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Q&A Summary of Meeting With Jim McColl

Official Statement - POSTED ON OCTOBER 25, 2013

Meeting – Attendees – Jim McColl, Malcolm Murray & Paul Murray plus representatives from Rangers Supporters Trust, Rangers Supporters Association, Rangers Supporters Assembly and NARSA – Clyde Blowers – East Kilbride 4.00 24/10/2013

 

Paul Murray gave a brief introduction on why the group represented had come together and Jim McColl listed a number of serious concerns they all shared about a lack of corporate governance and financial transparency. The purpose of the meeting however was to afford the representatives of the fans groups the opportunity to get answers to specific questions.

 

Questions had been collated under 3 Core Themes

Immediate Issues

Future Plans, Investment and Operations

Fan Ownership

Immediate Issues

 

The perception that amongst the fans groups represented is that there is perhaps 50% general support for the group and 50% who at this time are not :

 

The hosts were asked to tell us a bit about their team and why fans should support each?

 

Paul Murray and Malcolm Murray briefly explained their backgrounds much of which was seen as commonly known. The other 2 people nominated for Board positions were spoken about:

 

Alex Wilson

 

Has a wide ranging skill set in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations

A history of working with very senior people at a number of Blue Chip organisations

Extensive experience in managing operational changes at large organisations

Alex has multiple season tickets for Ibrox and has been a long term fan

Would be invaluable in building a new organisation and structure at Rangers

Scott Murdoch

 

Has a major interest in property management

One of the largest portfolios in UK

Major involvement in the London market

Also operates in New York & Hong Kong

Has been London based for 25/30 years

Scott has been a lifelong Rangers fan

He has extensive commercial contacts in a number of global brand companies

At this time the hosts were asked to comment on the question of securing Ibrox Stadium and Auchenhowie and if they would consider an asset lock on them?

 

They confirmed they would take steps to do that – this would entail consultation with the shareholder base. They spoke about Rangers Directors being bound by a constitution established to do just that and to also constrain future Boards from for example borrowing beyond agreed levels.

 

The Financial Position – there were lots of questions on this:

 

Have you a current view or a plan to do a detailed health check?

How serious a threat do you consider there is of Admin 2?

Do you envisage a short-term need for refinancing and how will you deal with it?

Are you for or against resolutions 9 & 10 and why?

Would you deal again with Ticketus?

The hosts have detailed views on financial issues but their main concern is to create a structure at The Club led by a quality CEO. They have identified and had discussions with a suitable candidate who they believe would work with them. They have also targeted a highly credible Head of Finance.

 

Making such high profile appointments will they believe gain further support from the major financial institutions invested in Rangers. They are satisfied that this will help in securing further investment if and when required. The business will have a very credible executive management who will not only look over the recent past forensically but implement robust business and financial plans.

 

The football operation will be able to focus on developing the team and on the field performance.

 

It was the group’s view that there is no real likelihood of a further administration nor did they see any issue over short term financing.

 

Resolutions 9 & 10 are not hugely unusual but at this time they agreed with the questioners that this was not appropriate for Rangers.

 

Ticketus are not part of any future plans.

 

AGM –

 

It was stated that Rangers fans generally feel they have a lack of information from all sides and again a number of specifics were posed:

 

Have you had recent dialogue with any of the other main parties and do you envisage any of them being involved in the future?

 

Daniel Stewart – yes in trying to speed up the AGM process and they are still trying to progress this. Paul Murray stated that AGM could be held somewhere other than Ibrox and has someone willing to pay for an alternate venue.

 

The current Executive Directors of Rangers – not recently

 

Dave King – yes and meetings are planned over the next few days. Nothing specific has yet been agreed with him.

 

Martin Bain – Paul Murray has a business relationship with Martin but the group have no intention of inviting his involvement with Rangers

 

Mike Ashley – not recently

 

What do you think about the possibility of shares being suspended?

 

Jim McColl suggested that such an action if taken by AIM would only be to protect shareholders

 

What are your views on the date of the AGM?

 

Disappointed that since the Court of Session ruling it seems that the current Directors are trying to delay it – they would like it to be held as soon as proper governance would allow.

 

Future Plans, Investment & Operations Plans

 

Members of the Rangers support many of whom are shareholders are rightly concerned to be comfortable with plans going forward and a series of questions were raised in this respect:

 

Have you considered how to deal with and can you share your thinking on matters like

 

Scouting

Maintenance

Operational budgets

Media & PR

Will you examine contracts entered into on such as Security, retail and catering – will you share your findings?

 

Yes on both counts but that will be part of the detailed implementation of agreed business plans. The Club has suffered of late from the lack of proper plans and not having a scouting network for example. It may not be appropriate to report every change implemented by the executive management of The Club. One of the key responsibilities of a CEO will be to examine and renegotiate any contracts that are not to his satisfaction in serving the best interests of The Club.

 

Have you identified and can you share info on potential future investors?

 

There are a number of prospective investors. The Institutions have indicated future support if a suitable structure is put in place. A number of individuals are considered prospective investors under the same pre-requisite.

 

How do you propose to get The Club back to the pinnacle of Scottish Football and playing competitively in Europe – do you have a timescale? What differentiates you and your 5-year vision from the current Directors?

 

Establishing a strong management structure that gains respect and support from the market will be the first critical step.

 

Fan Ownership

 

There were a lot of questions on this topic a lot of questions on this:

 

Have you already considered this issue in detail?

Will you publically back a fan ownership scheme – a 50+1 deal?

What timescale would that be likely to take?

Will you work with supporters to develop this concept?

Will you also show a care of duty to supporters like Borrusia D?

How quickly if/after you are elected will you devote serious reported efforts to this end?

The intention is firmly to work towards proper fan involvement. All three of the hosts confirmed their support for this. The nitty gritty detail needs to be addressed but a future shareholder structure where Financial Institutions, High Net Worth Individuals and Individual Fans and Fans Organisations all had significant holdings would be welcomed. The group would canvass the support for input before anything was implemented.

 

There is a very positive view of Rangers in the City and the relative value gap between for example Manchester United and Rangers was perceived to be considerably less than the current relative values of the businesses. Likely changes to football in Europe and North America over the next few years are likely to benefit a big club such as Rangers.

 

The way German football was completely restructured over 10 years demonstrates that massive change takes time. Nobody wants or supports extensive borrowing by The Club – that model has clearly and consistently been proved to be a seriously flawed one.

 

The group stated that they want to build trust between the Board and all of the stakeholders in The Club and they believe the best way to do that is by appointing quality people. They stated that doing that (and reiterated that they believe they have identified such individuals) ensures financial support will follow.

 

Close

 

Jim McColl, Paul Murray & Malcolm Murray stated that they have dealt with all sorts of blockages but that they have and will stick with their plans to introduce changes. They welcome future dialogue and involvement with Fans. They want to re-establish Rangers as the most successful Club in Scotland but to do it on a sustainable basis.

 

They want the AGM to proceed as soon as possible.

 

It was agreed that minutes of the meeting would be produced as quickly as possible – approved by the attendees and circulated amongst the Rangers support.

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Not really what unexpected and lacked in direct questions, was more of a chat chit about what we would all like to happen one way or another.

 

No input of their plans or what they expect to do and maybe how they would do it.

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