It was, in the end, a bad day at the dugout for Sevco’s rookie manager yesterday.
Making a substitution at a corner kick was the type of tactical error that all novice coaches make when they are learning their trade.
Ironically, much has been made of the defensive improvements that the ex-Liverpool player has made to the Sevco backline this summer.
However, the facts are that in three leagues matches they have conceded two late equalisers, both away from home.
Next up it is the champions at Celtic Park after a draining journey to the Republic of Bashkortostan in Russia.
Mr Gerrard has already made himself very clear to the Sevco High Command that he needs more depth in his squad.
His contention is that if they reach the group stages of the Europa League then the Thursday Sunday schedule will drain his players.
Of course, the chaps in the Blue Room will do their best to back him.
However, the finances suggest that such largesse will be difficult to implement.
The folk who do the sums and receive the invoices at Argyle House know the size of the hole in the finances there.
In a remarkable coincidence, it is pretty much what Mr King hopes to raise from the share issue.
I am told that liquidity of £4m will be needed by September.
Then a similar tranche of external finance will have to be found in November and the same again next February.
Consequently, transfer funds might be thin on the ground unless a major offer comes in for some of the existing squad.
I am sure that Mr Gerrard will be Churchillian about all of this, buts somewhere in a parallel universe a very different Steven Gerrard would be on his fifth or sixth tantrum by now.
That Steven Gerard would be telling an entirely honest Dave King that if he didn’t get what he wanted then he was for resigning on the spot!
As for that putative share issue, do not be surprised if the Takeover Panel chaps go to court to attempt to prevent it.
Moreover, I’m told that if King were to win his contempt case against them on a technicality then they are prepared to go back to the beginning of the legal process and start all over again.
Yes, dear reader, they’re that determined to get King!
So many friends being won on the journey…
I’m going to go out on a limb and assume that the 4M GBP needed in February is for repaying Close brothers.
Phil
Is it fair to say that you must be Nos. 1 on their dislike list with the BBC at Nos. 2 and the face painter at Nos.3
SO this post will have them unhappy on “UK holiday” Monday and then this from the BBC
Rangers: Players and staff pursued for tax over EBTs following Supreme Court ruling
Former Rangers players and staff paid through an offshore trust have been told they have weeks to approach the taxman over a settlement or face an even bigger bill.
Last year the Supreme Court upheld a Court of Session ruling that £47m paid to Rangers employees between 2001-2010 was liable for tax.
Now beneficiaries of the Employee Benefit Trusts (EBTs), many of whom were led to believe these were loans that would never have to be repaid, are being warned to seek “urgent advice”.
BBC Scotland has seen a letter sent earlier this month by Trident Trust, a Jersey-based company, which paints a stark picture.
The letter says: “HMRC has confirmed that it will seek to recover all income tax found by the Supreme Court to be due and that, where HMRC is unable to recover the tax from the employer, it may transfer the liability for unpaid tax…to employees or former employees.”
While HM Revenue and Customs can still pursue BDO – the liquidators of RFC 2012 Plc – for a portion of what the company owed, more could be salvaged by pursuing the former employees.
HMRC wins Rangers ‘big tax case’ ruling
Who were the EBT beneficiaries?
That could put many on the hook for hundreds of thousands or even millions of pounds.
Former captain Barry Ferguson received £2.5m in EBT payments, German goalkeeper Stefan Klos £2m and former manager – and current Scotland boss – Alex McLeish £1.7m, while former owner Sir David Murray received £6.3m.
And time could be running out to try to negotiate a deal, according to the trust’s letter.
The trust says further charges will be applied by HMRC if tax liabilities have not been settled by 5 April next year.
And to do that, it says, those in question will have to approach HMRC by 30 September this year.
The letter adds: “If you do not come forward voluntarily and seek to settle on preferential terms, HMRC could well pursue you directly and make an assessment on a less favourable basis.”
Trident Trust stresses it is not offering advice, rather urging the players and staff involved to seek expert advice on how to deal with the situation.
HMRC said: “Follower notice (FN) legislation says that HMRC has 12 months to issue FNs following a final decision. The final decision in Rangers was on 5 July 2017. We have looked at a range of schemes where the principles at stake were similar, and follower notices have been issued where appropriate.”
BBC Scotland has contacted Trident for a response.
Bbc at number 2 on sevco hate list???
Which bbc are you watching/listening to?
They positively gush about them despite a self imposed ban from iBrokes!
Yes I agree, however they don’t acknowledge the BBC existence.
The rest of us just have to listen to the severe BROWN nosing by the BBC. High time the BBC stopped all this. If all publicity is good publicity then it is time for no publicity!
Now time for a new Jelly and ice cream moment
“Yes we are the same team – no we are not” Sundae
There always seems to be a shortage of funds yet they keep on rolling
There’s always fund right enough, until there’s not. Otherwise they wouldn’t have gone into administration and there’s always funds, until there’s not otherwise they wouldn’t have been liquidated…
They play the same cards the same way, the same thing will happen, insh’Allah.
from the bbc (Their favourite Supporter)
Former Rangers players and staff paid through an offshore trust have been told they have weeks to approach the taxman over a settlement or face an even bigger bill.
Last year the Supreme Court upheld a Court of Session ruling that £47m paid to Rangers employees between 2001-2010 was liable for tax.
Now beneficiaries of the Employee Benefit Trusts (EBTs), many of whom were led to believe these were loans that would never have to be repaid, are being warned to seek “urgent advice”.
BBC Scotland has seen a letter sent earlier this month by Trident Trust, a Jersey-based company, which paints a stark picture.
The letter says: “HMRC has confirmed that it will seek to recover all income tax found by the Supreme Court to be due and that, where HMRC is unable to recover the tax from the employer, it may transfer the liability for unpaid tax…to employees or former employees.”
While HM Revenue and Customs can still pursue BDO – the liquidators of RFC 2012 Plc – for a portion of what the company owed, more could be salvaged by pursuing the former employees.
That could put many on the hook for hundreds of thousands or even millions of pounds.
Former captain Barry Ferguson received £2.5m in EBT payments, German goalkeeper Stefan Klos £2m and former manager – and current Scotland boss – Alex McLeish £1.7m, while former owner Sir David Murray received £6.3m.
And time could be running out to try to negotiate a deal, according to the trust’s letter.
The trust says further charges will be applied by HMRC if tax liabilities have not been settled by 5 April next year.
And to do that, it says, those in question will have to approach HMRC by 30 September this year.
The letter adds: “If you do not come forward voluntarily and seek to settle on preferential terms, HMRC could well pursue you directly and make an assessment on a less favourable basis.”
Trident Trust stresses it is not offering advice, rather urging the players and staff involved to seek expert advice on how to deal with the situation.
HMRC said: “Follower notice (FN) legislation says that HMRC has 12 months to issue FNs following a final decision. The final decision in Rangers was on 5 July 2017. We have looked at a range of schemes where the principles at stake were similar, and follower notices have been issued where appropriate.”
BBC Scotland has contacted Trident for a response.
bad day of news for RFC
Rangers: Players and staff pursued for tax over EBTs following Supreme Court ruling
I thought I should mention Rory (??) and the BT Sports team’s commentary yesterday…it must be what Rangers TV sounds like…Hunbelievable.
Some choice comments from Rory were…
“Motherwell have just stolen a point”…and… ” If they (Sevco) play like this next week…Celtic are in with a chance.”
He was aided and abetted by Fat Sally and Stephen Craigan…and whilst I would expect the Fat one to be biased…I would have thought that Craigan would have been less a Sevco sycophant…and more a Motherwell supporter.
But hey…We’re used to Sky and BBC Hun Scotland …so one more ain’t gonny make a difference.
Bring it on.
Oh…and does anyone else think that McGregor should be reported to the Compliance Officer for his attempted assault on Hartley..?
On the plus side did I hear the Well manager praisepthe Rangers defence for restricting his team to 3 goals!