Do real Rangers fans really want change?

This site has repeatedly stated that if Rangers are to become a normal football club, then there must be internal opposition to the Ibrox klanbase.

Therefore I was intrigued when the Rangers Fans For Change (RFFC) emerged on social media.

My initial thoughts were that this was either one or two well-meaning souls or a PR stunt.

In the absence of anyone fronting this up, I could not discount the possibility that it was the latter explanation.

However, I couldn’t be sure either way, and I was curious.

Your humble correspondent then did something that appears to be beyond many in the Fitba Fourth estate.

I asked a well-placed source who is in a position to know.

Here is my question:

The Rangers Fans For Change thing on social media.

Genuine or PR company move? 

I had to wait 24 hours until this reply came back:

PR company move from a genuine plea to the Blue Room. 

Then we got a chance to chat earlier today.

He told me that “fans who would be listened to by the board” were appalled at the coverage of the club.

Essentially the picture painted for me was that folks who entertain clients and associates in the corporate boxes at Ibrox were concerned about the club’s rapidly growing pariah image.

No one in business wants to be associated with a black-shirted fascist mob marching the streets chanting a racist song.

Orban FC.

Moreover, an increasing number of politicians and opinion formers in Scotland are calling time on the traditional tolerance that has been shown to the racism of the Ibrox klanbase.

For example, this from Gerry Hassan in the National only a few days ago, despite the misleading headline, is very good indeed.

Scotland has to be able to talk about difficult things, including its dark sides and the prejudice and racism which still exists. The toxic legacy of sectarianism has to be called out and named as what it is – anti-Catholic, anti-Irish and racist. Too many institutions and opinions in polite society still have a problem with calling it these things, including BBC Scotland. This is still a subject too many would like to just sweep under the carpet.

Let’s just take that again:

The toxic legacy of sectarianism has to be called out and named as what it is – anti-Catholic, anti-Irish and racist.

In 2011 I spoke at Gerry’s ChangeIn Scotland conference in Ullapool on the subject of “being Second Generation Irish in modern Scotland”.

I had never met him before and he appeared to be genuinely engaged with the issue.

In the same piece this week Hassan also stated another inconvenient  truth that the Stenography Corps are verboten from  repeating:

Rangers fans are more prone to inappropriate, offensive behaviour than Celtic fans. These are incontestable facts, but some for a variety of reasons choose to ignore them.

Unsurprisingly, I’m told that the contracted PR professionals were told to get in front of this massive image problem for the Ibrox brand.

That is the explanation I have been given for the RFFC initiative.

So, it does has genuine provenance, but a PR company is running it.

Of course, should there be a presser of bona fide fans putting faces and names to this admirable project, then when the evidence changes, so do my opinions.

 

 

13 thoughts on “Do real Rangers fans really want change?”

  1. Some things are undisputable about the poison emanating from Ibrox. They’re Europe’s most racist club. You’d at least expect some of their following to call for radical change (albeit a minority)

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  2. Good luck with them wanting change out of Sevco.
    Their Investors have been waiting 9 years to get a single thin dime out of them.
    It’s been loss after loss after loss after loss.

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  3. Was it only last year that a DUP / Orange Order man was made Head of Communications? Not exactly a move from an organisation that wants to go in a new direction.

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  4. I feel the winds of change, like most wind it’s uncomfortable and sometimes (not me) accompanied by a strong smell of shite.

    I have been consistently emailing the press complaints ombudsman any time I read anything that substitutes the word sectarian for racist.

    We can all contribute to seeing the likes of Chris Jack et al held accountable, the BBC, Daily Ranger, The Sun and Glasgow evening times all have reporters (stop laughing at the back) who write click bait headlines trying to pull both clubs together.

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  5. To my mind…this is a “cosmetic” piece of fluff…and is no more than an attempt at deflection.
    Both this Club and the previous one are/were, tied into ” dark connections ” who will never give up on their poisoned views of Catholics and Irish folk….and to expect anything else is wishful thinking.
    Bear also in mind, that the disgusting subject matter seems to be playing second fiddle to the “commercial and reputational ” damage it is causing Sevco.
    Nothing like getting your priorities right.
    As for “Everyone/Anyone “?…
    Ban the colour Orange from Club items …that would be a start.
    Nah….call me a cynic…but I don’t see any meaningful changes any time soon.

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  6. These outlandish notions from the ‘Rangers Fans For Change’ group will be a bridge too far for a militant support that has been constantly vilified over the last few weeks for their justified aggrievements. The Klan’s psyche has always been to fight fire with fire, hence their total recent backing of the ‘Hart and Hand’ podcasters. For this tentatively proposed new group to suddenly suggest that the fans should join the human race is tantamount to treason. It can easily be spotted as an underhand attempt by outsiders to weaken the club and test their resolve.

    I really don’t foresee this RFFC protagonist group lasting very long.

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  7. Admission: I haven’t read the full article nor the comments. I have, at times, a short-term memory problem (sometimes aided and abetted by alcohol) and hence I’m commenting here ‘in a hurry’!
    The statement from the “rangers” group is welcome and gives some hope. I’ve met many Rangers fans in my life who’ve been really decent persons, and to them I wish well. However, it fails to admit/recognise that ‘the rangers’ they ‘follow’ today is NOT the one they did historically. Rangers FC 1872/3-2012……END.
    Sevco Scotland Limited (2012) name change to TRFCL (2012) is what they ‘follow’ now. SEVCO.
    And, BTW, a COMPANY not a ‘club’ as it has no footballing history WHATSOEVER. 1st game vs Brechin for which they had no right, other than Freemasonic/financial help from Hampden, LRA, Parkhead etc.
    My education in this area was sparked by this site. By the time I bought ‘Downfall’ I’d grasped almost all the facts, again by reading (and contributing to the upkeep) of this site. I then continued to investigate, using e.g. Companies House etal. I have a very large dossier from this (already given freely to many) but almost dumped it all, and my interest in Celtic/Scottish football as it was clear that Celtic FC and PLC (Lawwell and Desmond) were party to the lies.
    I feel it’s imperative that “rangers” is shown to be dead (54 titles etc.) and Sevco is a Phoenix, paraded in front of the SMSM’s faces (faeces?).
    This may seem bitter, but it’s not. Just a simple quest for Truth in a failing Capitalist/Totalitarian world.
    BUT, …..”let’s all look on the bright side of life…..”

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  8. Has their Klub officially apologised to Furuhashi directly yet for their fans racist antics directed at him?
    If not then I would be inclined to think the banning of the culprits was merely a damage limitation, PR exercise in deflection.

    Your fans ,your problem.

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  9. They unwanted PR on the horizon is the Orange walks in Glasgow in Setember. There will be many Castore outfit on show,, with many a rendition of their repertoire of racist chants.
    The social media ns newspapers should be full of images of this.

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  10. I remember a Twitter discussion between 2 rangrs fans a few years ago bemoaning their club’s fans’ obsession with the IRA.

    They were shot down by a (now ex) influential online henchman with typical vile language, the details of which thankfully escape my memory.
    They subsequently removed their discussion from Twitter, no doubt as a result of abuse or future abuse they knew would be coming their way.

    So the chances of an internecine revolt from decent rangers fans remain remote when influential folk like him are there to shoot them down. And there’s plenty more of his ilk to replace him.

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  11. Successive entities operating out of Ibrox have chosen not to address it, other than a smattering of lip service, for one simple reason: they can make money from it. “Tangerine” shirts, anyone? In any event, they’re probably regretting opting for the “billable hours” PR option as opposed to the “retainer”.

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  12. I think they ‘needed’ an outside independent source just to clarify the issue; because those inside ibrox have been silent and trying to avoid addressing it for ever. Racism runs deep over there and it’ll take a damn site more than a PR exercise on social media to address it.

    Thankfully, there’s a slight change in the terminology used across certain medias but that was only step 1… calling it exactly what it is and not naming it wrongly intentionally so as to involve Celtic fans. ie, the old worn out phrases, sectarianism, one sides as bad as the other, O|b F-rm, etc etc.

    It cannot be denied that in Scotland this will take generations before there’s any real noticeable societal change, all observers can do is watch…🤞🏼

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  13. Call me a cynic, but that statement above was probably originally signed off with a “WATP! ”

    The blog above gets to the root cause of the issue for the Blue Room: an image problem which could scare off Corporate sponsors and hospitality revenues.

    There are no problems with the loyal fans, in their own heads that is…

    The Ibrox club and its support have been conditioned for 100+ years to behave as they want – without consequence.

    However, UEFA are now on their case and the Scottish Government is finding it increasingly embarrassing / difficult to keep looking the other way.

    “Do real Rangers fans really want change?”

    I would suggest that – in the 21st Century – ANY real Rangers fans will be supporting their club from a distance, by watching games on TV, and with the sound turned down.

    That just leaves the 50K supporters who turn up at Ibrox and who have absolutely no intention whatsoever of evolving.

    ANY supporters – of ANY club – who spout racist and/or sectarian nonsense publicly in this day and age, need to be apprehended by Police Scotland,

    …but that is another Scottish organisation which appears to be reluctant to change, and address its own “image problems”. 😦

    Reply

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