As has been reported here by Rugger Guy, the RIFC year-end accounts do not make for good reading.
Remember, dear reader that is the best possible gloss that can be put on the financial situation at Ibrox
A very well placed source today lifted the veil ever so slightly on the current situation at Sevco.
He told me that the current monthly cash burn at the nine-year-old club was £3m.
Yes, THREE MILLION PER MONTH.
That’s what they’re spending MORE than they’re taking in.
He also told me the extent to which one Ibrox director had plundered his personal wealth to keep that shitshow on the road.
This scéal further underlined just how much the chaps in the Blue Room now need a proven austerity operator.
Essentially, they need a Gordon Strachan.
When the wee man replaced Martin O’Neill in 2005, the wage bill at Parkhead was out of control.
Trying to keep up with EBT FC was pushing Celtic to ruinous lengths.
Strachan took the job on the basis that the budget would have to be cut substantially.
The ex-Aberdeen legend set about cutting the cost of the squad while trying to spot value in untapped markets like Poland (Boruc and Żurawski).
Unearthing Shunsuke Nakamura from lowly Reggina for £2.5m was another coup.
As I have already reported, Mr Gerrard was left in no doubt by the Sevco High Command that austerity would be the order of the day when the January transfer window opened in the new year.
Anyone who thinks that the wheels were not in motion when he was taking part in the Aston Villa Poppy Fest at Ibrox last Sunday hasn’t been paying attention.
Lest we forget.
Oops…
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Delighted to see you recognise the job down by Gordon Strachan. Given the austerity it was amazing and he took us to the last 16 of the CL – twice. We all love O’Neil and respect Sevile etc but Gordon really did an amazing job. He was very under rated in my view. Benfica, Man U, Milan etc all lost to us under his management and he did it without Larsson. Over at Ibrox the depth of personal commitment of Park and Bennet is staggering. They put money in huge amounts where our Board (e.g. Lawell) took millions OUT!. They gambled to stop ten, they are gambling again to get direct access to CL money. They will need to sell players soon, if not January then they really are gambling again. I do not see them being liquidated – I dont even predict Administration. Why? – because he backers have proved willing to spend big and as long as they do so there is no risk.
I think Lampard is a shoo-in and, while he may not have it for the Premiership, his appointment would certainly be morale booster for them.
£3m losses a month!
In other words, when next year’s accounts are published they’ll look on this year’s ones as the “good days”.
Quote: Trying to keep up with EBT FC was pushing Celtic to ruinous lengths.
Just how much do you think this impacted on ALL the other clubs in the league at the time. Celtic were in a much better place than any other team in the league, so bear ( no pun intended ) a thought for all the rest who nearly went to the wall trying to compete in a corrupt league.
It will be Neil Warnock
Can’t see McInnes taking it. He turned them down when they offered him a budget, doubt he will say yes when they offer him none. He’s a good manager generally though, his work at Aberdeen is underrated. Wouldn’t be surprised if they asked him, even til the end of the season. But I’d want him to say no.
The other names (Koeman, Gattuso, Smith, Bruce) are absolutely not going to take that job without financial backing so we can eliminate them. van Bronkhorst is more likely to accept, but without the funds or the ability to retain the current squad he may see it as too risky (as most people would).
Interesting times ahead.
The guy in the brown uniform forgot … to wear a poppy. Lest the bloke to his left forgets which side he’s supposed to wear it on.
It appears to be in the band of his cap… bucks the Legions recommended way of wearing it though
I’m sure the blue room would prefer to go down the sensible austerity route, but their fans are not buying into this. Having now had a high profile managerial appointment, their ever blossoming inflated sense of entitlement is dictating that they do something on a grander scale. However, such an appointment would come with caveats from a potential manager of that ilk. He will undoubtedly want/demand a reasonable transfer budget in the next transfer window and that will subsequently make their crippling debts all the less manageable for their shallower pockets to afford.
Interesting times ahead in the next week,
Do the board commit to one more roll of the dice and gamble with their Club’s future….or not?
I think the rolling dice is the more likely and it may just be the straw that breaks the camels back.
Been saying to my mates what a good move out for Rankers this is, Slippy and his backroom off the wage bill, possible moves down south for one maybe two, help balance the books. Couple of loan deals in January, try and edge the league.
We all know the gamble that has taken place over the last few years so why not go full tilt?
What have they got to lose?
Davidson,McInnes or Wright would be the obvious choice under Austerity all are used to working within tight budgets and can organise a team.
The next manager at Ibrox might be low key, and happy to accept no budget: a Derek McInnes could fit the bill.
BUT, there is an organisation culture change required at Ibrox – and which would take much longer than 1 football season to complete.
Since inception in 2012 The Rangers has operated in a seemingly care-free manner, where budgets and self-sustainability are for losers. That thinking has emanated from the Blue Room, throughout the club – and out to the supporters.
The Ibrox fans will simply not accept austerity at Ibrox.
Fun times ahead! 🙂
The CL money pot needs a few tough rounds to get there not even close to being guaranteed. Wonder is Stevie will come in for some Ibrox players in January. They wont last long in that league, mind you neither will Stevie. Not got the 11th man on their side, lack on pens, opposition red cards etc level that playing field.
Remember that this season’s champions go straight into the group stage.
No qualifiers needed.
Unless you were meaning that Celtic are a shoe-in for the title this season!
Only if the Champions League winners also qualify from their league position. Highly likely but not guaranteed.
I don’t think there are any qualifying rounds for Scottish Premiership winners in the CL 2022/23 JB – UNLESS the CL winners this season don’t also qualify for the CL next year via their placing within their own national league. Even in that unlikely event, it’ll only be one round of matches.
Awkward?
I don’t think for one minute there’s any chance of Sevco 5088 cutting back their spending for this season when we all know the CL money is awaiting the winner of the title.
They will spend themselves to death and if they’re unsuccessful it’s down the drain again for the team that plays out of Ibrox and then we can all say good riddance .
I’m afraid that you have the wrong Sevco…
From what I’ve read there is no “Good Riddance.”
Rangers can go into liquidation (again), shed their debt and carry on.