Sometimes in journalism, it is important to step back and just look.
Of course, it helps if you’ve worked a beat for many years and developed valuable sources.
I do not expect the Stenography Corps to be in that league as they are happy to accept succulent morsels.
However, the evidence is in front of them that what I reported at the time of the RIFC AGM was well-sourced.
The chaps in the Blue Room told the director of fantasy what was to happen in the January window.
He would have to sell players to bring in much-needed funds.
Moreover, any gaps in the squad would have to be filled with loan deals and academy graduates.
This was the profile of a classic austerity drive.
Mr Gerrard did not like the sound of that one bit.
Then, in a totally unconnected development, he decided to Do Walking Away.
So how is that austerity coming along?
Well, one of the pieces of observable data was the decision to wave adieu to Mr Defoe.
Last night a very well-placed source told me some of the details.
He said that there was a break clause in Defoe’s contract and that the club had activated that.
Essentially the ex-England striker walked away with six months’ salary.
It made sense for Sevco as, apparently, Mr Defoe was only a few appearances away from triggering a bonus and the option, on either side, of a one-year extension.
Of course, another way of addressing gaps in the squad is to bring back players who are out on loan.
The gushing pish from the Stenography Corps is that Cedric Itten is coming back a vastly improved player.
Like a new signing…
You know the drill.
Gushing good news only.
I’m also told that Sevco has recently strained every Quintessentially British sinew to get Alfredo a move.
One club, in particular, seems to have been seen as a lifeline.
Even after their embarrassing stumble against Cambridge, the Toon Army’s new messiah wasn’t interested in the ample Colombian.
The thing is, in the new digital age, football clubs do their due diligence on players.
Alfredo currently benefits from zero journalistic scrutiny on Planet Fitba.
However, in Ingerlund, it would be markedly different.
Although Sevco would take around £10m for him if it were mainly upfront, there have been, so far, no offers.
For the avoidance of doubt, it is no secret that the South American has been pining for a move for quite a few transfer windows.
Pobrecito…The hope in the Blue Room would be that they would be able to move the delinquent delantero and his teammate Mr Hagi.
As for the ridiculous reportage on the Patterson fee, the provenance of the putative £16m was when a job lot of the young full-back and Glenn Kamara was envisioned for Goodison Park.
Of course, a minimal amount of journalistic checking could have nailed this down.
Then again, on Planet Fitba, succulent rules are in place.
Dear reader, it should not require an NUJ member in another country, in another country, to provide this service.
At the time of writing there seems to be little evidence of the record undisclosed fee being spent on new players at Ibrox.
Indeed, with so many squillions and squillions from Everton, it would be a relatively minor outlay to sign John Souttar NOW.
The imminent announcement of the pre-contract deal merely underlines that, so far, there hasn’t been any outlay to strengthen in this window.
Meanwhile, across the city, Celtic’s straight-talking manager seems to have rapidly gained the measure of the local media.
It is just another piece of observable data that the Australian with the immigrant backstory is a huge asset to the Parkhead cause.
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It’s not just on the journalistic front that the newspapers are found wanting when it comes to shining a light on the goings on at Ibrox.
If you look at the comments to articles in the Herald, you notice that you can freely provide comment on most stories.
When it comes to matters at Ibrox they are at best heavily censored; for example comments removed for pointing out that Rangers Football Club was incorporated on the 27 May1899 Company number SC004276 and went bankrupt. Celtic was incorporated in 1897 Company No. SC003487 and is still the same.
Sevco Scotland, Company number SC425159 began life on the 29 May 2012 and changed its name to ‘The Rangers Football Club’.
Another case is when commenting on the story about Imran Ahmad and then having all comments deleted. Imran Ahmad was derided for stating he would not return to the country because the link between Rangers and the police would result in him being maliciously prosecuted. This has turned out to be 100% factual.
If Soutar is to go to Ibrox in this window I see a fee of £500k is being mooted, most probably up front.
Putting completing the transfer off to the summer does raise some questions about finances in Govan though our ever helpful media is leading with the line that the Ibrox club is conducting good business.
With less than 2 weeks of the window left no one, apart from the Scottish media, would be surprised to see another departure from Ibrox.
Excellent first half from Celtic last night, 2nd half was a non event. Most impressed by Hatate in midfield, looked a very accomplished player with lots more to come.
I find it quite interesting that Sevco had a £1.25m share issue on the same day Nathan Patterson went for a record fee.
Phil,
“Undisclosed Fee” = Not as much as we’d hoped for and we’re a wee bit embarrassed to disclose what it was.
‘Record Undisclosed Fee” = Not as much as we’d hoped for and we’re mortified to say what it is.
Hail and Hail again!
Joe Bhoy ’67
We can’t make sport of them till we’re in front plus Morelos just got picked for Columbia and scored 3 against us last season, hopefully we’re laughing last, but I’d reserve judgment till end of season, plus they just signed Souttar who Celtic stats page say is best in league out with us an them
Totally agree.
We can sneer at them all we want but they are champions, are six ahead and we have not beaten them in over two years. .
They got millions for Patterson who was not even a first team pick. No one expected them to buy in January. The CL 30m and selling a few players is the plan to financial stability. It makes sense. We are the ones who need to spend and catch up.
Morelos has only scored 2 gaols against us but I totally agree with the other comments – I’d far rather be where they are than where we are – a settled side who can come to CP knowing a draw is a good result and sit back and try to hit us on the break with Kent, Sakala and Morelos etc and/or punish our Achilles heel defending at set pieces….
Is The Rangers going to have to resort to a “GoFundMe”,
to pay for their ‘150th Anniversary’ celebratory fireworks…? 🙂
Why is this narrative in the mainstream of £12m-16m still being reported as the fee they received for Patterson where it was plain to see on everyone’s twitter that they paid £4.5m….
i heard that “closer to £6m for patterson, and for Everton not disclosing the fee, they gave up any sell on fee
Meanwhile a solitary Govan based face painter with a poorly executed representation of the face of Tony the Tiger awaits the Everton Accounts in the long grass of never ,never land…
🐯Grrrrrrrraging…
FAO The Stenography Corps 👇🏼
The Myth of Continuity
Alan Dewar QC, representing Charles Green at the Inner House of the Court of Session, has stated that ” The Rangers football club does not exist, it is an idea in people’s minds, a myth of continuity. No-one knows what the Rangers football club is, but it has no legal personality.”
Mr Dewar adds that ” you can only be the chairman of an entity that has a legal personality. Sevco Scotland, and it alone, bought the assets and carried on the business. The concept of the Rangers Institution continuing exists only in the minds of die hard supporters.”
Mr Dewar was responding to a question by one of the three appeal court judges who inquired: “Why is it so important that Rangers football club is Sevco Scotland rather than an institution going back 100 years?”
Mr Dewar emphasized that Green bought ” the business and assets of the Rangers entity” then acted on behalf of, and for the benefit of the shareholders of Sevco Scotland.