Rangers Protests ââ?¬â?? "Donald Muir, the Saviour Within"? - article by Boss

[Zappa 0]

Interesting viewpoint in this RM article by Boss.

 

Rangers Protests – "Donald Muir, the Saviour Within"?

Saturday, 13 February 2010 13:01

by Boss

 

Donald Muir is the best Chief Executive that Rangers never had.

 

There, I’ve said it. I know it won’t find favour with many but it’s better to be right than to be popular; if I’ve upset some of you already, it was ever thus.

 

Donald Muir has a fantastic reputation in the City as a turnaround specialist and therefore he undoubtedly has the confidence of the bank. He was brought in by Sir David Murray and, with the rumours about a recession-hit MIH, much of his time is probably spent on that side of the group, rather than Rangers. We’ve been told publicly that he was not appointed by the bank and does not get paid by them.

Now, the bank is probably not unhappy at his appointment but there’s nothing to suggest that their involvement goes any further. Mr Muir, quite correctly, represents the interests of MIH on the Rangers board and part of that will be to ensure the Club works to the business plan agreed by the Directors, by MIH and by the bank.

 

Furthermore, Donald Muir is a successful businessman; he is not daft. He must know as well as anyone that value is not created in Rangers by selling all our best players and running the company like a provincial team. If it was, January would have seen Bougherra, McGregor, Boyd and Davis sold, and with them, the league. That didn’t happen; the decision to sell Mendes was made by Walter Smith and the decision to get rid of Rothen was made by, well, everyone.

 

The PR at Rangers has been poor for years and this has been particularly so in the last six months. In many respects, the Rangers’ Board deserve the Protest which will happen on Sunday. With a bit more involvement of the support, a bit more openness, a bit more clarity, there would have been no need for the support to seek answers in this way. The Protest could have been headed off at the pass, perhaps by our new Chairman doing the type of televised interview at which our former Chairman was sometimes so adept. Does this mean the Club is not overly concerned about the Protest? Perhaps. Certainly, I’d be surprised, given the nature of his job, whether Donald Muir is losing much sleep over it; water, duck and back.

 

Having said that, some of the questions being asked by the protestors have already been answered. It’s just that some people don’t like, or won’t believe, the answers that have been given. Take the question of the debt. The audited Accounts make it clear that our commitment is to repay Ã?£1m a year; Alastair Johnston stated the same at the AGM; no-one has been able to produce any evidence to the contrary. Yet some people state adamantly that the bank wants all their money back tomorrow. Why is this? Perhaps it’s fuelled by the desire of commercially run forums to profit from advertising hits. Perhaps it's to get radio gigs. Perhaps it’s the result of deliberate misinformation for reasons unknown.

 

So there will be a Protest at the match on Sunday – leaflets being distributed, chants belted out, and banners hoisted before the match and at half time. And you know what? The Rangers board probably deserve it for their lack of transparency in such a worrying time for all Bears.

 

Just to be clear, I applaud the organisers of the Protest for the time and effort they have put in to this campaign so far. Some have worked tirelessly, ‘outed’ themselves from the anonymity of messageboards, been on radio, and put their reputations on the line. For that, well done.

 

But I’m worried about the direction of the Protest. It started, admittedly half-cocked, with no planning, no organisation and firing claims at everyone: Murray, Muir, Lloyds, the entire Rangers board, prospective buyers. This movement developed rapidly among online fans and, in the matter of a few days, fundraising took place, a committee was appointed, targets were identified, and leaflets and banners were ordered. Fair play to all concerned.

 

From the moment that wave of enthusiasm began we were assured by the organisers that this Protest was about asking questions. It was about the support being given the information necessary to dispel the rumours, to know the truth, and to believe that our Club was in good hands for the future. No more the unfounded accusations about Muir (“the enemy within”, indeed!), or the bank running the Club and demanding immediate repayment, or a January (now Summer) firesale that would leave us being run like a St Mirren or a Falkirk.

 

No, the Protest was now about asking reasonable questions, expecting honest answers, no vituperation, and letting nothing get in the way of supporting the team on the park with heart and voice.

 

So it was a disappointment to read the leaflets earlier this week. The leaflets list four questions “to which we demand answers” and “today we demand they answer for their actions”. The leaflet also notes the web page http://www.facebook.com/rangerssupportersagainstlloyds.

 

It was also a disappointment not to be given details of what the banners will say. When that question was asked by the Club at the Assembly meeting earlier this week, the comment was made by a rep along the lines of the Club not backing the support over the Dublin Loyal banner so can’t be trusted to be told the contents of Sunday’s banners. Similarly, no-one has given details on the forums of what the banners say.

 

I sincerely hope that the Protest delivers what we were promised it would – reasonable requests for answers to intelligent questions. Even at this late stage I hope the organisers have the sense not to display any “Donald Muir – the Enemy Within” banners. They would be misguided if they do so. And any anti-Lloyds banners will be aimed at entirely the wrong target but, hey, I don’t really care much for banks just now anyway! So let’s hope that organisers of the Protest keep to their promises, otherwise it is the newly formed committee that some will be requesting answers from.

 

Above all else, let’s all get behind the team in the most important game of the season so far. And if you happen to see Donald Muir, just remember, he’s one of the good guys.

 

.

http://www.rangersmedia.co.uk/homepage/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=263%3Arangers-protests--qdonald-muir-the-saviour-withinq&catid=41%3Afinances

[redford 0]

I read that on RM earlier. Decent article, but just another opinion piece, ultimately.

[Zappa 0]

I read that on RM earlier. Decent article, but just another opinion piece, ultimately.

.

Aye, it's just another opinion piece, but it's one with a difference. I don't know the article writer personally (which other posters here do), but from what I've seen of his contributions on the messageboards he seems to be one of the most astute and insightful people amongst the online support. What I'm trying to say is that I rate this guy's opinion quite highly and actually share his opinions & concerns on this particular subject.

[maineflyer 0]

I've no idea who the author is and have no opinion about him? But it is a good piece of writing and bears a more realistic appraisal of Donald Muir than the headless "representatives" who have so far made yet another arse of themselves in the way they've promoted and directed this protest.

 

Well done Boss, the Rangers board should indeed be protested against, particularly our chairman, whoever that might be. Donald Muir and Lloyds bank are not our enemies, despite the hysterical urban myths intended to demonise them.

[Bluedell 5,329]

Donald Muir is the best Chief Executive that Rangers never had.

 

But he's not doing the job of a Chief Executive.

 

 

Now, the bank is probably not unhappy at his appointment but there�s nothing to suggest that their involvement goes any further.

Hmmm. Are you sure about that?

 

Furthermore, Donald Muir is a successful businessman; he is not daft. He must know as well as anyone that value is not created in Rangers by selling all our best players and running the company like a provincial team. If it was, January would have seen Bougherra, McGregor, Boyd and Davis sold, and with them, the league. That didn�t happen; the decision to sell Mendes was made by Walter Smith and the decision to get rid of Rothen was made by, well, everyone.

And the decision not to bring in anyone was by who? Did Walter not give an off the record briefing that he was set to bring in someone and at the last minute the conditions that he believed he had in place were changed. Who made these changes?

 

 

Certainly, I�d be surprised, given the nature of his job, whether Donald Muir is losing much sleep over it; water, duck and back.

 

So he doesn't care about the support's concerns?

 

Take the question of the debt. The audited Accounts make it clear that our commitment is to repay �£1m a year; Alastair Johnston stated the same at the AGM; no-one has been able to produce any evidence to the contrary.

The club also has to work within the bank imposed business plan, which obviously has a lot more onerous conditions than just having to repay �£1m a year.

 

Yet some people state adamantly that the bank wants all their money back tomorrow.

Not a commonly held view, but perhaps one fueled by RM's article back in October.

 

So there will be a Protest at the match on Sunday ââ?¬â?? leaflets being distributed, chants belted out, and banners hoisted before the match and at half time. And you know what? The Rangers board probably deserve it for their lack of transparency in such a worrying time for all Bears.

 

Just to be clear, I applaud the organisers of the Protest for the time and effort they have put in to this campaign so far. Some have worked tirelessly, ââ?¬Ë?outedââ?¬â?¢ themselves from the anonymity of messageboards, been on radio, and put their reputations on the line. For that, well done.

 

But I�m worried about the direction of the Protest. It started, admittedly half-cocked, with no planning, no organisation and firing claims at everyone: Murray, Muir, Lloyds, the entire Rangers board, prospective buyers. This movement developed rapidly among online fans and, in the matter of a few days, fundraising took place, a committee was appointed, targets were identified, and leaflets and banners were ordered. Fair play to all concerned.

 

From the moment that wave of enthusiasm began we were assured by the organisers that this Protest was about asking questions. It was about the support being given the information necessary to dispel the rumours, to know the truth, and to believe that our Club was in good hands for the future. No more the unfounded accusations about Muir (ââ?¬Å?the enemy withinââ?¬Â, indeed!), or the bank running the Club and demanding immediate repayment, or a January (now Summer) firesale that would leave us being run like a St Mirren or a Falkirk.

 

No, the Protest was now about asking reasonable questions, expecting honest answers, no vituperation, and letting nothing get in the way of supporting the team on the park with heart and voice.

 

So it was a disappointment to read the leaflets earlier this week. The leaflets list four questions ââ?¬Å?to which we demand answersââ?¬Â and ââ?¬Å?today we demand they answer for their actionsââ?¬Â. The leaflet also notes the web page http://www.facebook.com/rangerssupportersagainstlloyds.

Fair points.

 

It was also a disappointment not to be given details of what the banners will say. When that question was asked by the Club at the Assembly meeting earlier this week, the comment was made by a rep along the lines of the Club not backing the support over the Dublin Loyal banner so can�t be trusted to be told the contents of Sunday�s banners. Similarly, no-one has given details on the forums of what the banners say.

 

Not sure why the details of the banners have to be released beforehand.

 

 

 

And if you happen to see Donald Muir, just remember, he�s one of the good guys.

So what promoted Walter's 2 outbursts?

[Dr Preston Burke 0]

Let's just wait and see who all leaves in the summer and how many players we sign before we proclaim Muir as the hero who kept the squad together

[boss 0]

But he's not doing the job of a Chief Executive.

Where did I say he was? Read what I wrote, not what you think I wrote or what you think I should have written. In a parallel universe, we'd do a lot worse than appoint Muir as Chief Executive.

 

Hmmm. Are you sure about that?

I wrote it, so of course I'm sure about it.

 

And the decision not to bring in anyone was by who? Did Walter not give an off the record briefing that he was set to bring in someone and at the last minute the conditions that he believed he had in place were changed. Who made these changes?

You really shouldn't believe all of the disinformation that is being spread.

 

So he doesn't care about the support's concerns?

Lol - no turnaround specialist is going to care too much about how he is viewed. He wouldn't be very good at his job if he did! Muir has a job to do - if he upsets folk along the way, then such is life.

 

The club also has to work within the bank imposed business plan, which obviously has a lot more onerous conditions than just having to repay �£1m a year.

No it doesn't. You keep repeating that but can come up with no piece of evidence to support it. Those of us that believe it have the audited Accounts, AJ's statement at the AGM, and the absence of a January firesale to back us up.

 

Not a commonly held view, but perhaps one fueled by RM's article back in October.

You'd need to take that up with the author. There's lots of different views allowed to be expressed on RM, and no official party line.

 

Not sure why the details of the banners have to be released beforehand.

Just a wee bit worried, perhaps unneccesarily, that some will be vituperative and divisive. A bit more openness wouldn't have gone amiss. Isn't that what is being requested of the Club?

 

So what promoted Walter's 2 outbursts?

Ask him. Frustration?

[maineflyer 0]

Let's just wait and see who all leaves in the summer and how many players we sign before we proclaim Muir as the hero who kept the squad together

 

Is anyone doing that?

[Dr Preston Burke 0]

Is anyone doing that?

 

The article certainly is

[chilledbear 16]

Muir is on the Board, why doesn't he talk to us? Rangers are not a normal business, he should comunicate with the Support. The impression is he is being told keep quiet.