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QTS have been announced as the sponsors of the latter stages of the Scottish League Cup. STV has learned that the league body has agreed a deal in the region of £100,000 for sponsorship of the semi-finals and final of this year’s competition. The rail infrastructure firm's name currently appears on the shirts of Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock. Dundee United and Aberdeen contest the first semi-final on January 31, with Celtic and Rangers meeting at Hampden the following day. The League Cup has been without a sponsor this season, while the league has been searching for a new sponsor for three years. SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with QTS, an ambitious and growing Scottish business with a proud history of successful sport sponsorship – a perfect fit for the competition. "With two cracking Scottish League Cup semi-finals in the New Year, as well as the final in March, everyone at the SPFL is looking forward to working with QTS to maximise the profile of both the competition and of the business and to bring excitement to fans of the clubs and Scottish football." Clydesdale Bank announced in November 2011 they were ending their involvement with the then Scottish Premier League. http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/dundee-united/304094-qts-to-be-named-sponsor-for-latter-stages-of-scottish-league-cup/? -
19 December Rangers International Football Club plc ("Rangers" or the "Company") Appointment of Chief Executive Officer Existing Board member Derek Llambias has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Rangers with immediate effect. Derek joined the Board on 2 November 2014 as a non-executive director. In line with the cost cutting exercise announced on 12 November 2014, Mr Llambias's remuneration will be significantly lower than previously offered for this position. Additionally, David Somers will now revert to his previous role as non-executive Chairman. Commenting on the appointment, David Somers said "I am delighted that Derek has agreed to step up to the Chief Executive role. This is a successful outcome to the process, announced on 27 October 2014, which involved interviewing a number of high calibre candidates. Derek has impressed us with his grasp of the issues since joining the group and brings a wealth of experience, particularly from his time at Newcastle United, which we feel confident will be invaluable to Rangers. ************** " which involved interviewing a number of high calibre candidates" Did it f@ck.
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After our site review of Rangers: The Blue Bear Rises earlier this month, SDMC Productions have now been in touch to say the DVD will now be released early next week. This means we now have our final competition of 2014 for a full DVD copy of the documentary. The film follows Davey Fishey (65) and Geordie (81) - both lifelong fans of their beloved club and both committed to following their team who clawing their way back year on year to their rightful place in the top Scottish league. The Blue Bear Rises is a moving tale told from very emotional fans giving us a full season (2013/2014) insight into the dedication, passion and love still felt by many in Scotland and around the world - a club that can still attract tens of thousands of fans to every game. To be in with a chance of winning the DVD, please email us with the name of Rangers' home stadium at by midnight on Sunday 21st December. Please note the site administrator's decision is final. For more information on the DVD and a full review please click here. Glasgow Rangers FC - The Blue Bear Rises (SDMC Productions) £14 - Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Glasgow-Rangers-FC-Blue-Rises/dp/B00O7QL29G
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Rangers fans chief Drew Roberton has sympathy with club board
ian1964 posted a topic in Rangers Chat
Drew Roberton, general secretary of the Rangers Supporters Association, admitted his sympathies probably lie with the board in the stand-off with the club's manager, Ally McCoist. McCoist, who has handed in his 12 months' notice, met chairman of the football board Sandy Easdale and director Derek Llambias on Wednesday. But they did not agree on a deal to end his three-and-a-half year reign now. "I've probably got more sympathy with the board in this one," said Roberton. "Ally as a player and as a manager has been well rewarded and I'm quite sure he will have other irons in the fire. "It's a really unsatisfactory situation at the minute and I would hope that the board and Ally can sit round the table and come to some amicable arrangement." By tendering his resignation on his 12-month rolling contract, McCoist has created a dilemma for the Ibrox hierarchy. They must either pay him off with a settlement, bring in a replacement but continue to pay him on so-called "gardening leave", or leave him in position to run down his contract. The lack of cash at Ibrox and the faltering performance of the team in the Scottish Championship makes the decision even more difficult. McCoist could opt to leave without a pay-off but that is not a scenario Roberton reckons will happen. He told BBC Radio Scotland: "There are others who have contributed a lot less to the club but who have walked out with large cheques in their pocket, so if Ally is contractually entitled to a pay-off then why should he go without one? "Yesterday's meeting turned out to be a non-event. You have two parties sitting round the table trying to protect their own interests." With supporters now staying away from Ibrox, the Rangers board will be keen to see how many fans attend the home game against Livingston on Saturday, and Roberton frets about the effect of the impasse on the players. "I don't think yesterday's decision will do much to encourage an increase in attendances," he said. "It is difficult to believe that the players will go out there fully motivated knowing that the manager is unhappy in his position and perhaps doesn't really want to be there. "Something's got to give and I imagine this will be a topic at the AGM." Rangers will hold their annual general meeting on Monday. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30527980 -
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/rangerscomment/mccoist-set-to-face-the-music-but-rangers-fans-will-have-little-to-192156n.114751404? McCoist set to face the music but Rangers fans will have little to sing about AND now the end is near ... Christopher Jack Sports Journalist Wednesday 17/12/2014 and so he faces the final curtain.. Ally McCoist likened his appointment as Rangers manager to taking over the mic from Frank Sinatra. Today, he will face the music. McCoist has taken the blows and did it his way at Ibrox, but his time in the spotlight is coming to an end, and he will soon exit the stage. Whether it comes in the aftermath of his meeting with Derek Llambias and Sandy Easdale today, at the end of the season or in 12 months' time, the day when McCoist is no longer Rangers manger is approaching. Like all matters at Ibrox in recent years, money is at the heart of the matter and the crux of the discussions. McCoist is due several hundred thousand pounds if the board wish to dispense with his services before the end of his notice period, but with an £8million black hole in their finances, they seemingly have no way to pay the 52-year-old off. He will leave with a cheque, but there is unlikely to be a thank you for his efforts. Whatever figure is settled on, McCoist will be due every penny for what he has done for Rangers, the fights he has had to fight, the controversies and characters he has had to deal with and overcome. However a deal is struck, whether it is in cash now or later or even shares, it will be a fraction of the multi-million burn that has seen Rangers blow their chance of financial stability and a platform, on and off the field, to go on and establish themselves at the top of Scottish football once again. It is only a matter of time before the most remarkable managerial reign in Rangers' illustrious history comes to an end - but it will solve few problems. McCoist's abilities as a coach and tactician have been called into question for some time. The argument for not having him as manager can be fairly easily made and stacked up and many fans will be pleased there will be new methods on the training pitch at Murray Park and instructions from the Ibrox dugout. Against a different backdrop, he probably wouldn't have lasted as long. But McCoist's ethos and approach to the game, the failings of his side and embarrassing results, are not Rangers' biggest problems. Defeats to Hearts, Alloa and Queen of the South have piled the pressure on his shoulders but football, even with the Premiership in sight, is of secondary importance once more. The heart and soul of Rangers is up for grabs. The proud, distinguished club, Scotland's most successful, is a shadow of its former self and another cornerstone is about to be removed when McCoist departs. There is a different feel around Rangers these days as supporters, battle-scarred and weary, turn their back on the club in their thousands. Familiar faces have gone, standards have fallen and bonds have been broken. Where past generations could put their faith in Bill Struth, Willie Waddell or Walter Smith, the fans of today have a far different proposition. Some of those who have made their way up the marble staircase in recent years and do so today are not of the same calibre. They don't appear to hold the same values or share the love of, and commitment to, the club. Fans may not want McCoist the football man, but they need McCoist the Ranger. His rallying cry of 'we don't do walking away' during the dark days of February 2012, became the motto of Rangers' fight for survival and his most famous soundbite. McCoist may leave the club, but it won't signal the end of his service as he goes back to simply being a fan, and surely a concerned one at that. His departure will be welcomed by those whose only focus is football, but some fans will once again miss the big picture. Having fought so hard to save the club, his club, during its fight for survival, and been instrumental in the battle to retain their titles, McCoist has seen the face of Rangers change significantly in the last couple of years. Colleagues have been punted out the back door in a bid to save thousands of pounds while millions are haemorrhaged through bad business decisions and 'onerous' contracts. Friends have lost their jobs just weeks before Christmas, and left the club without the golden handshakes awarded to so many who have given nowhere near the same level of service. It should serve as a warning of what has been and what is coming that McCoist feels he is now better off out of Ibrox. There may be better people available to manage the team, but there is nobody better than him to manage the club. McCoist will become the third Light Blue legend to say enough is enough at Rangers. John Greig continues to stay away from the club, as does Smith, and McCoist has now decided he doesn't like what he sees behind the famous red brick facade. Smith removed himself from a 'highly dysfunctional environment' when he stepped down as chairman in August 2013, yet there has been little progress made since then to resolve the myriad of issues facing the club. The faces in the boardroom may have changed but the problems remain, the questions stay unanswered and the fears are very much justified. McCoist's decision to step down should set alarm bells ringing once again. The savage cuts, the headlines, the in-fighting and politics have taken their toll. In truth, he is probably better off out of the place. But Rangers will not be in a better place with him out of there. With McCoist gone, who do the fans turn to and put their faith in? Who can they be sure is acting in the best interests of Rangers? Would they trust Easdale, chairman of the football board, to hand-pick the right man to lead the club back to the Premiership and oversee that journey? Or would they rather Mike Ashley, the man who has bulldozed his way to control and has the club's merchandise channels tied down in his favour, continue to call the shots from afar? Whoever has the final say, the outcome for McCoist will be the same and the future for Rangers will be uncertain. There will surely be few fans who will be glad to see the back of McCoist, the man they remember as a nine-in-a-row hero, their record goalscorer, Super Ally. He has been let down by a series of chairmen and chief executives, seen promises made and broken. He has been let down by too many of his players, with performances abject and faith not repaid on the pitch. He deserves better than the hat-trick being completed with the fans letting him down and deserting him at the end, too. -
International Football Club plc ("Rangers" or the "Company") Scottish Professional Football League Limited ("SPFL") Claim. The board of the SPFL has determined that Rangers Football Club Limited (the "Club") is liable to pay the EBT Commission fine of £250,000 levied on RFC 2012 PLC (previously The Rangers Football Club plc) (in liquidation) The SPFL has also decided that this sum will be recovered from the Club by the SPFL withholding broadcasting money and other sums due to the Club but which are paid in the first instance to the SPFL. An appeal has been lodged with the Judicial Panel of the Scottish FA which has confirmed that the decision of the SPFL is suspended pending the outcome of the appeal subject to the SPFL's right to object. The Board is advised that the sum is not due to SPFL and the appeal will be pursued vigorously.
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John McGlynn has left his manager's position at Scottish Championship club Livingston by mutual consent. The former Raith Rovers and Hearts boss, 52, took charge of the West Lothian outfit in September last year, becoming their fifth manager since Gary Bollan was sacked in February 2012. Player-coach Mark Burchill has been appointed caretaker manager until a new manager is appointed. Livingston are four points adrift at the bottom of the table. They were deducted five points by the Scottish Professional Football League for non-payment of tax in 2010-11 and face the threat of administration as former director Ged Nixon claims the Almondvale side owe him more than £300,000. Livingston statement "The club wish to go on record in stating their appreciation for the work John has carried out under extremely difficult circumstances this season." A club source told BBC Scotland that if Nixon succeeds, Livi may not be able to pay salaries and could enter administration for a third time in a decade. McGlynn issued a statement thanking the fans and all staff at the club, and added: "It is with great regret that we have agreed mutually to part company but I acknowledge that it is a results business and unfortunately no matter how hard I worked, we could not get the results we all desired. "I feel it is now time to let someone else come in with plenty of games remaining in the season to turn the club's fortunes around. "I would like to wish the club every success in the future. I believe they will stay in the league and have a great chance of lifting the Petrofac Cup." A club statement said that McGlynn had left "by mutual consent". It stated: "The club wish to go on record in stating their appreciation for the work John has carried out under extremely difficult circumstances this season. Ultimately though, football is a results-based business. "The directors and myself as chairman wish John every success in his future career." http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30492637
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I never thought he really wanted to sell Newcastle? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/11295462/Mike-Ashley-could-control-Rangers-and-Newcastle-United-within-weeks.html
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UoF Statement on Ally McCoist "We note the board’s announcement of Alistair McCoist’s resignation and the disclosure of Ally’s severance entitlement in their statement to the LSE this morning. Ally has made the correct decision to resign. Things have not gone well this season on the park, and off it he has seen the club decimated by the incompetents in the boardroom. They are ripping the heart and soul out of our club, laying off long serving, low paid staff to save a relative pittance and leave the club on the brink of hardly being able to operate. Rangers is a family and that family is being torn apart by this board. All this while Mr Llambias, Mr Somers and the other members of the board enjoy their salaries, expenses and freebies in hospitality despite contributing nothing. Mr Somers publicly defended the payoff to Brian Stockbridge and even, bizarrely, his performance. Mr Easdale publicly defended the payoffs to Charles Green and Imran Ahmad. Mr Easdale even made public statements which we believe assisted Imran Ahmad to secure a settlement he did not deserve. Despite this, they are now attempting to throw a club legend under a bus without even having discussed the terms of his severance with him. They were happy to line the pockets of people who have decimated Rangers but it would appear Ally McCoist, who as a player and employee has contributed more than they could ever dream of, is not worthy of even the courtesy of confidentiality in severance discussions. In our opinion, the salary given to Ally by Charles Green was too high. It was agreed pre administration when Rangers were a Champions League team but it should have been amended to a more realistic level. This is in common with the inflated salaries that Mr Green gave to all senior staff members including himself. Ally worked for nothing during administration to try and assist the club. He was alone in voluntarily reducing his salary last year when the true extent of the financial mismanagement by the board became apparent. We believe he did the right thing by reducing that salary by around 50%. In fact, his gesture should have meant that the lower paid employees at the club would be safe from the kind of cuts we have seen Derek Llambias implement in the past few weeks. We hope Ally will do the right thing and come to a solution that is beneficial to both him and club. By the club we mean the club and not this board or those who control them. We will not accept this board’s toxic spin and ham-fisted attempts to blacken the name of a club legend. We hope Ally can go with our best wishes and will remain Super Ally long after the names of the charlatans in this boardroom are mercifully forgotten."
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Notices of Complaint: Rangers FC and Michael Ashley Monday, 15 December 2014 The Compliance Officer has issued the following Notices of Complaint: Alleged Party in Breach: Rangers FC Disciplinary Rule(s) allegedly breached: Disciplinary Rule 1: All members shall: (b) be subject to and comply with (i) the Articles (ii) this protocol. (f) behave towards the Scottish FA and other members with the utmost good faith. Disciplinary Rule 19: Except with the prior written consent of the Board: (a) no club or nominee of a club; and (b) no person, whether absolutely or as a trustee, either alone or in conjunction with one or more associates or solely through an associate or associates (even where such person has no formal interest), who: (i) is a member of a club; or (ii) is involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management or administration of a club, or (iii) has any power whatsoever to influence the management or administration or a club, may at the same time either directly or indirectly:- (a) be a member of another club; or (b) be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management or administration of another club; or © have any power whatsoever to influence the management or administration of another club. Disciplinary Rule 77: A recognised football body, club, official, Team Official, other member of Team Staff, player, match official or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall, at all times, act in the best interests of Association Football. Principal Hearing date: Tuesday, 27th January 2015 Alleged Party in Breach: Michael Ashley Disciplinary Rule(s) allegedly breached: Disciplinary Rule 19: Except with the prior written consent of the Board: (a) no club or nominee of a club; and (b) no person, whether absolutely or as a trustee, either alone or in conjunction with one or more associates or solely through an associate or associates (even where such person has no formal interest), who: (i) is a member of a club; or (ii) is involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management or administration of a club, or (iii) has any power whatsoever to influence the management or administration or a club, may at the same time either directly or indirectly:- (a) be a member of another club; or (b) be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management or administration of another club; or © have any power whatsoever to influence the management or administration of another club. Disciplinary Rule 77: A recognised football body, club, official, Team Official, other member of Team Staff, player, match official or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall, at all times, act in the best interests of Association Football. Principal Hearing date: Tuesday, 27th January 2015 http://scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=2566&newsCategoryID=1&newsID=14110 -
Right he is going and as a manager the record books may show two titles but on the whole in my opinion he has been a dud totally inept when it comes to tactics if he ever had any . But what about him as a player he went to England never happened maybe to young well never know because he came to rangers had a sticky start but was luck to be in at the start of the souness revolution were he played at the top end of a very good team he was very fortunate to be playing in front of some great half backs , good wingers giving him first class service and I am not knocking him in this aspect but I often wonder how many goals lets say jimmy millar , jim forrest , ralph brand or even big dandy would have scored playing in front of the souness/smith players .
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“Give the fans some answers, Alistair” Dear Ally, We’ve known each other a long time. Back at the start of the 1980s, we were on opposing sides in a match between Brighton and Sunderland – and both of us ended up on the scoresheet. We later shared a room on a golf trip to Las Vegas and will forever be linked by our mutual involvement in the events surrounding Rangers’ liquidation in 2012, something I could never have envisaged happening. There have been a lot of questions thrown up since then. I would like, therefore, to make a public appeal to you for answers. Answers to the questions that have left Rangers supporters dazed and confused throughout the events of the last 72 hours. To read on the morning of a crucial Championship match that you had tendered your resignation was unprecedented. To subsequently see you refuse to either confirm or deny those reports was strange in the extreme. I understand sometimes individuals are bound by contractual obligation from communicating as freely as they might wish. In this case though, that simply doesn’t wash. For the support of a huge football club to be left in the dark about something as fundamental as whether or not their manager has resigned is totally unacceptable. So, the first question to be answered is – have you given your notice? And, if not, why didn’t you take the opportunity to shoot down the reports as nonsense? When you are talking about such an important issue, that has to be the course of action. Stability is crucial at any football club. When you are talking about Rangers, a club whose financial problems mean they have to win promotion this season, it is a necessity. Players need to know who their leader is and what, within reason, his plans are for the future. Secondly, if you have a desire to quit, then why not go now, under your own terms? Do as I did two years ago and leave Ibrox without seeking money to do so because you think it is in the best interests of Rangers Football Club. You were rightly given credit for the character and mental strength you showed back in 2012 and for staying on and making yourself a focal point at a time when the club was in complete disarray. You famously said then: “We don’t do walking away”. But what if it becomes the honourable thing to do – and practically the only thing to do? There is no way you or any of the coaches were responsible for blowing a two-goal lead at Alloa with 20 minutes remaining of the Petrofac Cup semi-final. That was down to under-performing players. But you do carry the responsibility for the results. You were given every financial advantage over opposition managers at every stage of this journey up through the divisions. Even with the wage cut you agreed to, you have remained the highest-paid manager in Scotland over this period. While the successive titles cannot be taken away from you, the failures of the current campaign threaten to sabotage so much of the progress made. Leaving now would allow a new man to come in and see if he can do better. You know we are not talking about any untried foreign coaches, but about men such as Stuart McCall and Terry Butcher. Former Rangers team-mates of yours, who you know have the best interests of the club at heart and who boast solid managerial credentials. As things stand, the club is not going to win the Championship title. Not with Hearts nine points clear and holding a game in hand. Many, in fact, would argue Rangers will do well to match the Edinburgh outfit’s points haul between now and the end of the season. Yet I believe that the extra impetus caused by a change at the top could make a huge difference. There is an almost chemical reaction that occurs when a new manager takes over a dressing-room. You’ll have seen that for yourself during your playing career, like when Jock Wallace replaced John Greig and when Graeme Souness took over from Big Jock. A galvanised squad would certainly have the ability to string together the kind of long winning-run which is now required to catch Hearts. This brings me to the last of my central questions to you – why is this Rangers team so bad? Men like Kris Boyd, Ian Black, Nicky Law, Jon Daly, Dean Shiels and David Templeton have all individually impressed in the Premier League. I could see why you signed them. Their collective floundering in the lower divisions surely must make you doubt what you yourself have been doing on the training ground at Murray Park? People might argue results are what matter. But the football your teams have produced has been uninspiring to watch – and that has been in games that you have won. It’s little wonder fans are staying away in their droves. You will know that a certain style is demanded by the Rangers supporters, who have been reared on the genius of Davie Cooper, Brian Laudrup and Paul Gascoigne. While everyone accepts the days of multi-million pound transfers are gone from Scottish football, it is not unreasonable for fans, who pay through the nose week-in, week-out, to be offered a decent standard of football. And it is not unreasonable to suggest that more kids should have been brought through from Murray Park to the first team over the past three years. When there is more drama to be found off the pitch than on it, then something has gone seriously wrong. That was added to when the news broke that you had tendered your resignation. You should follow that through by going this week, for the club’s sake – and yours. Yours, Gordon. http://www.sundaypost.com/sport/columnists/gordon-smith/gordon-smith-sends-open-letter-to-mccoist-1.736263
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CRAIG Whyte last night protested his innocence of fraud charges over his Rangers takeover and revealed: “I sleep well at night.” Former owner Whyte, who is accused of swindling his way to power at Ibrox, vowed he will clear his name. But as he lifted the lid on his dramatic arrest in Mexico last month, he insisted he has no fear of prison. Whyte, 43, said: “These are huge issues and I don’t take any of it lightly. I always sleep well at night. “I know that I have done absolutely nothing wrong. Over the last six months, I don’t think it has been very difficult. “But if you asked me over the last month, I would say it hasn’t been very pleasant in lots of ways.” Whyte, who plunged Gers into administration during his controversial reign, faces jail time if he is convicted of serious charges. He said: “It wouldn’t be very nice but it doesn’t frighten me. “It’s not something I would wish on anybody but I hope that it doesn’t come to that. “It’s too early to be thinking like that, I’m positive. “I’m not going to mope around and think of the worst things that could happen to me because that’s not the way to live.” The businessman, from Motherwell, blasted prosecutors and cops over his nicking in Mexico City minutes after landing on a flight from Japan. And he branded news reports following his arrest as “bollocks”. He said: “I agreed to surrender on December 8 so I was taken by surprise to be detained in Mexico. “In my view the Crown Office and the police did that for the publicity — there was no extradition. “I want to get across all the bollocks that’s been written in the last couple of weeks. “I came back here voluntarily, I have co-operated with prosecutors for the last two years and they have still not asked me a question.” He had on the same smart grey coat he wore when he ran a gauntlet of angry Light Blues fans outside Glasgow Sheriff Court in November. And Whyte, sporting the floppy hairdo and beard that are his new trademark, revealed he has no plans to invest in football again. As he tucked into a burger lunch at a swanky hotel restaurant, tanned Whyte said: “I don’t regret doing it because I think you regret the things you don’t do — but I wouldn’t do it again. “Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I wouldn’t be rushing to do a football deal again.” The tycoon, once based in Monaco, became a hate figure among supporters after taking Gers into administration as they tumbled from top-flight football to Division Three. The club was later liquidated, sparking an exodus of top players. He claimed Rangers would have gone under sooner had it not been for his takeover in 2011. He went on: “I never asked for any of it. I’m a private, low-key kind of guy, not at all suited to being involved in a football club. “What everyone forgets is I’m the only person in recent years who hasn’t taken a penny out of Rangers. “Even these current charges, I don’t think I’m accused of taking any money out of Rangers. “I bought a company that was bankrupt for £1. Rangers were already completely bankrupt at the time when I got involved. “All I did was step in to try to rescue a situation that was already way beyond. It was my intention to take it forward as a business and not to see it in the sorry state it is in at the moment.” Asked what went wrong, he said: “Champions League would have been a bonus but if Rangers had got into the Europa League they would not have gone into administration that season.” Whyte reckons only someone with £100 million to chuck at the club could have done a better job than him — and that administration was on the cards before he bought out Sir David Murray. He said: “Given the set of circumstances, it’s difficult for anyone to do unless they were willing to chuck £100 million and make sure they bought the players to get results in Europe and so on. Rangers would have gone into administration, before I came along, they were taking insolvency advice. “Absolutely, no doubt about it. Probably sooner.” Whyte, banned from Scottish football for life in 2012, reckons his relationship with Gers supporters is broken forever but he is just as hurt by the club’s fate. And he believes nothing he could say to the Ibrox faithful could shake his bogey man image. He said: “I’m not angry, you have to play the hand that you are dealt but disappointed is a fair comment. “I’m a Rangers fan myself, my family are Rangers fans. “They have every right to be angry but there is nothing I’m going to say that will make any difference about their anger so it’s pointless trying to have that conversation.” Asked if he thinks there is any chance of the Rangers fans changing their minds about him he added: “You can never say never because never is a long time. Hopefully when the facts come out, and they will in this process, people might form a different view. “There are complex issues but things will come to light that will be explosive in many ways.” He admits none of the turmoil he now faces was expected when he took over the reins but says the mistrust among fans is “entirely unfair”. Whyte added: “Anyone who deals with me and has known me knows that’s not the person they recognise. It’s not a fair reflection of who I am. “I think the average fan, and I don’t want to be patronising here, but they don’t understand the complexities of everything that has been going on. Of course, I sympathise with them.” Before his first court appearance, Whyte hadn’t been seen in Scotland for a year since he gave evidence at Inverness Sheriff Court at the trial of two former workers at his castle home near Grantown-on-Spey, Moray. In September the bank repossessed it after he failed to keep up with remortgage payments. Whyte said: “It was a pain in the arse to be honest. It was empty 90 per cent of the time. “It was just a pile of bills with no benefits. I don’t regret losing it.” He was also hit with a 15-year ban from running a company at the Court of Session. He said: “I didn’t defend it. Partially because I didn’t know about it — they didn’t serve any papers. “Secondly it’s not safe to go to trial in Edinburgh every day and thirdly because it has to be funded at the cost of several hundred thousand pounds.” http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/6181247/Whyte-Ive-no-regrets.html?teaser=true
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Being reported that the board and legal team will meet with McCoist and his legal team on Wednesday. Could be out before agm? Billy Davis anyone? From The Mail on Sunday.
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I remember seeing Ally playing for Kilmarnock at the end of his career. He broke his leg trying to get on the end of a cross into the box somehow - I don't really remember all the details. What I do remember is Ally trying to get onto the end of the cross despite his leg hanging off. It was instinctive, deep rooted, a refusal to give up. Today's announcement was a surprise with this in mind. I don't take Ally for a quitter, still don't. I think Ally was doing the equivalent of 'going all in' at poker, despite not having the best hand, in the hope of facing down his critics. It is surely true that Ally still believes himself to still be the man to take Rangers back to the top flight. But is he? Let's go through some criticisms of him; Criticism 1- He has a vastly expensive squad, and should be doing better with them. The squad is expensive for a reason - Good players would not be willing to drop down three divisions into a football wilderness. To even sign average players, Rangers had to fork out multiples above true market value to attain them. Cue resentment. Criticism 2- He hasn't brought through young players. He could have done better, but currently 30% of the squad are from the youth set up, and do contain some potential in McLeod and Aird. This is a better performance and ratio than celtic, who only have McGregor and Forrest from their youth set up, and Forrest has been on the scene for a few years now. Criticism 3- He is only in it for the money. I just don't buy this. This has been used constantly to smear him. I'm sure Ally could pick up his £20,000 per episode buy out for Question of Sport if he desired again. He is unquestionably the highest paid manager in Scotland, which in the current financial climate is madness. However, this is a matter for the ranger's financial controller to decide. Ally to his credit has already offered to take a wage cut, even if temporary. To put it into perspective, peter lawwel is reputed to be on close to 50% more at celtic. Criticism 4- 'We won't get promoted with Ally in charge I think the collective bottle of the support has gone rather than Ally's bottle. You are half way through December. Hearts are no great shakes and I fully expect them to start dropping points. Once they do, they may find it difficult to push forward again. In the two games v Rangers (and against Hibs), Hearts rode their luck. Is Craig Levein suddenly a football genius? The wheels will come off soon. Also, as proven against a few SPFL teams, Ally can set up his teams to beat them. The play offs if needed, will be negotiated by Ally. St Mirren / Ross County?? Come on. Hibs are your worry. Criticism 5- Players are regressing Yes, and this is to be expected. If barca had spent two and a half years playing garbage week in week out, we'd be saying how Messi was going backwards.. Two years of non competitive action blunts the sword. However, some evidence suggests he is improving young players like Mcleod, and whipping boy Aird. Criticism 6- He has been a lackey for Green, Whyte etc. Let's be clear - rangers would have had titles unfairly stripped off them if it wasn't for Ally. Ally is one of the most important people in your history - he was the one who kept going when the Goughs, Smiths, Fergusons of the world had written rangers off as dead. Ally kept pumping the heart until the pulse appeared again. Yet it is derided as a selfish act for financial gain. Jesus wept. Green hates him. This is 'a good sign'. Criticism 7- He plays hoof ball. True, and it looks very 20th century. However Ally will see it as a percentage tactic on poor pitches. Jury out on it's effectiveness. We can't expect tiki taka from any Scottish team let alone championship teams. And tbh, the SPFL looks absolutely garbage. John Greig's teams would be running riot in it I suspect. Criticism 8- He looks clueless / I hate his face etc Personal abuse helps no one, and rangers fans are particularly vociferous I'm sure a lot of you will agree. It's like keying your own car. We all know support will produce better results than personal abuse. Criticism 9- His cup performances. Could be better (ask neil Lennon /any Hibs manager /Davie Smith), but seriously, getting outraged by losing in the Petrofac cup or whatever it's called- you should be thankful your name isn't on that embarrassment of a cup. Cup football is unforgiving, but the league is all that really matters. Plus, he has done a couple of top flight teams IIRC. I'd say the Rangers support has to give Ally the benefit of the doubt and allow him to get on with his very specific goal - getting Rangers back into the SPFL. He has earned this. You may be slightly off- course at the moment, but with 4 months left, Ally should have the full support of the fans. He is the last 'Rangers man' in the building - do you really want to chase him?
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Just been interviewed on Sky Sports News there. To quote - 100% committed. 100% will be in charge next week v Livi Got a job to do, to get back into the top flight Going nowhere So God knows what happened earlier today. Almost as if Ally knew nothing about it.
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According to Sky Sports News......
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Ashley wants us to "celebrate" reaching the semi of a diddy cup we've won many times. New from Sports Direct = a commemorative semi-final T-shit. £8 and it yours, What a total effing embarrassment . Hopefully no-one buys it - of course, if they don't we'll have to pay him even more (and he'll have to loan us the money secured on something to do so) and be left with even more unsold tat in our basement. What next - a commemorative cup, a DVD of how we got there, half and half semi final scarves, a book on our Petrowhatever Cup run? PS Sorry for missing "h" in title. Perhaps a boy stole it?
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Stunned Rangers staff told Christmas is cancelled as Derek Llambias axes annual Ibrox party Dec 11, 2014 00:00 By Keith Jackson CASH CRISIS makes non-executive director scrap festive knees-up and gifts normally given to workers in further cost-cutting exercise. SHOCKED Rangers staff were told Christmas has been cancelled yesterday as the financially stricken club continues a slash costs across the business. Record Sport revealed yesterday how the fallen giants were left reeling at the weekend when less than 20,000 fans came through the turnstiles. Saturday’s 1-0 win over Cowdenbeath - the lowest crowd for a home league game in 28 years. And the extent of the current cash crisis engulfing the club became even more evident at lunchtime yesterday when non-executive director Derek Llambias sent a circular to all non football employees to reveal that they will not be receiving their traditional seasonal gift from the club and that the yearly festive bash at Ibrox has been scrapped. Llambias was appointed to the board as Mike Ashley’s axe man and has put in place an extensive programme of austerity of cost cutting which recently included a raft of job losses. Against the gloomy backdrop - and with Ashley’s emergency loans being used to keep the club in business - he has decided it would neither be affordable nor ethical Rangers to treat what’s left the workforce in the time honoured fashion. Last year all workers received a voucher worth £50 for Marks & Spencer as well as a free Christmas knees-up on the company at in one of the stadium’s corporate suits. But it’s now believed some workers are organising their own office party instead. One source said: “We were given the news in an e-mail from Llambias and it’s another big blow to morale inside the club. We were told that these measures were being taken ‘due to the current financial position’. Llambias said it was ‘regrettable’ while thanking the staff for their hard work and commitment during what he described as ‘this difficult time’. “The Christmas party has also been cancelled. It just shows what a mess this club is now in.” Rangers last night declined to make any official comment but a source close to the board said: “This is a consequence of the club’s current financial situation. Cuts have to be made across all departments. “If just one job can be saved by pulling the plug on a Christmas party then so be it.” http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/stunned-rangers-staff-told-christmas-4785326
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...At Hampden today. Fee yet to be confirmed.
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Apparently in today's Scottish Sun: Les is actually a Rangers fan and shareholder but I'm reliably informed has decided against investing into us for one or two reasons I can't share here.
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Rangers Supporters @rangersfctrust · 2h2 hours ago The RST has tonight released the following statement:Read: http://tl.gd/n_1sj12bm The RST has tonight released the following statement: The Rangers Supporters Trust is disgusted to learn that a group of Celtic fans daubed offensive, sectarian graffiti, mocking the Ibrox disaster, on the walls of Tynecastle stadium during a recent visit there. We are even more disgusted by the attitude of Celtic Football Club towards this incident, which is to try to distance themselves from the behaviour of their fans rather than taking responsibility for it. We welcome Ann Budge's recent statement and fully support her attempts to highlight the disgraceful behaviour of a sizeable minority of the Celtic support. The group responsible for this are affiliated with The Green Brigade, who have been encouraged and tolerated by Celtic Football Club officials. This despite outward shows of support for the IRA and various offensive banners including one protesting against Remembrance Sunday. In the past few years we have seen riots in Dundee, wide-scale vandalism and disorder at Fir Park and Tynecastle and various acts of public disorder in Glasgow centred around Celtic fans. Throughout all this, Celtic's PR machine, has sought to quell reporting of these incidents and no substantive action has been taken against the perpetrators by the Celtic Chief Executive, Peter Lawwell. Celtic Football Club has a major, ongoing issue with their fans which their constant denial of facts will not solve. Their official fan groups, including the Celtic Trust, seek to legitimise this behaviour by, for instance, campaigning for the right to display public support for terrorism without penalty. We hope that belatedly, with their fans' disgraceful mocking of the Ibrox disaster, Celtic will start to take their hooliganism problem seriously and the SPFL and SFA will do likewise, despite the strong influence wielded by Celtic in their boardrooms
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Suppose we find one point four million in a drawer at ibrox and wield the axe who should be our next manager and who should be his assistants . and who among the current squad would you like to see go in the January transfer window
