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edit It appears MASH Holdings loan us 2M, secured on our assets and gaining influence in the boardrooms of TRFC and RIFC, whilst Rangers Retail (under Sports Direct financial control) are not releasing greater sums of money supposedly due to us. For some reason Rangers Retail (under Sports Direct financial control) have withheld profits from Rangers (RIFC). The numbers below have appeared in the accounts. This money hasn't since been released to RIFC. 30 June 2013:............................................. ........... £946,000 31 December 2013:............................................. £1,669,000 30 June 2014:............................................................£2,720,000 Today: If pattern stays the same I'd estimate...... £3,000,000 Is Mike Ashely indirectly using our money to finance the loan he has agreed with the RIFC board ? I can't say without the current numbers but you have to ask why withhold the money in the first place if we are struggling. The two directors that represent RIFC on the Rangers Retail (RR) board are currently Wallace and Nash, so they might have lobbied for it to have been paid at the beginning of the year but it would have been, only if SD and it's directors on RRLtd both agreed. Update The figure for year end 30/06/14 is now inserted above. It shows that the total continues to accumulate and continues, at that date not to have been released. http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/12067610.html Background In late July 2012, a joint venture was entered into by Sports Direct and Rangers, it became known as Rangers Retail Ltd. Charles Green and Brian Stockbridge represented Rangers on the RR board of directors. SD have 49% in 'A' class shares which count double in any votes regarding financial matters. RIFC have 51%, in 'B' class shares Effectively SD control the joint venture. Links to the accounts 30/6/13...http://www.rangers.co.uk/images/staticcontent/documents/AnnualReport2013.pdf 31/12/13....http://rangers.g3dhosting.com/regula...ws_article/375

...has kept him away from Ibrox. Former manager, who will make rare appearance in stands for League Cup quarter-final against St Johnstone, says he is "better not going" because of club's problems. By Ewing Grahame 10:00PM GMT 27 Oct 2014 Comments8 Comments Walter Smith will make a rare appearance at Ibrox on Tuesday night for Rangers’ League Cup quarter-final against St Johnstone. Smith, 66, led Rangers to nine championship successes and also won the Scottish Cup five times and the League Cup on six occasions during his two spells as manager. Yet he reveals that the internecine warfare – which has been waged with increasing frequency and hostility in the boardroom since the consortium fronted by Charles Green seized control after the old club’s descent into liquidation in 2012 – has persuaded him to limit his attendance at matches following his resignation as chairman in August last year. The increasing influence wielded by Mike Ashley, the Newcastle United owner, and the departures (which Ashley had called for) of chief executive Graham Wallace and director Philip Nash may yet bring stability to the club but, until the fighting stops, Smith’s visits will be collectors’ items. “Before I left the board at Rangers I was going to few of the games,” he said. “I’ve been to one or two but I haven’t been to an awful lot since I left. “I watch the TV coverage and read a lot about it but I don’t go along to many matches. At first I didn’t go because I didn’t want people thinking I was ... not interfering, but going to watch Alastair and the boys I’d left there. That was the main reason for not going back. “When Charles Green asked me to go on the board I went back and going to games was another aspect of it. “Since I left the board, the reason I don’t go back is because is everybody keeps saying to me: ‘You are supporting that side, your are supporting this side or the other side’. “I think I’m better not bothering going. I miss going to the games. I’ll go to the occasional one and I’ll go on Tuesday night to see how they do against St Johnstone.” Smith was at the national stadium on Sunday to see Davie Wilson, a childhood idol, inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame. “Wee Davie worked beside my old man when he was a boy, strangely enough,” he said. “I went to Ibrox and watched him play in that fantastic team of the late 1950s and early 60s. It was an enjoyable period to go and watch them. “He was one of the main ones and the number of goals he scored for a winger was incredible. Nowadays we don’t have wingers of that type. “Davie and Jimmy Millar also came to play at Dundee United when I was there and he was a fantastic professional. They could have tailed off at the end of their careers but they had a great attitude and it was good for a young player like myself to see that, “It was a big thrill – I’d never have imagined I’d have played alongside him. He was terrific, down to earth. Davie was also assistant manager at Dumbarton when I went there for a year.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/11190909/Walter-Smith-reveals-how-long-running-internal-warfare-at-Rangers-has-kept-him-away-from-Ibrox.html

Rumours from media on Twitter: Andy Devlin ‏@AndyDev28 51s51 seconds ago BREAKING: Sandy Easdale due at Ibrox shortly for crunch talks with Ally McCoist. The Rangers boss could be hours from the sack.

Is it still open on match days? Trying to think of a venue to take the old man next weekend which isn't too busy or too far away from the ground.

...as beleaguered board accept Mike Ashley's £2m crisis loan. WALLACE - who is expected to be replaced by Ashley's right-hand man Derek Llambias - was fired moments after the board accepted a £2million bailout from the Newcastle United owner. RANGERS chief executive Graham Wallace has been fired as part of Mike Ashley’s Ibrox power grab. Wallace – who is expected to be replaced by Ashley’s right-hand man Derek Llambias – was axed on Saturday morning, moments after the club’s beleaguered board accepted a £2m crisis loan from the Sports Direct magnate and his departure will be confirmed this morning. It’s hotly anticipated his £300,000-a-year role will now be given to Llambias as part of a boardroom shake-up. Ashley also wants another close pal, Stephen Mucklow, to replace finance director Philip Nash, who resigned on Friday. In return for his cash, Ashley demanded the right to make two changes to the board and also has security over two of the club’s main assets, the Albion car park and Edmiston House. Record Sport can also reveal that, after learning of Brian Kennedy’s late counter offer of a £3m funding package on Friday morning, Ashley threatened the club’s directors with legal action if his own deal was rejected. A source said: “Ashley was apoplectic when he heard Kennedy made a bigger offer. “His lawyers made it clear to the board there could be devastating repercussions for those who tried to stand in his way. It’s no surprise a few bottles crashed. Ashley is not someone to be messed with.” Wallace had approached Kennedy on Thursday in a desperate bid to block Ashley’s power grab. He then left for a holiday in Greece on Friday. Details of his severance package are as yet unclear. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-power-battle-graham-wallace-4515530

By Chris McLaughlin & Richard Wilson BBC Scotland Rangers were 48 hours from going into administration until a £2m loan was agreed with Mike Ashley, according to one senior Ibrox source. Prospective administrators had been contacted by the Ibrox club. Newcastle owner Ashley put forward a financial package, which includes the option of a new share issue, on Friday and it was agreed on Saturday morning. And, as part of the agreement, chief executive Graham Wallace will follow director Philip Nash in stepping down. The arrangement could be finalised early next week. English businessman Ashley, who owns 8.29% of the Glasgow club's shares, had called for the removal of Nash and Wallace as part of his offer. Under Scottish FA agreement Ashley is not allowed boardroom influence or a shareholding of more than 10%. But his possible underwriting of a share issue could take his stake above that threshold if there is not enough buy-in from other investors. An alternative option could be further loans. The SFA plan to write Rangers next week seeking clarification on the loan agreement with Ashley. Rangers need a financial injection to cover wages beyond November and Sale Sharks owner Brian Kennedy became a surprise latecomer in the battle for control with a funding package offer of his own. In response to the news that Ashley's offer had been accepted by the board, Kennedy said he was "disappointed for Rangers" but would not be commenting further. Former director Dave King had also offered fresh funding to Rangers but could not agree a deal following talks with key shareholder Sandy Easdale and the board. Before returning to his South African business base on Thursday, King issued a statement saying that his group's offer remained on the table and that he was hopeful it would be accepted. Ashley, who already has control of Rangers' shirt sales and retail division and owns the naming rights for Ibrox Stadium, refused to back King's proposal. Sandy Easdale, who controls a 26% block of shares, also declined to agree to King's proposals. While Ashley is demanding two representatives on the board, King also wanted to choose its chairman. Nash, the former Arsenal and Liverpool executive, had been employed as a financial consultant by Rangers before joining the board in July. Wallace, currently on a family holiday in Greece, and Nash had been supportive of the bid by King's group, which includes fellow Scottish businessmen George Letham and Paul Murray. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29761396

Wednesday, 22 October 2014 16:15 Games Moved For TV Written by Andrew Dickson TWO Championship games Rangers are scheduled to play in December have been selected for live television coverage. The trip to play Queen of the South has been moved forward a day to Friday, December 12 for transmission on BT Sport, with kick-off at 7.45pm. A fixture with Hibernian in Edinburgh on Saturday, December 27 remains on that date but will now start at 12.15pm rather than the original 3pm kick-off time. That match will be broadcast by Sky Sports as the Light Blues round off 2014 with a journey along the M8 to the capital. http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/7897-games-moved-for-tv

Mike Ashley moves into pole position to take control at Ibrox as Dave King bid fails http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-power-battle-mike-ashley-4499365

I got this while doing a google on the Dumbarton game. It says that he lost his 22 year old girlfriend last week. 22 year old, jesus life should have been just starting for her (Kal Naismith @KalNaismith11 · 18 okt. Ashley I miss you like crazy I would give anything in the world to be able to cuddle you. You'll always be mine and I'll always be yours ❤️) All the strength in the world Kal

As usual, the news isn't good. A rich guy whose money talks more than his mouth is now the most influential figure at Rangers, and having already acquired certain rights with regard to merchandise and the stadium itself, what does he do? He lends the club money. He doesn't gift it to the club - he lends it. Make no mistake, this money will have to be paid back and so will any future loans from the same source. Mike Ashley isn't a sugar daddy. He will want a return on every penny that he puts in to Rangers. Dave King and his backers have tried to land the club, but so far, without success. A seeming reluctance to buy up shares in Rangers hasn't helped, but it's pointless getting angry at those who have tried and failed. We are where we are. The support is split. Thousands will not pay another cent towards a club that they believe has been hijacked by people who only care for it while it suits their commercial purpose. I have no problem with this view. It is entirely understandable. Others will follow on as per usual. That's fine too. We are football fans. We know only too well that allegiance usually triumphs over ownership details and boardroom personnel. We are likely then to have a weakened club in terms of strength of support, and the likely renaming of Ibrox is likely to turn more people away. While this is a move that I could live with in more normal circumstances, I can fully understand why people will be angry if Ibrox becomes sponsored when the sponsor has apparently paid mere shekels for the privilege while lending - yes lending - money to the club. What do we do then? Those who approve of the new owner or don't care who he is will carry on attending and buying merchandise. It is those who find themselves unable to support Rangers who have to ask themselves what they should do next. Protest marches? What have they achieved so far? Answer: nothing. Boycotts? Organised boycotts fade and die and are perceived to have faded and died. They could be counter-productive. Walk-outs? About as useful as marches. Travelling to Ibrox and hanging around outside while the game is on? Plain daft. Card displays and banner messages? They won't change a thing. If you can't accept what has happened to the club, and if you will not support it any more, you already have your answer. Privately, as an individual, you will make your point by not attending. Those who feel as you do will reinforce the message, but do not harass others into joining you. Equally, to those who will follow on as normal, understand one thing: thousands of your fellow fans feel they have a good reason to stop going to Ibrox - as good as yours is for continuing to go. Do not harass them. History will decide if this is a bump in the road or the edge of a cliff.

http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/rangerstv/item/7921-goals-dumbarton

I have been asked to make a personal comment on the rumour that the Rangers board is considering a loan from Mr Ashley. I don't see the offer of a short term loan by Mr Ashley affecting me in any way. Our offer is for a long term permanent solution that can take the club forward and unite the fans and the board for the first time in many years. The board is in the final stages of reviewing our offer and I expect a definitive answer early next week. Frankly, it doesn't seem possible that the board can do anything other than recommend it to shareholders given the dire financial circumstances and the fact that no other long term solution is on offer. Mr Ashley's involvement (and recently announced continued commitment) with Newcastle precludes him from making a similar offer of long term permanent equity. What Mr Ashley can do is attempt to increase his vice-like grip on the Rangers brand by improving his retail position as a condition for supplying short term debt to tide the club over until our permanent funding is in place. But I know that there are other investors also willing to provide bridging finance. The board will therefore not have to accept punitive terms even if Ashley attempts to oppose them. We must remember that the board is ethically and legally bound to act in the best interest of the company and all shareholders. Ashley can not expect preferential treatment and will not get it. I am confident that Graham Wallace and Philip Nash have enough integrity and commercial experience to do the right thing. http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sdec2h

Following some requests from members to introduce a £5 per month option to subscribe to BuyRangers we are pleased to announced that this option is now available. Since being launched this morning (25/10/2014) we have been particularly busy and had many sign ups with many opting for the bigger amount. There is also the option of a one-off payment of £125 available on our website as well. All information can be found at http://www.therst.co.uk/buyrangers

Ashley's deal has been apparently accepted by the club. So with a game today will we see a reaction from bears or the usual muted response we're accustomed to seeing? Wallace is away, the Easdales don't travel away, so who's representing the club from an executive capacity? Andy fucking Cameron?

As predicted by yours truly, Mike Ashley has moved into pole position in the race to wear the crown at Ibrox. With Dave King out of the running, despite protestations to the contrary from King himself, it looks like Rangers’ future is in the hands of the sporting goods magnate. If we are being really honest, there are no other viable options available at present. As I predicted, King took advantage of the timing factor to be first to the table in offering a package but in doing so he fell into Ashley’s carefully laid trap. In a financial gun fight between the two, King lacks the firepower and. although a wily operator, is arguably seriously deficient to Ashley when it comes to strategy and street smarts. It is believed that Ashley’s proposal entails a loan which allows him to have Rangers by the short and curlies without straying into increasing his shareholding and thus having to overcome SFA objections to this. Ashley will, it is believed, demand the removal of Philip Nash and CEO Graham Wallace, whose alignment with Dave King now looks to be an ill-thought-out manoeuvre on their part. Dave King’s ongoing involvement in the Rangers saga should now be consigned to history as it has produced nothing but unrest and uncertainty, especially among more anxious members of the support. With Sandy Easdale holding a 26% voting block of shares and purportedly a backer of Ashley over King, it looks like the Londoner’s bid for power will prevail. It is vital that Rangers fans unite behind the club now and support the team in its drive for promotion. The quicker Rangers are back competing in the top tier. the better for the whole of Scottish football, as well as Rangers in particular. It may be too much to expect Dave King and his colleagues to urge fans to back the Ashley regime at Ibtox; however, it is certainly reasonable of loyal fans to expect that King and his cronies will cease and desist from attempting to disrupt the club with pointless boycotts and petty sniping. Mike Ashley has the resources to back Rangers and make them a big club like before, even bigger. That is why it is no surprise to see the Rangers-hating press in Scotland oppose his further involvement. He also has plenty of time to become a “Rangers man” and take the club to heart. That might be more likely if those with a “**** Complex” can overcome their fears of people of high net worth and let the guy get on with building Rangers up. The inevitability of the big man in the fight overcoming the wee guy is now the scenario at Ibrox. King has made his play, sincere or not and has no other viable card to play it would appear. Ashley’s tanks are parked on Ibrox lawns and it looks like he wants to make Ibrox his base. Far better for Rangers and really bad news for the club’s enemies if the guns are pointing outward. http://billmcmurdo.wordpress.com/2014/10/24/enter-the-big-guns/

...after forcing out Philip Nash with emergency loan offer. By Roddy Forsyth 10:36PM BST 24 Oct 2014 Newcastle United owner tightens "vice-like grip" on Scottish Championship club as finance director resigns over prospect of working with the Sports Direct tycoon. Mike Ashley tightened his grip on Rangers and claimed his first victim on the club’s plc board with the resignation of finance director Philip Nash – a departure that could clear the way for the Newcastle United owner to rename Ibrox after his Sports Direct brand, perhaps as soon as next month, The Telegraph can reveal. Nash had also approached Brian Kennedy, owner of the Sale Sharks rugby union club, to provide backup emergency funding to see Rangers through to the end of the season if necessary. Kennedy tabled an offer of just over £3 million late on Friday, compared to a similar £2 million offer from Ashley, although the details remain unclear. Nash’s decision to quit the Rangers plc board was revealed in a statement on the club’s official website. Nash’s departure was the latest development in the battle for control of Rangers between Ashley and Dave King, the former Ibrox director, who flew into Glasgow from his base in South Africa on Oct 14 to meet the plc board. King’s proposed takeover consisted of a £16 million package, half from him and the rest from other wealthy Rangers supporters including Paul Murray and George Letham. As King confirmed on Thursday, he had been willing to co-operate with a board proposal that the investment be provided as a mixture of loan funding and equity, with guarantees were to protect existing shareholders’ investments from over-dilution. King was willing to do so in return for two seats on the plc board and the right to choose the chair of the board. Related Articles Ally McCoist would welcome Mike Ashley involvement at Rangers Mike Ashley wins Rangers victory as finance chief steps down 24 Oct 2014 King makes dig at 'power behind Ibrox throne' 23 Oct 2014 King speaks with Easdale as clock ticks 22 Oct 2014 King to reveal status of £16m Rangers takeover 21 Oct 2014 For his proposal to succeed, King required 75 per cent shareholder approval, a target he could not reach without the co-operation of Sandy Easdale, chairman of Rangers’ football board, who – with his own stock and as proxy for others – controls 26 per cent of existing shares. However, Ashley’s subsequent offer of emergency funding confirmed the belief that Easdale would not ensure the reduction of his own influence at Ibrox by accepting King’s package. Ashley had already targeted Nash and Rangers’ chief executive, Graham Wallace, because they had blocked his attempt to provide emergency funding last month in return for the rights to the club’s trademark and crest. The pair believed that the package, said to be worth up to £10 million but with only £2 million offered up front, was not good value for the surrender of such assets. Ashley’s response was to call for an extraordinary meeting to have Wallace and Nash removed from their posts. It can also be revealed that although Ashley bought the naming rights for Ibrox for £1 from Charles Green in 2012, Nash negotiated an additional clause with him earlier this year to the effect that they would not be activated this season. If, however, Ashley succeeds in getting two of his own people on to the plc board, the clause can be scrapped. It is understood that Ashley was prepared to keep Nash in place as finance director, but not as a board member. Nash – in the belief that the Ashley deal would do little more than keep the lights on at Ibrox – chose to quit. In a further twist, Rangers’ accounts to June 30, 2014, are expected to reveal that Nash had reduced operating losses from £14.4 million in the 2013 accounts to under £9 million. The accounts, as The Telegraph revealed on Thursday, are ready to be sent to Deloitte, the club’s auditors, in the next two weeks, but cannot be signed off until there is proof that Rangers can be run as a going concern for the rest of the season. King, meanwhile, responded to news of Ashley’s latest offer with a defiant statement to the effect that it was the duty of the plc board to recommend acceptance of the proposal of greatest benefit to Rangers as a business. The statement read: “I have been asked to make a personal comment on the rumour that the Rangers board is considering a loan from Mr Ashley. I don’t see the offer of a short-term loan by Mr Ashley affecting me in any way. Our offer is for a long-term permanent solution that can take the club forward and unite the fans and the board for the first time in many years. “The board is in the final stages of reviewing our offer and I expect a definitive answer early next week. Frankly, it doesn’t seem possible that the board can do anything other than recommend it to shareholders given the dire financial circumstances and the fact that no other long term solution is on offer. Mr Ashley’s involvement (and recently announced continued commitment) with Newcastle precludes him from making a similar offer of long-term permanent equity. “What Mr Ashley can do is attempt to increase his vice-like grip on the Rangers brand by improving his retail position as a condition for supplying short-term debt to tide the club over until our permanent funding is in place. But I know that there are other investors also willing to provide bridging finance. “The board will therefore not have to accept punitive terms even if Ashley attempts to oppose them. We must remember that the board is ethically and legally bound to act in the best interest of the company and all shareholders. “Ashley cannot expect preferential treatment and will not get it. I am confident that Graham Wallace and Philip Nash have enough integrity and commercial experience to do the right thing.” That, though, was before the news of Nash’s departure. In response to Nash’s resignation, King told The Telegraph: “It reinforces the need for a change at the club to get a proper board with good governance.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/11186814/Mike-Ashley-edges-closer-to-Rangers-takeover-after-forcing-out-Philip-Nash-with-emergency-loan-offer.html

Just curious as it appears Ashley can only own 10% and does so by just under this, yet he seems to have the power to vote in the way which only benefits him. Thus being Easdale and the "26%". Is it possible Ashley is in someway involved with a Laxey/BPH/Maragrita etc? They all have links to CG.

Dave King Statement re Rangers FC It is appropriate that I give feedback to the Rangers fans before departing for South Africa. Over the last few weeks Paul Murray, George Letham and myself have constructively engaged the Rangers board and (at the request of the board) Sandy Easdale regarding our proposal to invest 16 million into the club as soon as is practically possible. When investing in any public company there are numerous regulatory and compliance requirements that have to be dealt with. There are also SFA compliance issues that arise when investing in a football club in Scotland. An obvious further complication in Rangers case is the seeming lack of authority of the Rangers board to make decisions without reference to key shareholders who appear to be “the power behind the throne”. Prior to commencing the implementation issues referred to above it is necessary to reach an in-principle agreement with the board that can then be put to shareholders. In this regard it is important to recogniser hat the so-called Easdale Block represents more than 25% of the shares in issue and could therefore block the implementation of our proposal even if recommended by the board. Likewise, a combination of other shareholders could veto our proposal. I attempted to meet with Mr Ashley on my visit but neither he, nor his colleague, Mr Bishop, acknowledged my request for a meeting. This is their right but is unfortunate given the present concerns from supporters that Mr Ashley is using his shareholder status to put pressure on the board to alienate the rights and trade mark of the club in favour of his personal interest. I will make a separate announcement and appeal to fans on this topic at the appropriate time. Our initial proposal to the board was to invest the full 16m by way of equity at 20p per share. The board requested that we consider a debt/equity mix that would reduce dilution for existing shareholders and allow the debt component to be advanced prior to the extended time frame required for the approval of additional equity. We are amenable to this and to working with the board on the mechanics necessary to ensure that this is achieved provided that the full investment is recognised by way of board representation. We wish to appoint an equal number of members to the board and have the key say regarding the appointment of the Chairperson. We will not invest funds and let the existing board determine how these funds are spent. That has not worked well in the past. In any transaction of this nature there are a number of interests to be consulted and considered. The board has apparently engaged constructively on our proposal while advancing its own points as to what it believes is in the best interest of the club and its shareholders. Sandy Easdale has similarly apparently engaged constructively including highlighting some concerns. I have today responded to these concerns in writing. He will now consult with his co-shareholders and hopefully revert soonest so that we can proceed to agreement and the earliest possible implementation thereof. Unfortunately, I have to again deal with a point that I have covered previously. Despite our agreement with the board on confidentiality (that we have strictly complied with) we were faced with the inevitable combination of truth, half-truth and fallacies peddled by Mr Irvine on behalf of his employers. He states in particular that he is voicing Sandy Easdale’s directly communicated thoughts. Sandy has assured me that this is not the case regarding his recent nonsensical utterings. On that point, I have recently had the amusement of reviewing over 100 email communications between MrIrvine and Craig Whyte during the period that Mr Irvine was attempting to advance Mr Whyte’s business interests. My review of these emails indicates to me that he carefully identifies journalists that he believes lack journalistic integrity and ability and can therefore be fed by him for the benefit of whoever pays him. I urge fans to continue to ignore the nonsense that comes from these sources. We have a lot of work to do over the next few months to regain the club. I would not be here without the support of the fans and neither would my co-investors. We are going to need to draw on your support again over the coming months.

DARREN McGREGOR has revealed he’s on course for an automatic contract extension after a solid start to his Rangers career. The defender signed a one-year deal with the club in the summer having left St Mirren at the end of his deal there. Ally McCoist had been a huge admirer of the stopper for some time but he was given only 12 months at Ibrox initially because of his injury history. McGregor suffered two cruciate knee ligament injuries during his four-year stay in Paisley but was fit enough to play 38 times for the Buddies last term. When he switched to the Light Blues, he had it written into his terms that he’d earn a second campaign with the club if he was fit enough for at least half of the games in 2014/15. Given he has been both available and involved in all of the 15 fixtures Gers have had to date, the 29-year-old is on track at this stage. McGregor said: “I think what a lot of people don’t know is I’ll get an extension if I’m available for 50 per cent of the first season. “Just because of the injuries I’ve had, the club has wanted me to be available that often but that’s not necessarily to say I have to play in them. “There is something in place whereby if I’m available, I’ll be here for a second year. Fingers crossed that happens because you can’t complain at working at Murray Park every day. “On the face on it, I just wanted to come in, do well and give the gaffer some food for thought. “To have been involved in every game so far, I’m pinching myself. I’m taking every day and every week as it comes though. “I don’t get too high or too low because it can change in an instant. I just need to focus on motoring on. “Getting a contract with Rangers was great but the hard work just started there. I have to keep showing what I’m all about and try to improve the squad. “Hopefully I’m helping the younger guys out and I’ll continue trying to do that as long as I’m here.” http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/7904-on-course-for-deal-extension

Mike Ashley has been energised by the battle for Ibrox in a way that he never has by challenge of making Newcastle United competitive. On Saturday afternoon Newcastle United have their eighth crack at winning a Premier League match this season. If they swing and miss, it will be their longest winless run in the Premier League era: worse than the ill-starred 2008/9 relegation season and more desperate than the year that brought Sir Bobby Robson to Tyneside. Throw into the mix an undercooked team light on experience of a relegation battle and there can be little doubt that this is a time for minds to be focused. Even at this early stage survival appears the priority, but that cannot be taken for granted. And where is Mike Ashley? The owner’s scrutiny is not trained on the lame duck manager who is only ever one defeat away from losing further ground with a sceptical support but instead it is in a messy, protracted and potentially long-running takeover of Rangers. The Newcastle owner blew his own cover on Ibrox weeks, months or even a year or so ago. By dodging the share issue and banning a journalist who had speculated on his intentions towards Rangers, he tried the owner’s equivalent of an Ali shuffle – but the knockout punch has not yet been delivered. Rangers is going to be a slow burner for Ashley. Unlike Newcastle – where he found an owner willing to make a quick sale – there are messy and protracted battles to be fought at Ibrox with groups who are not going to relinquish their grip on a potential goldmine anytime soon. The motivation for investing in a fallen club that needs plenty of work is the promise of a potential route into the Champions League. Ashley’s mistakes have made that path impossible for Newcastle for a generation or so, but Rangers’ size and the impoverished standard of the competition give him a chance north of the border. And the Champions League gives him even greater profile than the Premier League in a sportswear market that he fancies a crack at: Europe. There are obstacles to be vaulted, of course: not least rules that state he cannot own majority stakes in clubs in both Scotland and England. But that is a hurdle to be clambered over when the time comes: the important thing is to elbow out the other prospectors sifting through the wreckage at Ibrox. Rangers is time-consuming for Ashley. It has caused him to take his eye off the ball at Newcastle and the consequences of that could yet be catastrophic for a club that appears rudderless, leaderless and entirely without hope at the moment. Ashley gutted Newcastle of people who would answer back to him. Managing director Lee Charnley owes his career to Ashley, and is hardly likely to stand up to him. We all know that Pardew will acquiesce if required. That is the way the owner wanted it – him dipping in and out of Newcastle when it suited him. Ever since Rangers became a serious interest for him, the dynamic has changed. Ashley may be more visible at Newcastle – naming himself as chairman over the course of this year – but he has not been as involved as he was before. A source I spoke to said his greatest hope was that people would run it for him, keeping it ticking along for a while. He simply doesn’t have time for Newcastle anymore. There is a shiny new toy north of the border and the fight for control at Ibrox has energised him much more than the battle to make Newcastle United competitive has. And what is unfolding north of the border is very, very messy indeed. For those still in any doubt, it is worth taking a quick journey through the coverage of Ashley’s actions north of the border. Festering worry about his intentions has given way to outright disgust at the way he has operated in the last couple of months. Just like he has with Tesco and Debenhams, Ashley has struck at a moment of weakness. That is savvy strategy from a sharp businessman, but it doesn’t mean that Rangers fans should be happy about what is happening. Not that many are, despite claims from a couple of Old Firm icons this week that Ashley might be the man to return the club to its perch. The Daily Record’s Michael Gannon wrote a withering editorial two weeks ago challenging that belief: capturing the scorched earth policy of Ashley and his unquestioning acolytes perfectly. Warning that sometimes the devil you know can be worse than the devil you don’t, he wrote: “He is simply out to bag a quick buck at Rangers.” It is a familiar theme when the subject of Ashley and the Ibrox club are brought up: money is the reason he is hanging around. Not necessarily money that will be made directly off the club’s success but more the reflected perks of owning an institution that can reasonably challenge for the Champions League in a couple of seasons with pretty minimal investment. Gannon summed up his latest power play in a couple of damning sentences. “He could have sunk in money at last month’s share issue and it would have gone to the club,” he wrote. “Instead he waited and bought out Hargreave Hale. It strengthened his position and rubbed the board’s face in it after they refused to cave in to strict demands in return for a loan.” It is Ashley to a tee. Stubborn, obstinate and looking entirely after number one. The worry is that Newcastle United’s Premier League status will become collateral in the battle for Newcastle United. http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-become-collateral-damage-7943767

Take it with a pinch of salt, keep your fingers crossed or whatever takes your fancy, but there's been rumours in the African press for several days that Bilel Mohsni could be offski to play for Club Africain in Tunisia. See poor translations and article links below. http://fr.starafrica.com/football/mercato-bilel-mohsni-dans-le-viseur-du-club-africain.html http://www.africatopsports.com/2014/10/22/club-africain-bilel-mohsni-recrute-au-mercato-hivernal/ http://www.gnet.tn/revue-de-sport/mercato-club-africain-bilel-mohsni-dans-le-collimateur/id-menu-323.html

When Rangers accepted Mohsni's 2 game ban this was increased to 3 matches due to his red card in the pre-season friendly against Derby County, it was widely reported in the media at the time he'd miss the Livi, Raith Rovers and the Challenge Cup tie with East Fife. I see he was listed as a substitute against East Fife although he didn't come on, I'm sure he's only served 2 matches, can anyone confirm the ban only applies to league matches meaning he's suspended for this weekends Dumbarton match?

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/f...-call-4457552? ALLY McCOIST has backed Rangers’ move to call off last week’s league clash at Cowdenbeath – and says they will do it again. The SPFL turned down a bid from the Fifers to get it back on after the Ibrox men had it put back due to international call-ups. McCoist said: “Why would I want to play the game now when I can play it later with a full squad? It just doesn’t make sense. “If you have four or five players on international duty, logic would tell you they will be some of your better players. “I’ve got to look after the interests of my club. If we played without four players and lost, I’m not sure there would be much sympathy. Having called games off in the past, it would also be unfair on other teams. If we play Dumbarton when there is an international and have four players out, is that then fair on Cowdenbeath where we called the game off? “So we have to show fairness to everyone but the most important thing is that we have to look after our own corner.” @@@@ I can't think of more than one who would have been missing. And now, scared as we are to face Cowdenbeath, we'll drop points later in the season or go out of cups because we'll be playing three games week with players who train so little they are exhausted after 70 minutes far less 270.

With the next 24 hours likely to be important in terms of this issue, this article from Richard Wilson is a good appraisal ahead of a new thread on boardroom events. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29717979

Talking to Rangersitis (nice meeting you btw.) on Saturday afternoon we both debated whether it can be stopped via Sandy Easdale's proxy bloc and Ashley's holdings. Few things: 1. Will it be considered a resolution or just a simple loan authorised by the board? 2. Or will Ashley and Easdale bloc this through their voting rights on special resolutions? 3. By blocking the loan if it is seen as a resolution will concert party rights be triggered 4. By calling the EGM it looks to me as though the voting percentages won't matter here and that's why Ashley's calling the EGM in an effort to prevent the vote going through at a typical board meeting Would any of our more informed Gersnetters like to set us right?