Rangers AGM thread...

[bossy 0]

Should be affordable to DK I'd have thought?

 

Being able to afford something is one thing. Being willing to buy it is quite another.

[RANGERRAB 3,258]

Being able to afford something is one thing. Being willing to buy it is quite another.

 

Well if he's the Rangers man he's made out to be then now is the time for him to show that he is.

As I said earlier I'm genuinely worried after today. I fear this board lack the ideas and ambitions to take us forward. They need to increase revenue yet all they can come up with is increase ST prices. Anyone could do that

[ian1964 10,413]

[ian1964 10,413]

Andy Kerr, president of the Rangers Supporters Assembly, fears the club will not survive another financial catastrophe following their liquidation crisis last summer.

 

But the fans' chief has warned that a boycott is not the way to put pressure on the unpopular ruling regime following their re-election at yesterday's annual general meeting, fearing it could drive the Ibrox outfit - who lost £14.4million in the 13 months up to June -closer to a second administration disaster.

 

The Sons of Struth group - led by Craig Houston -want supporters to delay buying season tickets in a bid to force out the likes of unpopular finance director Brian Stockbridge.

 

But Kerr said: "We as supporters need to keep supporting the club. Can the club survive another process where we have to start again? I'm not sure, because a lot of fans are already fed up.

 

"I know some people think the only way to get results is for a boycott. But if we have to go back to the bottom, maybe go into administration again, it will be hard to pick people up again.

 

"Right now, this is the last chance the board and the fans have to get this right. The board are in a precarious position. The fans are in a fragile position. That doesn't bode well, so we need to build bridges quickly and the onus is on the board to deliver."

 

Kerr insisted that the board's routing of Paul Murray's requisitioners does not mean they are off the hook.

 

"Although the board won, they are probably under more pressure than they were before, because they now have to deliver," he said.

 

"They are making the right noises about wanting to engage with the fans. Now it's time to stop talking and to actually do it.

 

"They have a big hurdle to overcome if they want to regain the fans' trust. It's fine to talk about it, but let's see how they actually do it."

 

Houston also expressed fears the Ibrox outfit may soon find itself in danger following reports that the club could be down to its last £1million by April.

 

He said: "There are massive concerns and that's not scaremongering or people exaggerating.

 

"The board told us they would have £1million in the bank, and there have been two large pay-offs since then.

 

"They told us when Norman Crighton was brought on to the board that he was to head up an investment committee, and they had £50million available from Blue Pitch Holdings, but not until we are back in Europe.

 

"You put these things together, of course it gives people concern.

 

"There is going to be a shortfall in money soon and there is no visible, viable investment coming in."

 

While Stockbridge was fiercely heckled by furious shareholders every time he opened his mouth during the AGM, chief executive Graham Wallace appeared to win over his doubters with a strong display from the top table.

 

And Houston gave the former Manchester City chief operating officer his backing - for now.

 

"He does seem to have the club's interests at heart - he just needs to prove it," he said. "That's what the board need to do.

 

"They are telling us they are going to have transparency but they need to prove it. The worry was the timescale that was discussed at the AGM for any improvements was within the next 120 days.

 

"That's quite a long time and that unsurprisingly takes us up to season-ticket renewals.

 

"Does that mean, as fans, we can't expect to ask or see any improvements between now and then?"

 

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/last-chance-to-save-rangers-says-fans-chief-146109n.23007738

[ian1964 10,413]

Paul Murray: I'll step back after defeat if it's for good of Gers

 

PAUL MURRAY insists he will step back from his mission to save Rangers - if it is in the interests of the club.

 

 

 

The former Gers director was defeated in his bid to win a seat on the Ibrox board yesterday as he and fellow Requisitioners Malcolm Murray, Scott Murdoch and Alex Wilson failed to win enough backing from the club's shareholders.

 

All five members of the Light Blues board will remain in place after a fiery AGM, and Murray, who was vociferous in his condemnation of former Ibrox chiefs Craig Whyte and Charles Green, will now assess his options.

 

He said: "What people on the outside don't realise is how complex this situation is, and it's all played out in public.

 

"The whole thing has taken its toll in the last few years as we strove to get everything out into the open. Some change has been made, but further change is required.

 

"I've tried on several occasions to help the club, and if people don't think I can do that then maybe I have to accept that. It might be better for the club if I step aside. I'll do what's best for the club and myself."

 

Murray and Co have spent several months trying to force change in the corridors of power at Ibrox and, despite seeing Green, Craig Mather, Ian Hart and Bryan Smart leave the club, they were unable to win sufficient backing of investors.

 

Rangers posted a £14million loss for the last financial year and Murray fears the club will be under-prepared for their eventual return to Scotland's top flight, which could happen in 18 months' time.

 

He said: "Graham Wallace is a pretty credible chief exec. He has football experience. He effectively said that the cost base will have to come down between now and the SPL entry, which in layman's terms means they will be spending less on the team than they have been up until now, which I think raised a few eyebrows because the team is going to have to be competitive in the SPL and obviously challenge Celtic.

 

"The other thing I was disappointed not to have answered more clearly was how much cash will be left in the spring. Brian Stockbridge has said it will be £1m, but they didn't answer that question."

 

None of the four-man group of hopefuls got close to winning a place at the Ibrox top table as they polled around one third of the share-holder vote.

 

Isle of Man-based Laxey Partners switched their allegiances to back the board and former chairman Malcolm Murray has fears over the Gers' largest stakeholder's intentions.

 

He said: "Laxey are not a long-term institution. They tend to be on the asset-stripping side and as a Rangers fan that's terrifying. The one thing Rangers do have is significant property assets.

 

"Laxey aren't known for long-term investments and that does concern me no end."

 

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/paul-murray-ill-step-back-after-defeat-if-its-for-good-of-gers-146097n.23004016

[Mountain Bear 0]

The venture capitalists & Middle Eastern mystery investors will be heading for the exit in 18-24 months. Will we sit and wait for that to happen and see who they sell to, knowing that they won't care as long as they get a suitable return on their money? Alternatively, the support can use the time to build up our collective shareholding, so that we are in a stronger position next time.

 

I think the BuyRangers DD scheme is a great vehicle for that, but the RST need to grasp the opportunity to reach out to the other fan groups and find away of broadening it's appeal / change its structure. Lots of challenges in that I know, but if we're not motivated to have a greater say in the running of the Club after yesterday, we never will.

[Super Cooper 0]

There's that liquidation word again. Poor poor poor journalism.

[compo 6,129]

it will be an interesting couple of years coming up .

[Super Cooper 0]

it will be an interesting couple of years coming up .

 

We don't have time to have an "interesting" couple of years, Celics are racking up the titles. We need a plan, last year, and we need it in action, yesterday. The next year is vital to how we are going to shape up in 18 months time. On and off the park.

[aweebluesoandso 290]

I have read on many Rangers forums that Dave King and Jim McColl don't or didn't want to buy out the Spivs because that would be rewarding them for their spivery and putting money into their pockets. Well what are we the support doing every week, aren't we putting money into their pockets? That excuse doesn't hold water with me any more, the lesser of the two evils in my opinion would have been to buy the Spivs out and see the back of them, rather than spending nothing and leaving the Spivs to milk the club indefinitely. One billionaire could have bought them out, the other billionaire could have given the club investment post Spivs. Both billionaires could have then sat back enjoyed their legend status and through a supporters membership scheme took some of their outgoings back over the next twenty years or whatever.