Yesterday there was a glimpse into the full extent of Sevco’s problems, both on-field and off-field.
As to the former, the field itself is an issue…
Rather naively I cling to a hope that some intrepid chap in the Stenography Corps would like to check up on the normal maintenance costs for a Desso pitch.
That just might be the cause of the current “disease” that is afflicting the playing surface there.
As regular readers here will be fully aware many of the off-field problems are Sevco are to be found in their commercial partnerships.
When the local media were trumpeting Mr King’s “victory over Mike Ashley” in 2017 I did state that the devil would be in the Retail.
Now, dear reader, who was reporting the truth of the matter?
If you want to check back then this site is free to view and fully searchable.
It is well known that there has always been a desire for a sugar daddy at Ibrox.
Yesterday the basket of assets went public on their desperate need for a new arrangement.
Sevco’s commercial and marketing director James Bisgrove said: “We’re delighted to announce that we shall be engaging with potential partners that can deliver an official Rangers kit supply and retail operation that mirrors the demand of the club’s global fan base.”
Global fan base?
Really?
In 2002 a director of the original Ibrox club Hugh Adam stated an inconvenient truth:
“Rangers’ so-called global appeal is a myth…When I was there, we did an exercise which involved asking 50,000 fans on the database to recommend a friend or a relative abroad.
“A big response was expected – some were even talking about getting 100,000 names – because everybody in Scotland seems to know somebody abroad.
“We got back 2,800 names and three-quarters of them didn’t know they had been nominated. It’s no surprise that Celtic are officially the best-supported football club in North America, with more official clubs than anybody else. The difference is the Irish connection.
“Many Irish people may support Manchester United, Liverpool or whoever, but they all – every one of them – have an affection for Celtic. And, of course, Celtic also have a great Scottish following.”
Now, there is no discernible evidence to suggest that the global footprint of the Ibrox band has increased since the start of the millennium.
Perhaps their unique selling proposition just isn’t that appealing.
For the avoidance of doubt, the ongoing legal issues with Sports Direct and Elite remain extant.
Big Mike is patiently waiting until Judge Lionel Persey QC decides just how much Sevco owes to Sports Direct for the ill-judged car boot sale.
I’m told from an impeccably placed source that there has been war inside the Hummel HQ at the decision by their British branch operation to go into business with the Ibrox cowboy outfit.
The idea that any of the big league kit manufacturers would approach such a toxic brand is fanciful.
I laughed when Fitba Twitter was quick off the mark to helpfully suggest a commercial partner for Sevco.
Whoever is foolish enough to enter into a retail partnership with Sevco will soon realise that Big Mike still has matching rights.
This shitshow also connected to the fact that tonight Braga’s players will step for the first time onto a Somme re-enactment scene at Ibrox.
Of course, Mr Let’s Go is correct there is nothing “sinister” about their refusal to let the Portuguese side train on the pitch.
To find the real reason all that you must do is to Follow Follow the money.
Sadly, that is something that the local media are not allowed to do at Ibrox…
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Sports Direct will be the new partner, end of. Mike Ashley will save them by letting them wear his Macro brand. They will work out a deal that will keep them in business. After all he is in the business of selling football jersey’s.
Maybe even Slazenger , Dunlop or Lonsdale one of his brands will almost certainly be blazed across their tops. The ultimate surrender.
Love it.
I really hope he doesn’t. I want him gone from them for one simple reason. He IS A GENUINE BILLIONAIRE and could very quickly make them a genuine threat.
Noticed The TRFC support TIFO in the news, a violent figure wielding a club is rather concerning and nothing to be proud of. Looks like it is out of control with anger and wishes to bash brains in.
After half time the tv commentators were suggesting Hagi should be taken off. The lads first goal was very good. Looked like a James Forrest in better days.
His second goal was ridiculous. He couldn’t clear the ball over the wall, a huge deflection, and the most jammy luck ever. Never to be repeated in 100 games.
A half season loanee TRFC could never buy.
Kent was a bad purchase. Worth about £1.75m, Liverpool saw them coming. He had never commanded a fee in his career.
Braga should win 3-0 in Portugal. Sevconians to riot.
Morelos is a liability, a cheat, and getting slower and fatter.
Ibroken Park is the worst pitch viewed on tv for 12 months. Anywhere in the world.
UEFA need to warn The Rangers FC about their inferior playing surface. It’s not good enough for uefa competitions or televised games.
If you cannot deliver regulation time on the surface for visiting clubs you should default three points.
It’s not good enough for last 32.
It’s the knock-out stage. No points are involved.
Sorry, reverse the game to a 3-0 win for Braga.
That pitch was match fixing!
The Hummel & Elite court battle has just begun.
New record for court cases ongoing at one time by Sevco…
Well done !
I was going to call my piece… A Tale of Two Cities…but my wife said she was sure someone had used that before.
” What the dickens ” said I.
Anyway …it was nearly the best of times…and it was most definitely the worst of times.
In Copenhagen we had them on the ropes….and should have delivered the knock-out blow…but alas it wasn’t to be.
For some inexplicable reason, we lost our shape and movement…and it almost went tits up.
At the end of the day I suppose we would have taken this result if offered before the game….but it still feels like a ” loss.”
Oh and before I forget…James Forrest is lucky that Lenny rates him….because I don’t know anyone else who does.
A waste of a jersey imo.
As for the other city…That would be Glasgow…home of Sevco…and I’ll keep it brief.
How the hell they won this game is totally beyond me.
Totally outplayed and out classed for lots of the game…they come from 2-0 down to edge it 3-2.
In fairness to Braga…playing in a midden is not something they are used to…and if all things are equal in the return game…
Sevco will get pumped.
As for us…we should go through….but we are Celtic after all…and old habits sometimes die hard.
James Forrest has the highest assist rate in the spfl by a good margin and is 5th top scorer in league as well….
Players have off-games and spells like all of us. Even still he contributes plenty and the stats show that.
First up…its all about opinions.
You have yours re. Forrest…and I have mine….so that won’t change.
All I’ll say in my defence is…
I saw my first game at Celtic Park in 1956…and over the years I have watched hundreds of players wear the Hoops.
These players have ranged from ” absolutely brilliant ” to ” wtf ? ” and I seriously mean ” wtf ?”
As far as James Forrest is concerned …he falls into neither category as I regard him as a very good player …when he feels like it.
Unfortunately, as far as I’m concerned, he doesn’t feel like it often enough and that’s where I have my problem with him.
For every ” great or good ” game he produces…he disappears in two or three others…and it frustrates the hell out of me…and I’m talking over years …not weeks or months.
You have quoted stats…which I’m not into…but I would be interested to know how many times he gets subbed.
Anyway …bottom line is…despite not agreeing on this…I hope we can agree that Wayne Biggins wisnae very good…:0)
Hail hail.
James Forrest is a potent threat when played in his natural position ie the right wing.
Lennon had him on the left side for most of the match.
On the left his contribution to the team is diminished.
I think a lot of Sevco’s behavioural problems stem from the player considered heroes and who hung around after their “shift” is over. I am think of the likes of Gascoigne and the “sainted one” who went to Alan Thompson’s family home looking for a fight, according to another ex Ranger..
When “Mr Deeds went to town” on the Rangers board he was offered a place at the table to shut him up and sometimes you can tell a book from its cover.( see photo above)
Just to contrast, Jimmy Johnstone was voted Celtic best and their equivalent was John Grieg and I believe.and the latter is still seen around.Ibrox.
The whole footballing world bends over backwards to accommodate them and they are still full of anger.
After watching Kamara’s performance last night whoever in the media who ran with the Kamara to Juventus pish should be hanging up his/her keyboard.
A steal at £50k? Dundee certainly think so!
The torn faced Colombian will never learn though I see some comments from Rangers fans that the European refs are just taking a leaf from their Scottish brethren.
Whilst on a yellow card Morelos blatantly threw himself to the ground, a clear second yellow but again the ref followed the example of most Scots refs and turned a blind eye,
because thats just what the Colombian man child does!
Joseph, his nationality is not relevant to his sullen demeanour.
On a visit to Canada, my bother-in-law and I decided to visit Niagara on the Lake and purchase a couple of bottles of their famous ice wine and do a bit of male bonding. We stopped for lunch and I went to the loo and on returning to the table found my in-law engaged in conversation with one of the global fraternity wearing a Rangers’ “tap”. It was pleasant enough until I was outed as a “left-footer” at which point the mood changed and I was threatened with being thrown down the stairs, It was rather a disturbing situation on what was supposed to be a nice trip so when he went to the loo we made good our escape, a little like D. H. Lawrence’s “Snake”, rather ungainly. If only it had been one of my other brothers-in-law…
In the car I thought of the old Spanish saying , “As truffles are to pigs, so are these charlatans and pettifoggers to my mental acuity” but it didn’t help and this incident comes back to me whenever the phrase “global Rangers fraternity” is mentioned and I then have to go and I re-tar my brush.
I was under the impression that UEFA’s rules were clear that away teams had to be given two hours to train on the match pitch, usually around twenty four hours before the actual game.
Braga should respond in kind. If they can lower themselves to being so childish.
Celtic should have given them the use of Lennoxtown in the same “welcoming” way sevco accommodated an Italian team (AC Milan?) before a match at Parkhead.
It’s oor park n it’s oor baw, n see you Braga, well no gettin a go wi either o them. Ya fuckin fenian Porchagese eskimo bastarts that yez ur.
I was under the impression that UEFA’s rules were clear that away teams had to be given two hours to train on the match pitch, usually around twenty four hours before the actual game.
Braga should respond in kind. If they can lower themselves to being so childish.
How many times will Morelos dive in the box?
No more Hummel kits being provided to the TRFC team. So no damaging yir only gear to the end of season!
Sevco will be hosting Portuguese giants Sporting Braga tonight . Ah lovely jubbly whatever makes them happy and feel that they are playing a big team . Apparently they fancy themselves for getting to the final and have spoke about who they might get and how they will travel to get there .
The “Giants” turned out to be pygmies. What a useless bunch they turned out to be. If this is among the best the Portuguese can produce then I ‘m afraid their football is even worse than the Scottish version.
I thought they still had their 3rd year to go with their deal with Hummel, even though they cannot sell any shirts…has someone told big Mike and his lawyers?
Watch out for the queues of big brand sportswear companies who are desperate to sponsor a bigoted, racist, cheating, litigious, penniless excuse for a football club who haven’t been good enough to win anything apart from the Petrofac Cup since their conception.
L.A. Gear just might. HH
Think L A gear might be a big mike brand
A bit harsh there. They’ve got three lower league titles as well.
Lower division, mhate, not league. 👍
Skins versus Taps….
I see the MD at sevco Mr Jam Maker himself Robertson has put out a statement to remind sevco fans to be on their best behaviour tonight oh dear. The tea-cosy/ beanie Klan are going off their nut about it . They are shouting from the rooftops that he should be making statements on the club being shafted by refs the SFA and the SPFL . Lol they just don’t like being told when they’re doing something wrong it’s always someone else to blame .
I saw on wee Coco blog last night as well as others that Hummel /Elite are just not big enough for sevco it should be Adidas or Under armour that should be the kit maker oh ma sides . Under armour more like Underworld the knicker factory in corrie . After all they did sell their club for a nicker. Anyway do these muppets think any big name manufacturer is going to go into business with them . Sports Direct ongoing court case . Hummel/Elite ongoing court case . The CHISLER chairman binned by the LSE . A cry for help yesterday in public for anybody to come onboard and rustle up a strip for the start of next season . Two chances of this happening none and **** all .
Inclement weather, yi mean the rain?
Was it tactically unsporting not to allow Braga to get a feel for the pitch ie underfoot conditions, pitch dimensions etc. or was it to stop it cutting up like a tottie field before the match is even underway. I don’t believe a team with the integrity and reputation for sportsmanship would intentionally allow this after all they are sticklers for fair play.
Aye right hope they get a lesson on their ain midden.
To be fair to the ground staff (Picture Shwally McMoist In dungarees holding a hoe like a fatter Charlie Dimmock if you like -works for me and the comedic effect of the well used lunch line )…If they were to play on that tottie field at Ibrox at present they might no have anything to lift come May?
Try the veal…
Is it true that Extinction Rebellion have offered to work on the Ibrox pitch? They are able to point to their recent opus on the green sward of Cambridge as an improvement on the current tattie field off Copland road .
I’ve read their statement again and it was perfectly sensible…. https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2020/02/19/clumpany-enters-market-for-imperial-fashion-partner/
What are their options on kit manufacturers now?.. will we be seeing the light blue replica tops on sale with GEORGE @ ASDA on the kimball? 🤣
” Two Furra Pound – ah Two Furra Pound – ah “
Sir David Murray sold Rangers Football Club for a pound. Craig Whyte tossed it across the Ibrox Boardroom table to Murray.
The club had £169m in debt, according to Liquidators final calculation.
Who duped Whom?