. The intention is to buy the debt of the bank at the best price possible, and then generate working capital to be thurst into the Ibrox coffers immediately. The SPL champions are Ã?£31m in debt to Lloyds and Supporters Trust spokesman Edgar has challenged the bankers to come clean and reveal their intentions are for their club ââ?¬â?? and how much it will take for interested parties to take control. Edgar said today: ââ?¬Å?The Rangers supporters want the club to move into new ownership as quickly as possible and hopefully that will happen sooner rather than later. ââ?¬Å?The bank obviously have a figure in mind and I donââ?¬â?¢t think there is any harm whatsoever in coming out publicly and stating what they are looking for. Iââ?¬â?¢m sure every Rangers supporter would be excited to learn a bid was finally made for the club and theyââ?¬â?¢ll also be disappointed that it was rejected. ââ?¬Å?We want the club in new ownership as quickly as possible. ââ?¬Å?The financial state of Scottish football at this moment in time, plus the money that would be required to get Rangers back to the level which would be expected, means it isnââ?¬â?¢t exactly a profit making company.ââ?¬Â Turnaround specialist Donald Muir, who was appointed to the Rangers board back in October at the behest of the Murray Group, is believed to be also actively seeking new buyers and club sources say a prospectus is being prepared to try and tempt any interested parties to make a move. Chairman Alastair Johnston has also been trying to bring investors to the table and has a close relationship with King ââ?¬â?? who pumped Ã?£20m into the club ten years ago. But Muir has had no contact with King and his consortium. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/...price-1.998624
  13. Published on 13 Jan 2010 For 12 months, the picture has been painted of a club laid bare. A world-famous institution where every meagre pound has become a prisoner. Fed-up Rangers fans havenââ?¬â?¢t sniffed an A-list signing for a year and a half. And Ibrox manager Walter Smith has claimed the men in suits from Lloyds Banking Group have tightened their fingers round the purse strings in a bid to ease debts totalling Ã?£31million. The only light to pierce the gloom has been the form of Kris Boyd, whose goals have made him the hero of the Ibrox terracings ââ?¬â?? and helped Rangers open up a seven- point gap over Celtic in the SPL title race. But now even Boydââ?¬â?¢s Rangers future has been thrown back into the financial melting pot. For we can exclusively reveal today the Ã?£18,000-a-week deal Boyd is keen to sign has still to be agreed by the clubââ?¬â?¢s financial controllers. That means the bid to keep the SPLââ?¬â?¢s record goalscorer at his boyhood idols could yet be scuppered. Chief executive Martin Bain met Boydââ?¬â?¢s representative at the end of last week and extended an offer which would bring the 26-year-old into line with the top earners at Ibrox and out of the clutches of English raiders. Smith has urged Bain to do everything possible in his power to keep the player, who yesterday underwent a double hernia operation in Manchester, at the club. However, the terms on offer have not been given the green light by certain individuals on the board. And it now remains to be seen whether the offer will stand if, as expected, Boyd confirms he wants to put pen to paper on the deal. Business turnaround specialist Donald Muir, who was appointed in October with a remit to remedy the financial fortunes of the Scottish champions, has been handed the task of trying to reduce the clubââ?¬â?¢s debts. Cost-cutting measures have bitten so deep that, it is understood, even the number of groundstaff at Ibrox and Murray Park was looked at before Christmas. When this was raised as a possible area to save cash, the idea was met with swift resistance from the football operation who realise the groundstaffââ?¬â?¢s crucial role. This time last year, it emerged the club might be forced to sell a leading player to help ease the financial burden. Owner and majority shareholder Sir David Murray stepped down as chairman in August and was replaced by Alastair Johnston who has spent the last three months trying to find a new owner. The financial crisis that has engulfed Rangers came to a head shortly after Muirââ?¬â?¢s appointment to the board when Smith claimed after a home match against Hibs the bank were running the club. This was denied by the bank, much to Smithââ?¬â?¢s fury. Lloyds have consistently denied Muir is their man and insist he is a paid employee of the Murray Group, and was not placed on Rangers board at their behest. But, as we exclusively revealed in October two days after Smithââ?¬â?¢s startling statement, the bank threatened Rangers with administration if the club didnââ?¬â?¢t sign up for a business plan based upon swingeing cuts, many of which will only take full effect in the summer if a new buyer is not found. And it is the architects of this plan ââ?¬â?? the same plan that has frozen Rangersââ?¬â?¢ spending for three transfer windows ââ?¬â?? who hold the key to Boydââ?¬â?¢s Ibrox future. The pressure was only slightly lifted when the loan move for PSGââ?¬â?¢s Jerome Rothen was signed off. Rangers, however, are only picking up part of his wages and that deal will be torn up if the Frenchman can fix up another club for the rest of the season. But this is the first time the cash cuts could hold the key to whether a player is offered a new contract. Boyd is the first player to be offered a new deal since Muir was appointed to the board. Other players, such as Nacho Novo and Kirk Broadfoot, are nearing the end of their current deals, but the sums involved to keep them are not even close to the Boyd figures. Novo is believed to be on around Ã?£5000 a week, with Broadfoot on Ã?£3000 a week. Neither is likely to stay if their offers donââ?¬â?¢t show a decent increase, but itââ?¬â?¢s believed the current business plan does not have much flexibility. But Boyd, who will be in line for a Ã?£8,000-a-week increase, has sparked a major stand-off as the offer made to him could force the bank to honour a deal that they would prefer not to ââ?¬â?? or face the wrath of the clubââ?¬â?¢s support, sections of which have already threatened to boycott Lloyds Banking Group services. Questions that remain unanswered Comment by Thomas Jordan It used to be as straightforward as the manager inviting the player into his office, telling him what he would be earning and waving him on his way. That was the way new contracts and transfers were conducted in the past. Nowadays, agents and chief executives are involved. It is a far more complex business now than it was then. But even by present-day standards, the background to Kris Boydââ?¬â?¢s contract negotiations with Rangers could take things to a new level entirely. On the instruction of Rangers manager Walter Smith, the clubââ?¬â?¢s chief executive Martin Bain met with the strikerââ?¬â?¢s representative at the end of last week and tabled a new contract offer in a bid to retain the services of their leading goalscorer. Normally, that would have been the end of the matter. The player would either say he was taking them up on their offer or reject it in favour of an opportunity elsewhere. There would usually be some room for negotiation. But SportTimesââ?¬â?¢ revelation that the Lloyds Banking Group are yet to approve the new deal and will have the final say on whether it will go through or not brings a host of questions Rangers fans will want answered as the true extent of the bankââ?¬â?¢s role is revealed. * Once again, on a point that has never been satisfactorily answered, they want to know who really is calling the shots at Rangers? * Why have the bank said they are not running Rangers when they have approval on contracts? * The man appointed to the board by the Murray Group in October, Donald Muir, has said he has no influence on football matters. Does he still maintain that is the case? * When will the chairman Alastair Johnston tell everyone what is really happening within the constraints of a business plan that he himself has said is not good for the club? * What would the consequences have been had the Rangers board NOT agreed to the bankââ?¬â?¢s business plans? * And what exactly will happen in the summer when the full extent of the financial cuts are expected to be implemented if a new buyer is not found? These are questions the Rangers supporters would like answered. And it is probably the same for Walter Smith. How many managers would be willing to work for a club without any sort of contract in place? It would be unlikely many, if any at all, would agree to such a situation. But the Rangers manager appears to be on a mission to do everything within his power to save the club. When Smith came out and publicly announced the bank were running the club, it was immediately denied. He is now fighting tooth and nail, it would seem, to prevent his current squad of players from being ripped apart. By managing to win the SPL title last season, the Rangers manager secured some much- needed funds for the cash-strapped club. His team are now seven points clear in the title race again, despite the fact they squad is basically down to the bare bones. But at what point will he decide enough is enough? At what point will he decide he is fighting a losing battle against the moneymen? That, without doubt, is something that really would bring this situation to a head. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks-ignore/moneymen-hold-the-key-to-kris-boyd-deal-and-they-haven-t-said-yes-1.998370
  14. WALTER Smith has warned of dire consequences for Rangers if they do not resist selling any players during the current transfer window and also retain the bulk of their squad whose contracts are due to expire in the summer. The frustration Smith has experienced for the last 18 months as the Ibrox club grapple with their financial problems resurfaced yesterday as he responded to speculation linking Pedro Mendes with a move to Sporting Lisbon. Rangers, who have not been able to buy a new player since August 2008, remain under pressure from the Lloyds Banking Group to restructure their finances and reduce their �£31 million debt. But manager Smith is adamant Rangers cannot afford any further cuts to the first-team squad for the second half of a season which currently sees them seven points clear of Celtic at the top of the SPL and still involved in both domestic cup competitions. While top scorer Kris Boyd has now been offered a new contract, Smith is keen to see the future of other players tied up. Among those whose existing deals also run out at the end of the season are Kirk Broadfoot, Nacho Novo, DaMarcus Beasley and Stevie Smith. "If we don't start to offer some of them the opportunity to stay with the club, then we will cease to operate, never mind anything else," said Smith. "We have been in negotiations with a few others as well as Kris. We have started talking to Kirk Broadfoot and Nacho Novo. It is something that has to happen." With his resources further limited by injuries and unavailability, Smith was forced to fill out his substitutes' bench with four youngsters in Andrew Little, John Fleck, Gregg Wylde and Jamie Ness. He regards it as a clear indication of why Rangers should not be looking to offload senior players such as Mendes. "Who says we are going to get rid of Pedro?" added Smith. "I've not heard anything about getting rid of Pedro, apart from what I read in newspapers. Last week, we only had two senior professionals in Maurice Edu and Stevie Smith on the bench at Celtic Park. We will only have a couple available to us again this weekend. With suspensions set to kick in for the second half of the season, we will need all of our players between now and the end of the season." Smith is still waiting to learn if Boyd will accept the club's offer of a new three-year contract reported to be worth around �£18,000 a week. "His agent spoke with (chief executive) Martin Bain yesterday and he has gone off to think over the offer being made," said Smith. "We've still not heard anything back." One player Smith would be prepared to lose is French winger Jerome Rothen, 31, who has failed to make the desired impact during his season-long loan from Paris St Germain. He is no longer in the manager's first team plans and hopes to return home this month. Rangers begin their defence of the Active Nation Scottish Cup tomorrow and Smith is able to welcome Kenny Miller and Kevin Thomson back from suspension and injury respectively for the lunchtime kick-off against Hamilton Accies at New Douglas Park. http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Walter-Smith--warns-.5968866.jp
  15. From David Edgar Hello folks, Here's the latest info as I have it; Ian Tudhope is effectively the Bain of MIH - he has quit. Despite the denials, it's strongly rumoured by people close to the situation that this is because of Muir. Essentially, Muir is running MIH now and, you can safely assume, is having the same impact that he is having at Rangers. http://www.heraldscotland.com/busine...mpire-1.988277 This is absolutely criticial and flies in the face of what Murray and the bank have been saying about his role as an 'advisor'. There will be more from Graham Duffy in the papers over the next few days which should answer questions on his credentials. However, he may or may not be involved as one of the main players in the most likely consortium. This consortium is made up of names you would know, and is very close to making its move. The exact model of fans representation has not been agreed as there will need to be feasability studies done etc. For example, would Duffy's plan be unworkable? Is there more desire for a membership scheme etc. Supporters representation is however a key component to all members of the prospective consortium. The plan is, as it always has been, to get the bank and the failed owner out of Ibrox officially and then instigate the major changes required, including fan ownership. I know it is frustrating, waiting around for things to happen, but things ARE moving and it WILL happen. If you can, get to the AGM, speak out against Lloyds and the previous regime and vote against Muir becoming a Director. The next few days are crucial to the future of our club. If it all goes to plan, we'll start this new decade in style.
  16. It seems every time I travel through to Ibrox this season, the weather is dreadful. Heavy rain, low cloud and an atmosphere of foreboding seem the norm no matter the time of year. Add in the less than positive mood of the Rangers support then we could change the club colours to grey, bring in John Major as manager and sell boiled rice at the kiosks and it would probably reflect the general feeling at the club well enough. Yet, conversely, the chat online has been a bit more interesting of late: potential new owners interviewed by in-the-know journalists; fan groups releasing statements about ownership schemes; strong arguments between bears who share the same goals and objectives; and general excitement about a new era sans Sir David Murray. Unfortunately all the (largely positive and interesting) debate surrounding the ownership of the club was turned on its head for the time being with yesterday's damp squib of an AGM. With new chairman Alistair Johnston in charge, the format was changed from recent years with an in-depth statement from him and Martin Bain (available in full from PLUS Markets) pre-empting much of the more difficult questions from the 3000 strong shareholder crowd. Amid farcical scenes early in the meeting, the token (but important) gesture of the majority present voting against the re-election of Donald Muir was as interesting as it got. Sure, the huge proxy shareholding of Sir David Murray meant any such vote was always going to be futile but Rangers, MIH and Lloyds bank (delete as applicable for Muir's real employer) will have taken on board the opinions of these active supporters. This shows even widespread media coverage surrounding Muir's appointment didn't sway the opinions of many bears giving an increased realisation that even David Murray can't spin as well as he could do in the past. Alistair Johnston's comments added to that rather bluntly at times. Moving onto the new chairman's speech, Johnston spoke rather well and held the attention of the crowd despite the 20mins he spoke for. An undoubtedly clever man, his awkward appearance in front of the media cameras a few months back was forgotten about here in this confident performance. Most interesting were his comments that he'd lead a Rangers Board that will become increasingly independent of the Murray Group - qualifying this by discontinuing all reimbursements to Murray Group for management services and refusing to take on four directors instead of two (Muir and McGill recently replacing SDM and Wilson) as representatives from MIH. It will be interesting to see how much further the board can go in this respect as SDM (or Lloyds depending on your opinion) still owns >91% of Rangers FC. The chairman also made regular references to a business plan that he had reluctantly agreed with Lloyds in recent months. Obviously, every Rangers fan is aware of the financial restrictions placed upon us, so the likelihood of no future transfers and the importance of winning the SPL was nothing new. The fact he did go until to express 'scepticism' and 'caution' for any new owner in terms of not only raising the initial capital to buy the club but, more importantly, being able to prove they can retain a working finance to maintain the business moving forward was a stark reminder to those who think buying then running Rangers is simple. I wouldn't go as far as some to say he has outright dismissed the aspect of supporter ownership (wholly or in part) but he quite rightly brought everyone back into the real world by way of showing the difficulties therein. In summary, Johnson concluded rather blandly that the club's commitment to the fans would remain a priority and touched on youth and scouting as two specific ways in which we could improve our operations. Martin Bain then took to the stage and was also given the same courtesy by the fans for his slightly shorter but more empirical speech. Concentrating on the individual issues that would inevitably have cropped up during open questions, Bain was clever to address these beforehand and also maintained an eloquent realism while again not really saying anything we didn't know. Despite the drop in season ticket sales it was comforting to know our percentage capacity in the UK remains something to be proud of. All the more reason then for he and his chairman not dismiss our opinions lightly in future months one would hope. By concentrating on the Dundee Utd ticket fiasco and JJB merchandising improvements Bain gave the impression the club did share our opinion on such matters though. Further comment on the importance of youth football and the mention of a new structure in domestic and European football were contributions we'd also heard before. No concrete plans were outlined on how were were addressing all the above which was somewhat disappointing. Nonetheless most major talking points were covered empirically before he opened up the meeting to the shareholders for questions. Pleasingly the time given for such questions was agreeable enough when compared to recent years. Perhaps it was the cold, cramped nature of the Bill Struth Stand or perhaps it was because the preceding speeches were delivered confidently but the quality of questions were by and large disappointing. The Jumbotron screens' condition, the discipline of players on international duty, and kick-off times dictated by TV monies didn't really add anything to the event and those that were a bit more interesting such as the contract status of players (including Boyd) and further media representation complaints were easily answered by Bain who was well briefed for these expected queries. Meanwhile Donald Muir again denied he was employed by the bank and/or that he was preparing the club for administration. Thus, two hours after it started, the always ill-at-ease and unimpressive John McLelland brought the meeting to a close. As everyone bustled their way to the exit (and the incessant rain) the media sat in wait to try and catch shareholders off-guard with their own questions. But the truth was nothing exciting really happened. Sure, the stadium re-naming rebuttal; the no-contract status of the management team; and the guarded nature of the discussion with regard to the ownership of the club kept people awake but all-in-all the debate isn't really all that further forward. Thus, the status-quo remains. We know the club is in financial difficulty. We know the current board appear to be in conflict with each other. We know Lloyds/MIH retain a key involvement in the running of the club. We know all the board lack the innovation required for obvious improvement. We know the ongoing financial underpinning of the club is dependent on our success. We know that club are wary of increased supporter involvement. We know the club is for sale. We know there are a few interested buyers. We know they lack the model or the backing to capture the imagination of the support at large. All the above was information we had at our disposal before yesterday's meeting - hence the title of this equally morose article on it. As such, I urge everyone involved to take a breather and stand back for the moment until such time where we do have more precise information on the club's ownership future. In the short-term the most important thing is that the team remain successful on the pitch so it is vital we continue to support them as vocally as we can. Winning the SPL is imperative no matter who owns the club. That is something we can all agree on. Let's build for the future on that positive note.
  17. Donald Muir, Lloyds TSB's man on the Rangers board, has to be re-elected at the AGM. This is a chance for the bears to show the bank our feelings on their interference if they were to vote against Muir's re-election. Murray's block votes will ensure that he will be re-elected, but it will be more poor PR for Lloyds if Muir has to rely on that. Use your votes wisely, shareholders.
  18. Is that his opinion on Walters tactics.:fish:
  19. RANGERS directors will hold a board meeting today on the eve of what promises to be one of the stormiest annual general meetings in the club's history. At the board meeting, the directors will discuss how to deal with questions over how the club is being run which are likely to be raised from the floor at tomorrow's AGM. It follows statements made by manager Walter Smith that the club's bank, Lloyds Banking Group, was in effect running the in-debt club, statements refuted by owner Sir David Murray. Company turn-around specialist Donald Muir was elected to the board in October and is likely to be re-elected in Monday's meeting, but it could be opposed. There are fears among Rangers directors that it is the difficulties in other areas of Sir David's huge business interests (Murray International Holdings has debts of �£759 million) that are prompting the bank to keep a far closer eye on the club. Last week in Scotland on Sunday, Sir David confirmed that he was prepared to sell the club, and said that Rangers had to live within their financial means, but denied the bank was running the club. But sources close to Rangers have told Scotland on Sunday: "Senior directors believe that Donald Muir is on the board to pursue the agenda of the bank." Muir is employed by the Murray group, but it is believed the bank were closely consulted before his appointment. Rangers announced last month that they had made an annual loss of �£12.7m for the year to 30 June, 2009, with their debt rising to �£31.1m.
  20. Monday at Ibrox guarantees to be the most intense Rangers AGM in many years. The club is in crisis, seemingly unwanted on the open market, and is facing a highly uncertain future. For Rangers shareholders, the following are the 10 most pressing questions to be put to the club's board during the (sometimes farcical) open Q & A session . . . 1 Who is to blame for Rangersââ?¬â?¢ financial mess? On this one, it seems that everyone is running for cover. The banking crisis has left Rangers looking like a house built on sand, although discovering, via the media or anywhere else, who exactly is to blame has proved taxing. Is it Sir David Murray? Is it the banking system itself (though few other British clubs are floundering quite like Rangers)? The banks ââ?¬â? and Lloyds in particular ââ?¬â? appear to be held up for particular venom, while Murray, whom many supporters hold accountable, still warrants scarcely a negative mention in the popular press. It is not for vengeance that some Rangers fans want to know who brought their club to its knees, so much as having the knowledge for it never to happen again. 2 Who is running Rangers ââ?¬â? the clubââ?¬â?¢s board or the bank? The clubââ?¬â?¢s board say they are running Rangers. Walter Smith says it is the bank. Alastair Johnston, the chairman, says the board are very much in day-to-day control of the club, with the ââ?¬Å?supportââ?¬Â of Lloyds. This is a murky area for concerned Rangers shareholders and a straightforward ââ?¬â? and accurate ââ?¬â? response from the clubââ?¬â?¢s directors tomorrow would help. The feeling persists that, while Rangers are indeed in daily control of their own business, the clubââ?¬â?¢s ultimate fate will be determined by their bankers. 3 What remaining influence does Sir David Murray have over Rangers? Murray, who stepped down as Rangers chairman in September, wants a clean divorce from the club as soon as possible (there has been fat chance of that) but until it happens he is still a near-90% owner. Is Murray still involved in key club decisions? Would he still have a say ââ?¬â? as he always did in his heyday ââ?¬â? in any January comings and goings? The former Rangers chairman, who is left clutching a stricken bairn he doesnââ?¬â?¢t want, currently occupies a strange twilight world at Ibrox. 4 Will Murray ââ?¬â? or the Lloyds Group ââ?¬â? be the final arbiter on who buys Rangers? Murray, with his vast shareholding, has indicated in the past seven days that he will still decide to whom he sells his stake ââ?¬â? but will he? There is still a perception that Lloyds are ââ?¬Å?actively trying to find a buyerââ?¬Â for Rangers, as if Murray is now almost an irrelevant bystander. The question is, when Rangers are sold, who will determine the suitability of the buyer? Murray has persistently stated that he will only sell to someone who will ââ?¬Å?be good for Rangersââ?¬Â ââ?¬â? can this still be the case? 5 For how long does Walter Smith plan to be the Rangers manager? Smith has told one or two in the media in private of his plans, but this is still a grey area among many Rangers supporters. Does he want to stay or go? Johnston has previously said that he would want the current Rangers manager to sign a new, extended contract, though that very issue has gone quiet for almost two months now. Someone should stand up and ask Smith tomorrow, what itââ?¬â?¢s to be: does he plan to stay or go? 6 Can Rangers afford to keep their best playing assets in January? Barring a Roman Abramovich figure suddenly appearing on the scene, Rangers almost certainly face a period of financial downsizing over the next two years. During the past two transfer windows not a single player has been bought, and more sales might even be considered in January. Many supporters also want to know when a new signing will next be made. 7 Does the board think that a supportersââ?¬â?¢ buy-out of Rangers is feasible? There has been quite a lot on message-boards and in the newspapers ââ?¬â? much of it unconvincing hot air ââ?¬â? about fansââ?¬â?¢ buy-outs, membership schemes, etc. A relatively small but impassioned group of Rangers fans dream of owning the club, and, given their current state of limbo, the Rangers board should come clean on what they think of such a proposal. 8 Does Alastair Johnston know of any imminent, credible buyer of Rangers? David Murray was undoubtedly right ââ?¬â? Johnston has moved to Rangers with considerable knowledge of the north American scene, both in business and sport and, given his life-long support of Rangers, should be as well placed as anyone to know of potential buyers who have the wealth and knowledge to back up their interest. Now is the time for the Ibrox chairman to tell the assembled throng what he really knows. 9 Is Dave King really a potential owner of Rangers? Standing among the enduring murkiness of the current Rangers situation is the elusive Mr King. He is reputed to have already invested some Ã?£12m in Rangers, and is said by many to still be interested in buying Murray out. Well, whatââ?¬â?¢s it to be? Moreover, would Kingââ?¬â?¢s chaotic and controversial battles with the South African authorities over various financial allegations deter Rangers from wanting him as their new owner? 10 What is the future of Ally McCoist at the club? McCoist, a Rangers legend, is also at the centre of much uncertainty. Both Walter Smith and David Murray have previously stated that, in an ideal world, the former striker would be the next occupant of the managerââ?¬â?¢s chair, but much has changed since those statements were made six months ago. If Smith leaves the club at the end of the current season, is McCoist still seen as the man to pick up the baton? The first-team coach himself has admitted little about his own personal preferences, but some Rangers fans wish to know where McCoist stands in any imminent post-Smith era at Ibrox. Duffyââ?¬â?¢s pipe dream for the people Is there anyone out there who has generated more hot air over his proposed plan to ââ?¬Å?saveââ?¬Â Rangers than the Florida-based Graham Duffy? The more this guy wafts through the pages of a gullible press, the less likely I find his plan to succeed. So far Duffy has revealed the following. First, he has not carried out any due diligence. Two, he wonââ?¬â?¢t be investing himself. Three, despite wanting 45,000 Rangers fans to invest Ã?£1,000 each in a buy-out, he admits himself this is ââ?¬Å?unlikelyââ?¬Â. Four, he has no idea if a majority of supporters favour a fansââ?¬â?¢ co-operative. But apart from all that, claims Duffy, heââ?¬â?¢s at the get-go to save Rangers. Those who succeed in business do their talking in private, then strike when the deal is ready. Mr Duffy happily babbles in public, even while his plans look, at best, half-baked. Folks, donââ?¬â?¢t hold your breath for salvation for Rangers coming out of Florida.
  21. On the morning of Monday December 7th, thousands of Rangers shareholders will again converge on Ibrox Stadium to find out the latest information about the club. Most directors will be there - including new chairman Alastair Johnston and alleged Lloyds Bank stooge Donald Muir - so this will be the supporters' chance to question them on recent events. Obviously there has been a lot of debate in the media about the current situation at the club. Why did Sir David Murray step down? Is Alastair Johnston really in control? What influence do the bank have on the business? What part does the bleak future of Murray International Holdings play? How will the next two transfer windows affect our team on the park? What happens if we don't qualify for the Champions' League next season? Can the fans own the club? Would Alastair Johnston consider an interim measure to give the support increased representative powers? We could go on all day here but we want to hear your suggestions... Get involved and post now. Or if preferred email to settingthestandard@gersnetonline.co.uk
  22. By Kenny MacDonald, 22/11/2009 MAJID BOUGHERRA is facing the chop from Rangers' Champions League clash with Stuttgart. The AWOL Algerian World Cup star again failed to turn up as expected before yesterday's 3-0 win over Kilmarnock. Walter Smith has dropped a massive hint he's set to DITCH Madjid Bougherra for Tuesday's make-or-break Champions League game against Stuttgart at Ibrox. The Rangers boss may well keep faith with defensive superkid Danny Wilson. Smith admitted he still hasn't seen or heard from Bougherra, below, following his late return from Algeria's World Cup qualification win against Egypt in Sudan on Wednesday. He expects to see the stopper, who hasn't played for Rangers since September 29, for training at Murray Park today. There was little indication last night that he was intending recalling the defender for the Germans' visit. He said: "He hasn't spoken to anyone but I imagine he's available for Tuesday night. "If he was injured I think he'd have let somebody know. "He'll be in training on Sunday so we'll see how he is then. "The situation as to who plays is a pleasure to deal with. "Danny's a young lad but when he's playing in the manner in which he has been, it's never a problem. "I'm the one who is charged with looking after his career at the present moment and I'll continue to do that. He handled the Champions League game he played in well and there's no great reason why he should not handle another one in exactly the same manner." Kris Boyd, who scored Rangers' opener against Killie, admitted he doesn't know if he'll get the nod for Tuesday despite scoring his eighth goal of the season. He also refused to rule out remaining in international isolation. Boyd said: "I don't know if I'll be part of it on Tuesday but the most important thing for me was to play well and score. If I start on Tuesday, great. If not, I'll prepare myself for hopefully starting against Aberdeen next week. "Like everyone else here, I want to be part of the big European nights and I want to play in big games but I've tasted the other side and I'm used to it. "The Scotland one is a decision I'll have to make in the next couple of months but it could depend on who gets the job. "The next guy might come in and not fancy me but it's not something that's really in my mind at present. "No player is bigger than their country and at the time, the decision I made was right for me. I feel as though I've reaped the benefits at club level. "I'm not ruling out coming back and I'm not ruling out staying retired. "It's a different situation to Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor. They knew they were in the wrong but if they go back it will be to Scotland's benefit. In the meantime I'm enjoying my football for Rangers because I'm playing more or less every week." Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies admitted his side shot themselves in the foot. He said: "I don't think we've come to Ibrox and had as much possession as we had today, or worked their goalkeeper the way we did today but the defending in the first half was shocking." Killie captain Kevin Kyle is likely to be out for a couple of weeks after needing stitches in a face wound after being caught by Allan McGregor's boot. Meanwhile it was revealed that Rangers management team have been GAGGED from talking about the club's financial plight. Smith broke the bombshell news three weeks ago that the club was being run by the banks. Lloyds Bank subsequently issued a statement denying that but after Rangers' net debt rocketed to upwards of �£31million, senior management staff were sent letters to forbid them from speaking publicly about the club's financial position. One member of the coaching staff admitted: "We're now under the takeover panel's jurisdiction and we have all received letters from our legal people saying this inhibits us from making further comments." Smith says no decision will be made regarding his Rangers future until the club has a new owner. His current deal ends in January and he had an agreement with former chairman Sir David Murray that he would work on until the end of the season without a new deal. New chairman Alastair Johnston has said he wants Smith to stay but the Gers boss said: "The club is up for sale, so my view is quite simple. "When that takes place we'll be in a far better place to make a decision, not just in the short term but the longer term as well. "I don't think it's the right time to make any kind of decision. When my contract expires in January will be the first time. At that stage, if I'm asked to stay on I'm happy to do so. If I'm not I will leave. "The new chairman and the previous chairman have said they're happy with me being here to handle this situation until it finishes but circumstances at the club could change, that's why it's difficult for anybody to make a decision just now. "There are boys at the club who are out of contract and it has not been possible to make them offers. The management staff are the same. "You just want to wait and see what happens. If there are new owners they might clear the lot of us out. It's not a matter of speculation, that's just the way it's got to be. When the position is rectified will be the time to make a decision but now isn't the time to do that."
  23. Rangers fans threaten to boycott Lloyds TSB ... more soon evening times website
  24. The prospect of financially stricken Rangers being owned by its supporters moved closer after a Scottish expatriate billionaire last night announced plans to buy out the Ibrox clubââ?¬â?¢s Ã?£30 million debt to Lloyds Banking Group. The Florida-based businessman and fan told The Herald on condition of anonymity he is ââ?¬Å?working privatelyââ?¬Â to ensure the money is repaid soon and bridging funding put in place to ensure a transition to create a supporter-controlled entity, similar to Spainââ?¬â?¢s Barcelona and Real Madrid. His intervention came as the Ibrox club prepares later today to release its financial results, that are expected to show a loss of up to Ã?£8m. The Glasgow-born entrepreneur, whose identity and oversees business dealings are known to The Herald, added: ââ?¬Å?This opportunity should be used to implement a new mission statement and business plan for the club and its supporters, to put it on to a long-standing business footing along the same lines as Barcelona and Real Madrid. ââ?¬Å?The club is nothing without its supporters, Rangers should never be an ego-trip or piggy bank for any businessman and should not be used as a ââ?¬Ë?for profitââ?¬â?¢ business.ââ?¬Â In the proposal about to be put to Rangers owner Sir David Murray by an English-based specialist finance company, existing bank debt would be replaced with a Ã?£30m bridging facility, to be paid down over two years; supporters would invest in Rangers shares over three years, with a target of 15,000 fans subscribing Ã?£1000 a year leaving them with a 50% share of the company after three years The chairman would also be re-elected every 12 months and no individual could own more than 5% of the shares with all profits put back into the club. South Africa-based millionaire Dave King is still thought to be the likeliest buyer of all or part of Sir Davidââ?¬â?¢s controlling interest. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/billionaire-in-plan-to-buy-out-rangers-30m-debt-1.932051
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.