'In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity'

[Frankie 8,148]

'In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity' - Albert Enstein

 

After a few days of panic, negativity and speculation, I think it's time to be a bit more positive about our club's future.

 

First of all though, let's not beat about the bush, the situation we find our club in is a deeply concerning one. Indeed, since Rangers was formed 140 years ago, there has perhaps not been a time where the very future of the club has been under threat like it is now. Sure, our club has had it's fair share of tragedy which puts financial worries in perspective, but the club has never really been close to ceasing to exist. This means we are in uncharted waters so the utmost care has to be taken to navigate our way out of trouble.

 

The problem is do we really have a captain skilled enough to do this? After all, since the tail end of the 1990s, the club has been in debt and it seems some found dubious tax practices and misleading the support was the best way to minimise this debt while remaining competitive on the field. A risky (or even illegal?) strategy which has now caught up with us in real style. So much so that the most embarrassing episode in the club's history is now a living nightmare for any Rangers minded person.

 

Of course we can play the blame game and we'd be entitled to. (Sir) David Murray may have impressed the majority of our support with his grandiose proclamations at the turn of the century but it's now just a matter of time before his real cowardly legacy is laid bare for everyone to see. To risk our proud club's long term future for the sake of a less than honourable tax scheme was not only a stupid gamble but has now become unforgivable (win or lose the outstanding tribunals). Instead of Murray Park being truly a place his contribution could be remembered forever, the quicker the name on the gate is changed, the better. Whyte won't be the name of choice though.

 

Since the current owner assumed control last May, he and the club have stumbled from one controversy to the next. It's no longer debatable that administration (and perhaps pre-pack liquidation) was always his strategy for 'turning round' the company but the manner in which he has went about his business has now become beyond unpalatable for many fans. Be it hiding his 'colourful' past from the support to outright lying to our faces, Whyte's strategy may ultimately be a successful one (preferred creditor, debts removed, new club starting afresh) but, patsy or not, the shorter the period this guy is associated with Rangers, the better.

 

Obviously I could spend all day castigating others who have contributed to this unsightly saga but we now have to try and look forward instead of back. Unfortunately, the problem of a suitable leader remains. Paul Murray et al may be saying the right things but his own part in the club's recent history is open to debate. Similarly, there may be other interested buyers but can we really trust these people to look after the best interests of the club?

 

For too long the Rangers support have been (often all too willingly it must be said) used and abused by those in control. Upwards of 35,000 season ticket holders a season for the last 20+ years and a long history of devotion and loyalty means the fans are the club. But we have minimal say in its direction.

 

Yes, we want (nay demand) regular success. Yes, we can be fickle and unrealistic. Yes, some will not accept the era of spending £10million+ in transfer windows is long gone. But for those faults our commitment remains an unmatched constant throughout. Yet we have a minimal input into where our money goes. That must change.

 

For what it's worth, I'm unsure how well fan ownership would work. I support the idea in principle and such schemes have worked positively in a variety of sports and countries. Be it Barcelona or the Green Bay Packers, community-based membership trusts can own and run clubs effectively. Scottish football may not hold the same sway as La Liga or the NFL but the sheer scale of the Rangers support means the avenue must be explored as a way of offering something agreeable for the future.

 

Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. Currently it's Groundhog Day in the press with fan reps and potential buyers eager to point towards fan ownership. We heard all this last year when the club was up for sale then. Has more work gone into investigating if such ideas can really work or are they just appropriate sound-bite comfort blankets in a time of fear?

 

Let's be frank. To avoid the same mistakes being made again, the Rangers support must demand to be part of any future club board. The most credible way of doing this is by working together to prove we're not just capable of it in a practical skills sense but financially as well.

 

As such, while this remains a great time of difficulty for the club, there does indeed lie a great opportunity. We should not under-estimate what our ourselves and our club are capable of. Yes, this is a period of huge uncertainty but if we work together and put our differences aside then we really can maintain the ambitions and success we've always had.

 

We're fond of using the phrase 'We are the people'. There has never been a better time to justify it.

[Tumshie RFC 0]

Well said Frankie. The fan ownership scheme is a fantastic idea although I'm not sure if a members scheme like Barca and Hamburg or the 51+ model used by clubs in the Bundesliga would be the right way to go.

[Tannochsidebear 2,306]

I agree there is a great opportunity to make lasting changes to the club which should ensure nothing like this need happen again.

 

After the Ibrox disaster of '71 we promised to change the stadium to make it a safer place for us, and the all-seater stadium followed some years later.

 

This current situation has cost no lives thankfully, and lets not forget that, but that also gives us the focus and spirit to find our own all-seater solution. A fan on the board does not do it for me as this is too easily swayed with position and power. True accountability to the fans means more than a token seat, where the inhabitant is sworn to secrecy on the important issues and is therefore unable to do his job properly. A monthly meeting, with management accounts presented, between the club board and a fans board should be a must, as well as open communications with all club departments and the fans.

 

A fans membership scheme is also preferable, with discount vouchers for club shops (and online) and restaurants, tours etc for local bears and appropriate incenties for overseas bears to make all bears worldwide want to join up. A one-member one-vote decides the annual make-up of the board, with all board members standing for re-election every year, and compulsory resignation after 3 years, with a further 3 year wait before you can rejoin the board. This will stop anyone forgetting their role as fans rep, not a personal badge of honour, and will also stop complacency.

[Bears 0]

Great post. I'm gonna post it on my Facebook Rangers page. Not a copy and paste but a direct link to the thread.

 

Cheers

[Frankie 8,148]

I agree there is a great opportunity to make lasting changes to the club which should ensure nothing like this need happen again.

 

After the Ibrox disaster of '71 we promised to change the stadium to make it a safer place for us, and the all-seater stadium followed some years later.

 

This current situation has cost no lives thankfully, and lets not forget that, but that also gives us the focus and spirit to find our own all-seater solution. A fan on the board does not do it for me as this is too easily swayed with position and power. True accountability to the fans means more than a token seat, where the inhabitant is sworn to secrecy on the important issues and is therefore unable to do his job properly. A monthly meeting, with management accounts presented, between the club board and a fans board should be a must, as well as open communications with all club departments and the fans.

 

A fans membership scheme is also preferable, with discount vouchers for club shops (and online) and restaurants, tours etc for local bears and appropriate incenties for overseas bears to make all bears worldwide want to join up. A one-member one-vote decides the annual make-up of the board, with all board members standing for re-election every year, and compulsory resignation after 3 years, with a further 3 year wait before you can rejoin the board. This will stop anyone forgetting their role as fans rep, not a personal badge of honour, and will also stop complacency.

 

Agree wholeheartedly mate.

 

Like you say, PM et al will now be looking to use the support to make hay themselves. I'm happy to look into what they offer but there must be a quid pro quo.

[Tannochsidebear 2,306]

Likewise we cant be too precious about picking and choosing who we want to take over, as there is not exactly a clamour for the role.

 

Anyone coming in will get a honeymoon period and our best wishes that they can move us forward, but the lessons must be learned and any new owner must be open enough to agree to letting the fans be part of the future direction of the club, and not just some token gestures.

[Juancornetto 1]

Fans ownership or membership models frightens the life out of me. Human nature invariably overrides any emotions for the club and board members use their position to further their own businesses and careers. I'd be more comfortable with a PLC set up with a seat on the board for a fan's representative.

[GovanAllan 0]

I'm actually really warming to a fan scheme maybe not full ownership but well into the 40% bracket get the fans involved with the whole running of the club and we can finally put that Baldy Twats claim of he would never hire a Rangers fan to bed once and for all.

 

Of course trying to get the wife onside with me spending the holiday fund might be a hard task but she'll get over it.

[Frankie 8,148]

From FF - an interesting blog post surrounding a similarly bad financial problems we faced in 1882:

 

- The man who saved the Rangers

http://blog.thegallantpioneers.co.uk/wp/?p=226

Edited February 16, 2012 by Frankie

[craig 5,195]

This is as good an opportunity as any for us to become one UNITED RANGERS FAMILY.

 

This event, painful as it will be on our history, could prove to be the catalyst for us to return to the glories of years gone by, both on AND off the pitch.