Derek Llambias axes annual Ibrox party

[ian1964 10,367]

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

[Frankie 8,104]

It does seem somewhat of a luxury and given staff redundancies out of place.

 

Perhaps it could have been scaled back instead of being totally removed though?

[Bluedell 5,329]

I thought GS's comment on FF was very relevant

 

Pity he didn't cancel the party he and his pal had with Stockbridge at the oh so economical Mar Hall.

 

Farcical.

[aweebluesoandso 290]

Does the cancellation of the Christmas festivities extend to the boardroom, Or do they continue to party?

 

!Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead," said Scrooge. "But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change.”

― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

[Rangersitis 0]

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.

 

Thank the Lord that it doesn't affect the players and the coaches.

[Frankie 8,104]

I thought GS's comment on FF was very relevant

 

On expenses or not one must ask.

[der Berliner 3,196]

On expenses or not one must ask.

 

And you wonder whether it was actually a "party" at all.

 

On hindsight, you wish we had someone like Llambias in 2012 and 13. (The employees of the club would have a different opinion though.)

[Zappa 0]

Perhaps it could have been scaled back instead of being totally removed though?

 

That would have been the sensible thing to do.

 

They could have given the staff a function suite with some entertainment and put on a really nice free buffet + a couple of free drinks, then had a pay bar for the rest of the evening to cover the entertainment and staff costs.

[Super Cooper 0]

Something doesn't sit right with me if staff of Rangers Football Club want to party in our current state. The right decision was made imo. We can have all the parties we want when we are top dogs in Scotland again. Until then, it should be heed doon arse up.

[Ser Barristan Selmy 222]

And you wonder whether it was actually a "party" at all.

 

On hindsight, you wish we had someone like Llambias in 2012 and 13. (The employees of the club would have a different opinion though.)

Yeah, it was definitely the low level non playing staff where the money was lost.