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The RST has finally completed its transformation into a blatant whore, desperate to do "business" with anyone for a negotiable price. No pride left, where do these clowns go now that they've hit rock bottom? Read the following and marvel at the prostitute pretending to act on behalf of Rangers supporters. Bearwoodbear has finally lost his marbles... The RST would welcome talks with Rangers director Dave King regarding joint ownership of the club. Speaking in a newspaper article on Friday, King dismissed the idea that Rangers could be owned by its fans as "rubbish" - the RST are unsure whether this was aimed directly at their proposal or not. "What we are looking for is partnership," said RST chairman Stephen Smith. "Although the Trust is in favour of supporter ownership of the football club - that's our mission statement - we are entirely happy to work in partnership with anybody who sees the fans as a major stakeholder and wants the fans more involved. "We will settle for a halfway house, or fans taking 20% or 25% or 30% of the football club, that will give us a greater stake and a greater involvement and diversify share ownership. "If Dave King, or anyone else, wants to engage with the support on that basis, we are still willing to do that. "Our position is, and always has been, that we are prepared to work with anybody who has the best interests of the club. "We are happy to have discussions with anybody, from David Murray downwards, about the future of Rangers and the role the organised fans can play in that, in terms of taking a major stake and making the phrase 'the Rangers family' mean something. "If Dave King is happy to do that, then we are happy to meet him and I'll meet him any time he wants."

Should we look at the interview AJ gave last week in another way. Was he hinting that the Ellis bid will never be made, in fact there was never any chance of a bid from the beginning. He was told he could have no direct contact with Ellis, yet it was Johnsons remit from Murray, to find a buyer and sell the Club. He says he arranged meetings that were eventually called off, yet Ellis says he never knew about them. Is someone deliberately keeping AJ and Ellis apart. At the moment it looks like Ellis, or the status quo for next season, yet groups like RST are being very dismissive of Ellis. I have read this morning, someone in the RST saying ' There will be no bid by Ellis'. Smoke and Mirrors right to the end, if there is an end.

While we are all sitting discussing Ellis, king and Douglas not making any kind of move for Rangers, we have failed to notice that all fan groups also seem to have shut up shop. What has happened to the RST and the Assembly who were going to lead us to fan ownership. Apart from a few appearances by David Edgar giving his opinion on telly, all has gone quiet on the supporters front. We are all moaning about the long barren summer and a total lack of cash but now is the perfect opportunity to see how much support we can give our club. This does not all have to be money related although that is obviously the main goal. We could also be putting into place an idea bank where people can come up with ideas on how we can bring money into a help Rangers campaign. Obviously an Independent central bank account run by trusted supporters or possibly a Rangers Director where donations could be made. The Rangers Supporters fund? Build a name bank of companies who would possibly donate larger sums of money or become a club sponsor. A team to approach such companies and the club Organise a pop concert at Ibrox with hopefully the Rangers minded pop stars donating their time as a donation. A celebrity football match where celebrities can pay a fee to play against the first team A Benefit night. I am sure other people must have other ideas. I, in no way think we can ever get the 30million together to free the noose around our clubs neck, but sometimes action from a small fish prompts action from a big fish. We need a group of supporters to stand up and take the lead. The RST,the Assembly and other supporters groups should be pulling all supporters together not filling their own agenda's. We need someone to stand up and get all the supporters pushing in one direction instead of pushing against each other. We can all be frustrated by Ellis, King and Douglas but we also have to look in the mirror and ask if we are doing enough as supporters. Some of that frustration must be aimed at our supporter groups and the lack of leadership. We are in desperate need for a new leader or leaders to pull all the fans together and start putting up a fight. Surely we can all do something to help. Even a tree starts small and grows but it has to be planted first.

..erm, in the ET: http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks-ignore/fans-deserve-home-truths-1.1024057

Amongst the hyperbole and sensationalism over legal tax loopholes (yes, I did say legal), last night's result in France where Bayern Munich routed Lyon over two legs means Rangers have now qualified for next season's Champions' League Group Stage. Currently we're third seeds but we could easily make it into the second group of seeds given the right results. However, future performance aside, the main issue for those who control the club and, for many of us who support it, will be the associated finance with this competition. Up to �£17million of income could be secured if, as expected, Celtic fail to negotiate a difficult qualifying route to the group stage. In an era where our future participation in the competition will be far from guaranteed, that money could well be the last pot of genuine gold at the end of the UEFA rainbow. Moving back to the hysterical coverage in the media then and the debate turns to how will that income be used. Will it be ring-fenced to reduce debt or will it be reinvested into the club to address such crucial issues as the loss of out-of-contract players and, erm, the broken big screens? To be honest, despite the protestations of the club yesterday evening, the former is most likely with a bank ever wary of a club (and parent company) sailing close to the rocks in recent times. Of course, panic aside, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. The club debt may well be reducing but it is certainly agreeable to use any future income to reduce it further and/or prepare in advance for less lucrative seasons. After all, without a decent run in European football, an annual loss is probable to be reported. Years of cuts in playing staff and wages, along with savings made elsewhere may signal efficiency but perhaps still not enough to break even without the UEFA cash cow. And this is where the harbingers of doom have some sway. With various players out of contract or likely to be sold and the management team similarly non-committal, just what is the competitive future of the club? After all, while the bank has every right to expect its debt to be repaid, why are they so keen to dispense with already agreed and perfectly reasonable repayment structures? The plight of the crumbling MIH empire may well be casting a dark shadow of influence and their delayed annual accounts will be interesting reading when finally released this week. However, Rangers remain in profit and, unlike other teams in Glasgow, our fans have shown they will not desert our club even when success may not be imminent. As such, the immediate future is not as bad as some would like to paint. Nevertheless it appears the battle-lines have been drawn. Potential owners and sources within the club itself are lining up to leak information to all and sundry - from internet mischief-makers, to tabloid journalists, to phone-in hosts and more. Suddenly - less than 48 hours after securing our 53rd title - the muck is being thrown and the 'Rangers in Crisis' headlines are of a huge gauge on the street paper-stands. Once again, the average Rangers supporter is left worried and bewildered as opposing camps fight it out in the media. Hardly the dignified approach our loyal and committed support deserve. Ever since the ownership issue suddenly appeared to be the main topic of the club's immediate future, some fans have called for clarity and leadership from those who purport to buy and represent us. Unfortunately, there has been little evidence of this from any party involved. Fingers are pointed, accusations are thrown and blame is cast as the poker game gets very dirty indeed. It seems everyone has had their say but few in a positive sense. From Dave King, to Douglas Park, to Andrew Ellis, to Graham Duffy, to the RST, to Sir David Murray, to Alistair Johnston, to Walter Smith, to Donald Muir and to all the journalists choosing their side of the fence to stand on; all should be asking themselves just what this very public battle is doing for our club. This should be a time of celebration and oneupmanship as we break our own world record. Instead division is again rife, and those who matter most at the vital time of season ticket renewal, are treated with disdain and disrespect. To a man, Rangers fans care passionately about their club but the 'political' sleaze currently surrounding it is as distasteful as the spin we see mirrored in the General Election debate. But, at least we're given a vote and debated with in that arena. As its stands, not one of the main names mentioned above has had the honesty, the integrity, the transparency and the leadership to actually come out and show why they should own the club and why their plans will ensure our world record will be maintained in future years. Not one has come to our support and said this is why you matter to me and why your opinion will form an important part of the club for its future. That is nothing short of a disgrace and is just as worrying as any financial issues we may face in the coming years. Rangers need leadership - it is well beyond time for those who think they're capable of that to show it.

As part of Gersnet's tenth year anniversary celebrations for 2010, I thought I'd chance my hand and, late last year, contacted the club owner to see if he fancied conducting an informal, fun interview for the benefit of our wee community. Even though I'd had experience of speaking with the former chairman via my work with the RST in recent years, I was still surprised to receive a reply and was even more surprised to see it was a positive one - depending on Sir David's diary. Given his criticisms of the online community in late 2008, that was somewhat of a shock! Fortunately we've managed to find a suitable date where the interview will take place later this month and it will be recorded for download. In the mean-time, I'd like to invite questions from all our site members - please keep them challenging (but civil). Obviously, direct questions on the ownership issue of the club are likely to be politely declined. Sir David has also kindly donated two bottles of his own Chateau Routas Coquelicot Viognier 2005 for the best questions submitted. I've asked the moderating team to judge this.

From today's Herald.

Rabid journalists in the NOTW and elsewhere, ridiculous accusations of overt cheatery from the piggery, open season on Lafferty and our goalkeeper, further accusations of sectarian singing by Rangers fans ...... and on it goes. And where is the organisation that was formed to speak up for the interests of Rangers fans? Why the continuing silence? Obviously there can't currently be any useful opportunities for self-advancement. Maybe they're still talking to Mr Duffy? Forty-eight hours to save Rangers? Surely we deserve better.

Lifted from FollowFollow.

http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk/rstsite/

I've been busy these last couple of weeks and have rarely had a chance to log on, which makes me wonder what I've missed on the cporprate front; how are the RST negotiators getting on and who have they sold us to this week? Or are we still in that endless period of institutional silence; you know, the one between starting what we cannot possibly finish and claiming that wasn't what we were trying to do anyway?

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.

We have all watched the RST over the years, some at closer quarters than others, and the consistency is there for all to see. We mostly all agree in the principle of the thing but increasingly share equal dismay at the underachievement of it all. There is now a broad consensus that those who are setting the pace and direction at the RST are woefully out of their depth and utterly ill-equipped for the task. And still I see too many people reluctant to reach a conclusion, even after all the wasted years of incompetence. Even with some believing the club is at a crossroads and an opportunity emerging for supporter participation, only very few seem prepared to declare a settled opinion on the RST as it exists today. For the life of me I cannot understand this. What exactly is it that anyone could possibly think is worth salvaging about an organisation that has failed so badly to deliver its stated mission? What is to be gained by persisting with this cold war pretence, other than leaving a barrier in place to real progress and yet another decision left unteaken? There is or at least should be no place in this for politically correct distraction where the RST is concerned. They tried, they failed, they continue to embarrass. The people involved in running the RST today are generally not what is needed and in many cases are in active conflict with a growing body of non-aligned supporters. No one else can step up to the plate while these people continue in office and they most certainly have no appetite to step down themselves; ergo there can be no satisfactory outcome, no unity or direction while these people persist. This is not a personal statement, it is a practical reality. Please, stop this partial accommodation for the institution and deal robustly with the problem in front of our eyes, the people concerned. They need to go and they need to do it quickly. This will only happen if we, the ordinary supporters, acquire a collective voice and tell them to go. Not by inference of suggestion but by loud demand. We need clear, unambiguous language; we need to stop beating about the bush and we need to call for a new board to be elected to the RST forthwith. If those currently holding office are so desperate to remain in post, I'm sure they will be able to throw their hat into the ring, although I think they would be better advised to put the club before their narrow self-interest and accept the due consequence of the last two wasted years. I'm asking everyone who reads this to help create a solution rather than continually describing the problem. Send an email to the RST demanding that they announce an early election for a complete new board and let them accept an electorate comprising existing members and anyone who joins and pays a membership fee between now and the end of January 2010. By the end of February next year we could have a democratically elected RST with a credible constituency and a mandate from it's members. If the RST doesn't respond or comply than the conclusion is already in place ... they no longer have any right to claim a role in the representation of Rangers supporters.

A white knight has finally materialised to save Rangers. Jesus Christ, a prominent and much-worshipped figure at both Rangers and Celtic over many years, has opted to back the boys in blue. "I have lingered long over this decision, but my mind is made up. I cannot remain in the shadows while the Rangers are in need of divine intervention". "I shall save the club and give it to the people, the chosen ones; they who deserve better". The revelation came as a shock to Ibrox fans, but immediately some doubt was cast on Christ`s ability to beneficially intervene. "He has a criminal record", observed one Ibrox fan while another declared that his unruly appearance was not in keeping with the club`s strict dress code. "No way is the top man at Ibrox going to be accepted wearing a skirt and sandals", he opined. Christ`s favoured long-haired look did not endear itself either. "We don`t want a poof in charge", said one supporter who preferred to remain anonymous. Christ hasn`t been to Ibrox for some time, but he admitted to having looked down on the old place from time to time over the years and believes the club`s finest-ever servant was Tom Vallance. "They don`t make them like that any more", he declared. Asked about his feelings for Celtic, Jesus admitted that he was fond of them too. "Of course I love Celtic. Loving the enemy comes naturally to me". Christ has apparently been in talks with the RST for several weeks but both parties agreed to keep the meetings secret. "I`m really honoured to have met the RST people, said Jesus, "especially David Edgar". Asked what he could bring to the table, Jesus modestly replied, "I can walk on water and turn water into wine, but I`ll have my work cut out getting Walter to play an adventurous 4-4-2". With the press pack lapping up his every word, there was just one discordant note. "What about the bigotry"? Graham Spiers (the discredited journalist) (the discredited journalist), Scottish football`s self-appointed moral crusader was in the room. "You may continue to write about it", said Jesus, "and don`t hold back on the ******s". Radio Clyde`s Hugh Keevins followed up with his tuppence-worth. "The Celtic support will be unhappy that you`ve sided against them, Jesus". "They`ve still got the Pope", said Jesus, with a cheeky grin breaking out on his countenance, "and Glasgow City Council". "Do you have a message for Rangers supporters", asked the BBC`s Chick Young? "I do indeed, Chick", replied Christ. "Don`t vote Labour"! And with a swish of his kaftan, Christ rose to his feet and left the room with a song in his heart. "Sure it`s old ...

Wonder what happened to the RST's pursuit of their 17 different plans for the future of Rangers? Last I heard from them there wasn't a minute to lose and everyone needed to check their bank accounts and climb on board NOW! D'you suppose someone told them that Mark Dingwall would never be a director of Rangers and they could take their ball to another park? Of course I'm only speculating but it has gone awfy quiet.

Just out of interest, I had a natter yesterday with someone from the Newcastle United Supporters Trust ..... NUST Those folks have some severe problems with their club regime and have been trying hard to mobilise supporters to challenge some of the woes afflicting their club. Anyway, I asked how successful they had been in attracting members to NUST, thinking it might show an interesting comparison with our own hapless RST. The first thing I got was a clear impression that the NUST guys are delighted to speak about their membership numbers. Contrast this with the RSTââ?¬â?¢s veil of secrecy and embarrassment. The reason for this quickly became apparent when he revealed that NUST has collected 3,500 paid up members in less than five month. They charge exactly the same membership fees as RST but have plans to introduce a free junior membership. Not only that, NUST have also amassed the details of about 25,000 non-members, who they actively inform and consult. In five months thatââ?¬â?¢s three times as many members as the RST has after five years of mid-firing and a working relationship with almost 30,000 fans. If anyone needs evidence of just how big a mess certain people have made of running our Supporters Trust, surely this supplies it. That these same incompetents should now be strutting around in the guise of ââ?¬Å?fansââ?¬â?¢ leadersââ?¬Â and demanding our support for fan ownership plans that no one can release details of ââ?¬â?? well it honestly defies all description. The hijackers of the RST are in no position to organise a piss up in a brewery, let alone the future ownership of Rangers. Personally, Iââ?¬â?¢d advise everyone to give their latest nonsense a very wide berth.

Can anyone please tell me in idiot's terms the potted history of the ill feeling directed towards the RST. I'm finding it hard to get to grips with the reasons as to why we can't all get united when our Club needs us.

However the apology seems to be to the rest of society for the fact that Rangers exists. Who on earth was the RST twat on Sky Sports asking for passports to be removed from the "troublemakers" in Romania but couldn't bring himself to mention the behaviour of Romanian officials that led to bears defending each other or the stone age organisation that clearly broke UEFSA requirments. If arseholes like this can't speak FOR Rangers supporters then they should say nothing at all. Who needs enemies with a supporters trust like this?

Taken from FF Hello everyone, As you know, I donââ?¬â?¢t normally do such things, but given the circumstances, we feel itââ?¬â?¢s important and fair that the support should know this. Obviously I wonââ?¬â?¢t name sources, but let me assure you, I wouldnââ?¬â?¢t be posting this if a) I didnââ?¬â?¢t trust the source implicitly b) they didnââ?¬â?¢t have a 100% track record c) they werenââ?¬â?¢t as close to the situation or d) it didnââ?¬â?¢t check out when we investigated it. Allegedly; ââ?¬Â¢ The bank are panicking ââ?¬Â¢ Senior management are calling it ââ?¬Ë?a PR disasterââ?¬â?¢ ââ?¬Â¢ They want out soonest ââ?¬Â¢ Bain is not involved in the day-to-day running of the club ââ?¬Â¢ Muir is effectively running the club ââ?¬Â¢ Muir is hawking players to clubs ââ?¬Â¢ If the club is not sold at least three first team players will be sold in January in an attempt to raise Ã?£10m. This will allow the bank to drop the price for the club to Ã?£20m. They believe this might encourage further investors. The pressure that is being brought to bear on Lloyds IS having an effect. Keep up the good work Bears. Dangerous times, but potential sunshine ahead.

When this mess is cleared away and new owners take their seat round the boardroom table, I sincerely hope the support will follow suit and dismantle the archaic structures we have today. We urgently need to voluntarily sweep away the RSA, the silly RST and all the other acronyms who claim to represent but actually contribute rather little and certainly far less than any of them would claim. If we are prepared to criticise and offer advice to shareholders, directors and investors then I'd like to think we could also take a look at ourselves and create a single point of focus for all Rangers supporters, one that is both democratic and dynamic, something we've seen precious little of to date. Are we honest enough and ambitious enough to do that? Or will we just keep squabbling and achieving so very little.

I'd like to ask what the good Bears of GersNet think that Rangers fans' groups can do and should be doing or saying, about the current 'bank situation' As you might know, I'm interested from an RST perspective particularly but I'm also interested in any wider discussion. Cheers.

Following on from the other RST thread but looking at a different scenario. If the RSA, with the consent of Rangers FC and the support of the RST (hypothetical), decided to try to reach the wider support through Gersave becoming a mainstream opt-in system through a tick and flick box on the season ticket renewal would you support it. Discuss :box:

The RST AGM was held in the WRC last Sunday, and this is a brief report for those members who couldnââ?¬â?¢t make it. There were 10 board members and 16 other members attending. The Chairman, Stephen Smith (SS), highlighted the areas that the RST has been working on: ââ?¬Â¢ The forthcoming Gerspride conference ââ?¬Â¢ The Erskine appeal ââ?¬Â¢ The Sam English project ââ?¬Â¢ The Founders Project SS had been in touch with the Rangers Financial Director, Donald McIntyre, about the next payment of Gersave cash to the club, but McIntyre had requested it be moved until after the AGM as it was ââ?¬Å?price sensitiveââ?¬Â. (Could it be that the club donââ?¬â?¢t want it to interfere with any sale of shares to a new consortium?) The Board undertook to issue the AGM minutes on a more timely basis. The accounts showed a small deficit of Ã?£149 for the year, and this was explained as being because the annual dinner was held after the end of the financial year and some auction prizes had to be scrapped. Three board resignations (Cameron Bell, George Gilmour and Stevie Tyrie) were announced. Applications had been received from three members (Alan Harris, Gordon Stewart and Grant MacCalman) and they were voted in (the latter in his absence). Other issues raised and discussed were: ââ?¬Â¢ RST membership numbers and how these could be increased. Lapsed members were going to be contacted for one last time to see if they would be interested in rejoining. ââ?¬Â¢ What it would take to get the support mobilised ââ?¬Â¢ Biased press reporting from the BBC

The RST, that representer of almost no one at all, has been busy re-inventing itself. Like that other mythological fella the phoenix, a new website has risen from the ashes of theold and a reshuffled board of deflectors has been 'created'. The new website still doesn't have a forum for its members, although there may be too few of those now to start a conversation let alone a forum. As for the board of deflectors, out goes David Edgar, Fraser Martin, Graeme Hanna, who join the recently departed John Gilligan on the growing list of ex-deflectors. In come four more unelected souls to do the master's bidding and ensure the upcoming AGM in another suitably quiet affair. You have to wonder why they bother any more. No one else does.

I've heard a rumour that the RSA (Assembly) had a meeting with the club last week. Included in their delegation were apparently 2 board members of the RST. There's a lot of questions about the current financial position of the club that need to be addressed and hopefully they would have been raised at the meeting. Anyone heard anything about it, and what was discussed? I don't see anything on either of their websites.