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" I've spoken to the manager about it and told him that, if the opportunity arose for me to go and test myself at a big club or a higher level, then I'm ready to do that. I'm happy here and won't force anything to get out. But I can't sit here and say I'll be a Killie player for the rest of my life. It's not in my hands. All I can do is perform well and see what happens in the summer. I've already proved I can play at a big club, because you don't get any bigger than Rangers. I have the mentality to play at a higher level. "
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Positive stuff! http://www.therst.co.uk/rst-share-purchase/
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Despite being a decade long user of usually anonymous internet messageboards, I still prefer going out, having a bite to eat and a good laugh. With that in mind, I present to you: The 2014 Gersnet End of Season Boozy Do Gersnet stalwart Brahim Hemdani can provide the destination, this natty Mediterranean chophouse on the sou'side: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186534-d1087980-Reviews-Malaga_Tapas-Glasgow_Scotland.html and if enough go, the owner is apparently willing to shut the doors to your ordinary, workaday customer in order to bow and scrape before us with the all deference due people in our position. The date is entirely flexible, so long as it is near the end of the season; whatever suits the most will win, I guess. Plainly this will be a poor night out if no-one goes, just a lonely, portly fellow (that's me, btw, not Brahim) sitting in a restaurant staring glumly out the window. Having been on a golf day out with RM and having met a good few posters from here, I can honestly say I haven't met anyone who isn't completely normal, so if you're a bit nervous about a night out with strangers I'd urge you to go for it. You can always leave!* * once you've paid
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........it was really difficult to walk away TIME will eventually heal Rangers' wounds … but the pain remains for Maurice Edu. It is two years on Friday the Light Blues were plunged into administration and the wheels put in motion on a series of events that would see a title-winning squad decimated, Ally McCoist's side drop to Scotland's lowest division and supporters put through an emotional wringer as their club was engulfed in crisis. Edu was one of the last players to jump ship at Ibrox, the American not heading for the exit door until late in August, 2012, as he signed for Premiership side Stoke. By then, a host of his team-mates had long since gone, stalwarts like Steven Naismith, Steven Whittaker and Allan McGregor leaving on free transfers. The actions of some players during that turbulent summer left a sour taste in the mouths of many, but the pain on the terraces was shared in the dressing room. "Everyone was in a different situation and everyone's circumstances were different," Edu told SportTimes. "You can't really compare one situation to another and say 'he should have done that or shouldn't have done that'. "From my point of view, I was in a position where, if I left, I wanted to get the club a fee. It may or may not have impacted on the situation, but I wanted to help. "I was in a position where I was able to do that and it was something I wanted to do. I thought it was a good gesture and a way of giving back to the club as much as I could. "But, as I say, everyone was in a different situation, so I can't comment on what the other guys did. "It was hard for all of us to leave. We had sympathy with the fans. It is the club they support and love, and it was going through a hard time. "Nobody wanted to see it happening to Rangers. It was hard for the players. People were saying 'it is just a job for them, they don't really care'. "But when you have been a part of Rangers, especially for as long as most of us had been there, you grow close to it and it is more than just a club. "We were the Rangers family - the players, the staff, the fans. We all felt close to the club, so it was hard for us to have to part ways and leave under those circumstances." Edu's exit brought a premature end to a successful Ibrox career that saw him win several honours following his £2.6million switch from Toronto in August, 2008. A fourth successive SPL title was in Rangers' sights when their financial collapse turned the club upside down. And the American international is confident there will be a bright future at Ibrox once again. He said: "I enjoyed my time there. It was great for me to be winning trophies and playing in the Champions League and I wish Rangers all the best for the future. "Everyone who has played for the club and supports the club is anxious to see them back where they belong as soon as possible. "Rangers should be winning leagues and cups, and I am sure everyone can't wait to see another Old Firm game. I, and I'm sure my former team-mates, want to see them back where they belong. "Hopefully everything can be sorted and the club will be back at the top soon." As part of the squad that, under the guidance of Walter Smith, saw Rangers dominate domestically after the disastrous Paul Le Guen era, Edu is still fondly remembered by the Light Blue legions. And the 27-year-old admits one moment - his dramatic Old Firm winner at Ibrox four years ago this month - stands out as one of the highlights of a successful Ibrox career. Edu said: "Scoring in any Old Firm game is going to be a great moment and a great experience but, with the circumstances of that game in terms of where we were in the table and the fact it happened in the last seconds, made it all the more special. "I couldn't have written the script any better. It was only a tap-in, but everything around that game made it a special moment, not just for myself but for all of us involved." While Rangers have made good progress on their road to recovery, Edu has endured a frustrating spell since his Gers exit. The midfielder only made a handful of appearances for Stoke but, after returning Stateside, will meet an old friend when his Philadelphia Union side face the Vancouver Whitecaps and striker Kenny Miller. Edu said: "My time at Stoke wasn't ideal and I wasn't playing much. It was important for me to get back playing, especially in a World Cup year, so when the opportunity came up, it was an easy decision for me. "It will be good to play against Kenny. I haven't seen him for a while. But I still followed his career and he has done well since coming to the MLS. It will be good to catch up with him." A return across the pond is a timely one for Edu as he looks to kick-start his career and sets his sights on Brazil. And he admits a second stint in Light Blue would be another dream come true. Edu said: "I definitely wouldn't rule it out. You never know what can happen. "I really enjoyed my time at Rangers and it is a club I will always hold dear to my heart and support and follow what is going on. "If I ended up coming back in the future, that would be really great." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/we-were-part-of-the-ibrox-familyit-was-really-difficult-to-walk-away-151744n.23408918
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As the draw is to be made after the Dundee Hibs v St Midden game, I just thought I'd start a thread on it. What will be the best draw for us?, I want Albion Rovers @ Ibrox:rfcbouncy:
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bearing in mind that my football credentials come from sitting on my arse in the Govan stand and standing on what is now the Broomloan stand for 40 years, could I have fucked up Celtic's season any more successfuly than the whinging bigot? Given that the league has been awarded to Celtic before a ball is kicked; Could I have manged to lose the League Cup to a team from a division lower than mine on 100/th of the resources? mmm, yep, I'm inept enough to have done that. Could I have got my team twatted out of the Scottish Cup at home to a side with 1/10 of my resources? To be honest, I probably could have. Could I have gone through a Champions League campaign, winning 1 and losing 5? Probably not, to be honest. I'd have lost all 6. So there we have it, a bluenose of 40+ years standing could have been only marginally more inept and done only margianlly more damage to Celtic than Yellow Tooth. Of a possible 9 trophies he could have won, in the absence of the only real competition, he has had 3 handed to him before the season started and won only 1 of the remaining 6 possibles. And this whilst managing a club whose resources are greater han the rest of the league combined. Yeah, they're queuing up to take Neily south of the border, that's for sure.
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http://www.vanguardbears.co.uk/
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Lifted from FF. No source given. At least it shows investigation is happening : Green fingerprinted by fraud cops re Whyte investigation EX-Rangers chief executive Charles Green was fingerprinted by fraud cops investigating the club's former owner Craig Whyte. Officers interviewed the businessman in an informal meeting at his lawyer's office in London. A source said last night: "They wanted Charles" fingerprints to prove he did not sign crucial documents on which his signature mysteriously appeared. "The detectives guaranteed this was the only purpose. They were at pains to confirm Charles was not under caution." Yorkshireman Green, 60 - who quit last year - led a consortium which bought Rangers in 2012 following the club?s plunge into administration after Whyte's disastrous nine months at the reins. Cops are looking into how Whyte, 43, borrowed millions to fund his purchase of Gers from Sir David Murray in 2011. They want to know whether Green's signature was scanned with a digital gadget and used to rubber-stamp the boardroom paperwork in question - as has been alleged by an internal club inquiry. Green met two officers last week at his solicitor?s office in Covent Garden, central London. The source added: "It was a friendly meeting, by appointment. There were sandwiches and coffee laid on and it lasted about an hour, including Charles giving his statement and his prints. He is happy to help with the police inquiry." Last night Green confirmed he'd been fingerprinted. He said: "I met with officers and provided them with elimination fingerprints but categorically confirm this was not under caution but to assist the police with their investigations into Mr Whyte." Whyte was banned from Scottish football for life in 2012 after an SFA panel ruled he was guilty of 'scandalous business activities' - including failing to stump up £13million in taxes. The forgery allegation emerged in a probe by lawyers Pinsent Masons, commissioned by Rangers, into his claims that he still has a legal stake in the club. Whyte insists he was involved with Green in the deal to buy Gers' assets from administrators in May 2012. But Green claims he hoodwinked the tycoon to gain his co-operation and the keys to Ibrox. Pinsent Masons considered Whyte had no claim. But his alleged stake was listed in Rangers annual accounts in November as a possible future debt. A source close to Whyte said: "Craig is aware police have been speaking to Green." A police spokesman said inquiries are ongoing. Rangers = no comment.
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That our squad of players are capable of playing short passing, possession based football with creativity in the final third. Against the second best team in our division. Over to you Ally.
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LEWIS MACLEOD has praised the Rangers support for the huge numbers it has continued to back the team in over the last 18 months. The midfielder grew up following the club himself and speaking in tonight’s match programme Ready, he discusses how he can relate to those who do the same. Macleod insists many people wouldn’t have been surprised if crowds at Ibrox had dropped to four figures following the club’s removal from the SPL in July 2012. But ever since then they have consistently remained over 40,000 for league fixtures and the club had one of the highest average attendances in European football last term. Macleod feels that is testament to the loyalty and commitment Gers fans repeatedly show to the 54-times Scottish champions. And talking in his ’10 of the Best’ interview, the Scotland under-21 international expressed his gratitude to those who constantly turn out to cheer Ally McCoist’s men on. The 19-year-old – who misses the Scottish Cup tie with Dunfermline – said: “The passion of the Rangers supporters never fails to impress me. “The commitment and dedication they show to the team and the club is unrelenting and as players, it’s something we genuinely appreciate. “I know where they are coming from because I’ve been in their shoes many times before, sitting in the stand and hoping the team can go on to win. “For us to have been getting the number of fans we’ve had at our games even with the level we’re at just now has been phenomenal. “A lot of people wouldn’t have been surprised if our crowds had dropped to under 10,000 but for people to consistently turn up in the numbers they have had said so much about them. “It shows how wide the fanbase is behind the club and how loyal it is to Rangers. For me, that’s the best thing about being at Rangers.” http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/6261-im-blown-away-by-fans
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http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/263136-ally-mccoist-id-have-bet-on-ibrox-not-being-picked-for-league-cup-final/ -
Lifted from FF:
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CLAIMING it is almost certainly the tip of an iceberg, an East Lothian boys club have written to Scottish FA compliance officer Vincent Lunny to complain about the non-payment of compensation money allegedly owed by Hearts and Rangers. Musselburgh Windsor FC, who celebrated their 60th anniversary last year, say they have taken the stance to alert boys clubs throughout Scotland that they are due thousands of pounds by professional clubs. Their own complaint relates to an under-15 goalkeeper who joined Hearts, and two younger outfield players who were released to join Rangers. Club president Scott Robertson says his club is spending more money pursuing the complaint than it will actually get if Hearts and Rangers are forced to pay up. That is because boys clubs are due just £10 every time a senior club takes one of their registered players – a situation Robertson describes as *“disgraceful”. As some 2,700 boys, from the age of ten upwards, are registered with senior clubs, boys clubs are frequently plundered for their best players. The compensation is set at £10. Yet, within the senior system, clubs can demand between £600 and £15,000 for a boy who wants to switch to another team. Explaining why Musselburgh Windsor have decided to take a stand about the £10 the club say is owed to them by Hearts, and £20 by Rangers, Robertson said: “To be due just £10 for a promising player we have probably nurtured for many years is bad enough. “For that sum not to be paid, and for us to have to spend time and resources pursuing it, is *really adding insult to injury. “Since the compensation rule – known as the training fund contribution – was introduced by the SFA in 2006, it has been *almost completely ignored by the professional clubs. There must be hundreds and hundreds of cases of non-payments to boys clubs. “I came across the rule completely by accident – I don’t think other boys clubs are even aware they are due money from professional clubs who have taken their players since 2006. “The onus is on the pro clubs to make the payments to the Scottish Youth Football Association – who should then redistribute the money to the relevant boys clubs. I don’t blame the SYFA or the SFA for this. It’s the clubs who haven’t been making the payments.” Musselburgh Windsor, for whom former Scotland striker Kenny Miller once played, believe that, not only should the senior clubs pay all the compensation the are due – which could run into thousands of pounds – but that the £10 should be *replaced by something more realistic. “Boys clubs are facing escalating costs for facilities, kit and mandatory SFA coaching courses,” Robertson pointed out. “Sponsorship is tailing off and some clubs are really struggling to make ends meet. “Yet, despite increasing difficulties, and the fact that almost every boy in Scotland starts his football career with one of our clubs, there is no money trickling back down from the top. “What you have to bear in mind is that, once a boy is taken from us and joins a professional club, he can be subject to what has been described as a ‘children’s transfer market’. The senior clubs receive sums of between £600 and £15,000 when boys as young as 11 move *between clubs. “Meanwhile we get £10 – or not as has been the case. That figure is far too low. If it was even raised to £50 it might make the senior clubs think twice about signing so many of our players. “At the moment they are like kids in a sweet shop. They pick and choose our best players and take as many as they want. “The reason our club has made a complaint to the SFA’s compliance officer is because we want to make all boys clubs aware that they haven’t been receiving the payments they are due – paltry though they are. “We believe all the money owed to the boys clubs should be paid retrospectively. A debt is a debt, whether it’s owed for a week or seven years.” Last night an SFA spokesman said: “We cannot comment until such time as a notice of complaint has been issued. However, the compliance officer does investigate all matters referred to him to determine whether there is a case to answer.” http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/sfa-called-on-to-resolve-hearts-and-rangers-debts-1-3296062
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KENNY MILLER has finally killed off any chance of a return to Rangers by insisting he wants to extend his deal with Vancouver Whitecaps. The former Old Firm and Scotland star is back in Canada preparing for the new MLS season after spending the winter keeping in shape at Rangers' Murray Park. He has been linked with a third spell at Ibrox, despite the League One club's financial problems, but he says he's tired of denying he wants to re-sign for Rangers. Miller said: "I've been in Vancouver 18 months and I don't think a month has gone by without those questions being thrown at me. "I don't know what more I can actually do. "If [Whitecaps] manager Carl Robinson wants to walk through and offer me a two-year deal right now, I'll sign it right here in front of you." Miller has six months left of his Vancouver contract and is free to talk to other clubs. But the 34-year-old, who quit international football last year, has made it clear he is desperate to win an extension to his current deal. He said: "It has been made clear to me what I have to do to earn an extension so that's what I'm going to do. "Part of the reason I retired from playing for Scotland was hopefully to concentrate fully on the Whitecaps and stay fit for as long as I can and give them everything I can. "Going back and forth with international duty was becoming tough. "And, like I said, I want to stay here and I would love to sign again." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/former-rangers-hitman-kenny-kos-ibrox-link-150930n.23357811
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........to help out Rangers CEO Wallace. JON Daly today admitted he is keen to help Rangers go on a run in the William Hill Scottish Cup this season - to boost their bank balance. Daly won the national knockout cup competition back in 2010 when he helped former club Dundee United beat Ross County 3-0 in the Hampden final. And the 31-year-old striker would love to enjoy that sort of success with the Ibrox club during the 2013/14 campaign. The Irishman believes it would be a great way to repay Light Blues supporters for their backing in the last couple of seasons. And he also thinks that it would help the SPFL League One leaders, who are currently operating at a monthly loss, financially as well. Daly and his team-mates rejected the offer of a 15% pay cut for a year-and-a-half made by chief executive Graham Wallace last month. But there are set to be cutbacks at the Glasgow giants after Wallace has completed his 120-days restructuring project. And overcoming Dunfermline in the fifth round at Ibrox on Friday night and going all the way to the final at Parkhead in May would go a long to boosting the coffers at the club. Daly said: "It would be fantastic for the club from a financial point of view and also brilliant for the fans. "I wasn't here last year but the boys have told me they backed the club massively and I think that was shown with the season tickets sold. "So it would be great to get through and get to a final but the draw has to be kind and we have to get over this hurdle first." Daly admits he is relieved that Rangers have managed to hang on to their left-back Lee Wallace during the January transfer window. Sky Bet Championship club Nottingham Forest made two bids of just under £1million for the Scotland international last week. Despite the worrying financial situation at the Glasgow club, those offers were rejected after falling some way short of their valuation of the player. Wallace set up Daly for a goal in the 2-1 league victory over Brechin City at Ibrox on Saturday and the hit man is delighted he has not been sold. He said: "Of course we are delighted that Lee is still here. "The manager stressed that he wanted to keep the club together and thankfully, all the boys are still here and we've got a good squad." Meanwhile, internet reports that Rangers are poised to go into administration this month and chief executive Wallace has allegedly prepared a resignation statement have been rejected. Stories online had claimed Wallace had been locked in talks at the Ibrox club all day and was set to leave his position. However, the former Manchester City financial director and chief operating officer was at Hampden for meetings yesterday and later attended the Rangers Under-20 match. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/daly-is-banking-on-cup-success-to-help-out-rangers-ceo-wallace-150939n.23359868
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.....they're not even in my top five THE former Wigan boss reckons Rangers lack of strength in comparison with other teams makes them an unlikely candidate to win the Scottish Cup in May. OWEN COYLE reckons Rangers shouldn’t even be among the top FIVE teams fancied to lift the Scottish Cup in May. Ally McCoist’s side are joint second with Dundee United in the betting to win the cup with tournament sponsors William Hill. Rangers have the second biggest budget in the country but Coyle insists that doesn’t automatically mean the League One side are likely to win major silverware. Gers face Dunfermline at home on Friday night with a quarter-final place at stake and Coyle said: “I don’t think they’d be one of the first five favourites for the Scottish Cup. Of course they can win it with a bit of luck but in terms of the strength of their team against the others I would have to say it is unlikely. “Coisty is a pal of mine, as is Durranty, we did our pro licences together. But I don’t see their team as one of the cup favourites. “I did the Airdrie v Rangers game for TV a few weeks ago. “Rangers started well but never got the second goal and then made heavy weather of winning it. “If I was judging it on that then I’d say they have some very good young players coming through but I don’t think they’d be one of the first four or five favourites for the Scottish Cup.” The former Wigan, Bolton and St Johnstone boss reckons the Scottish Cup has taken on extra importance this season for the Old Firm as they romp their respective leagues. But Coyle believes that if both Glasgow sides get through this weekend then McCoist will want to avoid drawing Neil Lennon’s team in the last eight. He said: “I can’t put myself in the position of being Rangers manager just now and facing Celtic although on any given day anybody could win it. “But the odds, with Celtic being so strong, are that they would win the game. “There’s no getting away from how dominant Celtic are at the moment. They are on their own just now. “Both Celtic and Rangers have the league effectively tied up and the Cup is now a focus. “I’m sure the Celtic players will be desperate to finish the season with the double again. “But it’s also there for everyone else to go and have that big day out at the Final and win the Scottish Cup. Celtic have already lost to Morton in the League Cup so it’s certainly not a foregone conclusion.” http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/owen-coyle-rangers-shouldnt-second-3112770 -
Should be unbelievable but is just expected nowadays. --- The Scottish Professional Football League has decided not to take action against Celtic for a banner shown by their supporters in a league match with Aberdeen. Since November, the league have been investigating the display of a giant H by a section of fans at Parkhead, which was accompanied by the message "they fought and died for their wee bit hill and glen." Complaints were subsequently made to the SPFL, who confirmed they would determine whether the banner breached their rules on unacceptable conduct. STV understands the league have ruled there is no evidence to suggest their rules were breached in the incident. SPFL regulations say action may be taken if a person present at a match uses "words or conduct or displaying any writing or other thing which indicates support for, or affiliation to, or celebration of, or opposition to an organisation or group proscribed in terms of the Terrorism Act 2000." However, a club is not automatically punished under SPFL rules if a potentially offensive banner is displayed. The league's regulations state action can be taken if a club has failed to take the necessary measures to prevent spectators from "engaging" in unacceptable conduct. They can then only be hit with sanctions if it can be proven the club failed to adopted and implement procedures to try to ensure such incidents do not take place. The onus is also placed on clubs to be seen to "effectively deal" with any incidents of unacceptable conduct. A failure to do so may also constitute a breach of league rules. Celtic condemned the display of the banners shortly after, saying they had not been approved by the club and were not welcome within the stadium. UEFA, who have different rules regarding the display of offensive banners at games under their jurisdiction, fined Celtic £42,000 following a display at the Champions League match with AC Milan last November. On the banner, unfurled before the match, images of William Wallace and Bobby Sands were shown alongside the message: "The terrorist or the dreamer? The savage or the brave? Depends whose vote you are trying to catch or whose face you're trying to save." -- Can you imagine what this will encourage them to display next? FFS, what a state..............
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From BBC website. In case you are wondering where the League Cup final will be played, The Scottish Professional Football League will make a decision later this week. It will, however, be held in Glasgow, so my detective work suggests that is either Celtic Park or Ibrox Stadium. The Scottish FA has, of course, already chosen Celtic Park for the Scottish Cup final with the national stadium at Hampden Park unavailable at it prepares to host the athletics at the Commonwealth Games. Should we not tell them Ibrox is not available ?
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It's the Sun so hopefully as untrue as many of their stories, but, it does chime with Keith Jackson's recent statement that we'd have no money in weeks, not months and if you remember the original estimate of "last million by April" and deduct unseen pay offs since that prediction then this is scary enough, despite the source. The emboldening at the end is by me, not the paper, to perhaps give a more hopeful reading experience for you - though again it is a dodgy source. "RANGERS are at the centre of a financial cover-up investigation over claims the club will be broke within two weeks. The stock exchange inquiry was launched after an Ibrox official is alleged to have forecast they would run out of cash by mid-February. New chief executive Graham Wallace has assured fans there is no danger of a second plunge into administration — two years after ex-owner Craig Whyte steered the club to its doom. But in a complaint to the AIM exchange, a disgruntled investor writes: “It’s the worst-kept secret in Scotland that the club is running out of money in the next few weeks, yet the board has made no announcement.” The shareholder says Rangers should have disclosed any projected shortfall under stock market rules. AIM chiefs have vowed to investigate the claims. An Ibrox spokesman said they could not comment on regulatory matters. But a source said last night: “It’s untrue — there are people trying to undermine the board." (By Cameron Hay) -
http://metro.co.uk/2014/02/02/why-rangers-loyal-lee-wallace-is-one-in-a-million-4287314/ Thoughts?
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Neil Lennon was spat at, had coins thrown at him and was the subject of verbal abuse at Tynecastle, according to the Celtic manager's agent. Lennon was watching Aberdeen's League Cup semi-final victory over St Johnstone and had to leave the game early, Martin Reilly told BBC Scotland. He said: "I'm absolutely raging about the treatment of Neil, about the stewarding and the fans' behaviour. "It's scandalous that Neil is treated like this." Reilly said that Lennon and Celtic coach Gary Parker had to leave their seats in the main stand after 70 minutes of the game. During the match, which Aberdeen won 4-0, play was held up briefly as two young supporters ran on to the park and got to the technical area, where Lennon was infamously attacked by a Hearts fan in 2011, before being apprehended by police and stewards. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26002727
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.........and steer club into fan control 1 Feb 2014 07:56 PAUL GOODWIN believes the Light Blues legions could own the Ibrox club within 18 months following successful attempts by Hearts and Motherwell. SUPPORTERS DIRECT chief Paul Goodwin believes Rangers fans can assume control of their troubled club within 18 months. Goodwin, the head of SD in Scotland, has long championed the importance of community ownership within our national game. And he is convinced the Ibrox faithful can overthrow the current regime – providing they mobilise themselves into one powerful movement and start pulling in the same direction. At the moment there are four main fan organisations – The Rangers Supporters Trust, The Rangers Assembly, The Rangers Supporters Association and the Sons of Struth – with all groups battling for supremacy. But Goodwin, who helped oversee fan buy-outs at Stirling Albion, Clyde, Dunfermline and East Stirling has called for them to unite as one. Indeed, given the lack of trust in the current board, the lack of transparency, the current climate of financial uncertainty along Edmiston Drive and the plunging share price, he reckons this is an ideal opportunity to get the bandwagon rolling. Goodwin said: “I believe if the Rangers fans united, and that is the key, into one cohesive unit there is no reason why they can’t own the club within 18 months. “At the moment we have 8000 Hearts supporters paying £20 a month as they move towards fan ownership and if you have 20,000 Rangers fans doing the same you can go out and buy shares because it is a liquid market. “The simple maths say 20,000 fans paying £20 a month would give you £4.8million in a year. “It just needs the right type of people to pull that together and that is the hard part for Rangers. “I don’t have any doubt it can be done. SD have been working in conjunction with clubs right across Europe. “In Greece you have Olympiakos and Panathinaikos and there are plenty of clubs in Spain, Poland and France who are also going down this route. “Hearts are the biggest we know of in this country going down the route of fan ownership at the moment.” The Rangers share price has plummeted in recent months, from 70p to just 26p and for just over £4m, fans would be able to command a 25 per cent stake in the club. And Goodwin insists the Ibrox outfit’s supporters have nothing to lose pursuing the community ownership route having given their backing to the Craig Whyte and Charles Green regimes with catastrophic consequences. He said: “I believed that Rangers being placed into administration represented a significant window of opportunity to buy the club. “Of course, as we know, this didn’t happen for a variety of reasons; mostly because for many years the fans had been divided and ruled by previous owners of the club and had been left without a united voice, forced to pick sides in amongst political infighting. “Time has moved on and Rangers have unfortunately continued to be dogged by further challenges at the back end of the administration process. “It could have been so different if a credible fans’ bid had been used to galvanise the Ibrox faithful as we have seen at Dundee, Dunfermline Athletic, Portsmouth down in England and of course at Hearts. “Rangers supporters in the past have been used to following leaders whether it be Paul Murray, Craig Whyte or somebody else. “This is breaking the mould and now they don’t have to follow anybody. “What can the objection be? “It can give the fans the empowerment to pick exactly who they want to represent them. “We have four clubs in Scotland that are currently fan owned and we have another four waiting in the wings – Annan, Ayr, Motherwell and Hearts. It is the way forward because there is no other route.” Goodwin confirmed he has already spoken with supporters’ representatives from Rangers. He said: “I have been talking with them over the past 10 days and I will continue that dialogue to see whether there is something we can do. “There is a real opportunity here and I don’t think there is anything to lose. “We can advise and consult but it is ultimately up to them. “Some people have to emerge from the shadows and then we can give them all the support possible.” Goodwin was speaking at the launch of ‘The Colour of our Scarves’ initiative which has been organised by Supporters Direct to help highlight the issue of sectarianism. World renowned photographer Stuart Roy Clarke has been commissioned to produce a series of images captured at every senior ground in Scotland. The project has been funded by the Scottish government and Goodwin is hoping the sectarianism problem can be tackled through imagery rather than words. He said: “We wanted to try to demonstrate through Stuart’s amazing pictures that all fans are the same, apart from the scarves around their necks. “It is the same emotions that bind us all together and that was the reasons behind the project. “We are going round every single ground and also doing loads of workshops in schools and colleges. “It is becoming less of an issue but you need to keep working at it.” Clarke, who singled out Aberdeen as his favourite fans to photograph, has been amazed by the reaction to his pictures which will be on show at a touring exhibition around the country over the next 18 months. He said: “The response has been overwhelming. “While I like banter and edginess I don’t like hatred so hopefully this project can make a small difference to a big problem.” http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/supporters-direct-chief-calls-rangers-3100404
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Thread removed due to lack of interest.
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Ignoring the usual sycophantic nonsense, I find the quote in bold crass in the extreme and I'm amazed both Easdale and his PR advisors found it appropriate.
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Goalkeepers Mark Hurst (St Johnstone) Liam Kelly (Rangers) Ross Stewart (Motherwell) Defenders Cameron Burgess (Fulham) Coll Donaldson (Queen’s Park Rangers) Stephen Hendrie (Hamilton Academical) Lewis Martin (Dunfermline Athletic) Scott McKenna (Aberdeen) Mark O’Hara (Kilmarnock) Ryan Sinnamon (Rangers) Ryan Williamson (Dunfermline Athletic) Midfielders Liam Henderson (Celtic) James Jones (Crewe Alexandra) Adam King (Swansea) Jamie Lindsay (Celtic) Malcolm Melvin (Notts County) Andrew Murdoch (Rangers) Darren Petrie (Dundee United) Charlie Telfer (Rangers) Forwards Fraser Aird (Rangers) Sam Gallagher (Southampton) Oliver McBurnie (Bradford City) Fraser Murdoch (Crewe Alexandra) Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian) Gary Oliver (Heart of Midlothian) Jordan Preston (Blackburn Rovers) Cameron Smith (Aberdeen) http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=2986&newsID=13035&newsCategoryID=1
