Well, this was entirely expected.
The co-promoters of the Sydney Super Cup, TEG and Left Field Live, have issued the following statement.
“We were disappointed to wake up this morning to Rangers FC’s statement that it will not be participating in the Sydney Super Cup,” the promoters said in a statement.
“The Rangers Board committed to these matches following extensive negotiations over eight months. Seemingly in response to negative fan reaction, they have pulled out of their contracted commitment.
“We have worked closely with all stakeholders to bring this exciting event to Sydney, and we refute any suggestion that we were unwilling to fulfill our commitments to Rangers. We have acted in good faith and have put the event on sale with a great response from fans here.
“In changing their minds, the Rangers Board has let down many, many fans in Australia and the Asian region. We will now consult with our stakeholders before determining our response.”
This piece in the Sydney Morning Herald provides some useful context.
Moreover, it is difficult to argue with the headline as I cannot see this one staying out of court.
The piece also breaks with Stenography Corps protocols by stating that “Rangers went bust in 2012”.
However, in the here and now for Sevco it is wise to follow follow the money:
“The decision to withdraw from the Sydney Super Cup will come at a hefty cost for Rangers, with overseas reports indicating they would be hit with a legal bill for breach of contract in the event of a withdrawal.”
Despite the date of the piece, I don’t think that they’re joking.
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As an Aussie Celtic fan I was excited by seeing Ange bringing Celtic to Australia. Playing Rangers would have been interesting as it wouldn’t have been a friendly both on the park and off. I had bought tickets for my extended family and friends. However I wasn’t impressed by the level of organisation to date as the rangers fans here will have an element that will spew hate and we would no doubt have a smaller element that would react. In this sense why risk damaging Celtic’s global brand associating with rangers. I expect now an Italian club with players with free time in November will be brought in. This will be so much better than playing rangers as it will be a party atmosphere all week. Hopefully the board realise now the Old Firm has a negative value.
Hey,Zeddy, your stance on how football is run is entirely up to you, fair enough, may I suggest, next time you’re offered a ticket, you pass it on to someone who actually does spend their hard earned to follow our beloved, seems to me, you want to make a statement when it suits you while,at the same time, picking and choosing your games.
A fairly lucrative tournament for most participants but being a tribute act, TheRangers would probably end up posting even more debt. Their business acumen never fails to astonish. Sydney should be happy that their statues won’t be pished upon and their benches remain intact. HH
Just recently we were reminded here that Lawwell, implying it was a disaster, stated that Rangers going bust had just cost Celtic £5 million. The same amount they spent on Barkas.
The marketing of the Sydney Cup did use the term “Old Firm”. Is the Sevco argument that the agreement said this term would not be used (at Celtic’s request) and the fact it was used amounts to a breach of contract so heinous that it justifies walking away? I’d love to hear Sevco argue in court that there is no Old Firm.
It is staggering that a club whose financial affairs are dire would turn down the opportunity to make money out of this .
Who actually runs this club the board or the lunatic element of their support .
I’m sure their sponsors etc will love this news they have pulled the plug .
Why on earth any business would associate themselves with then after this is baffling .
You can be assured adidas will be all over this with marketing theirs and Celtics brand .
A win win for both of them
As for holding company fc No doubt their lacky,s in the Scottish media will peddle the myth it’s someone else’s fault this mess .
And the gullible will fall for it again .
I don’t exactly know how many Celtic fans feel the way I do but I know I’m not alone. I’m not a season ticket holder any longer but fortunately I have someone who gifts me theirs every so often.
One of these times was the last derby match,my first without the presence of the away support.
On the way to the match my own thoughts were that I’m gonna miss having a shout at them, historically that’s how it’s always been, part of the show. I know the score helped I’m not going to deny that, but the only thing I can use to describe it is that it was a genuine party. I learned. I have the same thoughts as most fans about Celtics handling of the old co. I had three tickets at that time, I was cheated, my club did nothing about it, and in my opinion complicit in turning Scottish football into a panto that time has forgotten. I still love Celtic but until their name appears on the trophies (without an astrix) then I refuse to buy. I digress. My point is that on that day I realised,genuinely realised that the Old Firm is old hat. Without a doubt all the passions are there, I detest what they stand for now as much as the old club stood for then perhaps more, but one thing I’m positive of, is that whoever is playing at Ibrox, belong in the Old Firm banger in Celtics rear mirror. It’s time the Celtic board realised that we don’t need them and we should not be following their lead …….ever !!! I don’t think we should have banned their fans, I think we should have taken the high road, “One Club open to all”, but now that we have we should certainly leave then stewing outside our gates. Their decision was based on hatred, of us, the fans, Celtics life blood and from that experience we dont need or should welcome their hatred inside our home. We should never ever facilitate taking it across the Globe, what the hell were the board thinking. Rangers have done us a favour. Old Firm old hat.
I think you nailed it mate big time
Didn’t they pull this crap vs Benfica in Canada?
Well said Joe. Celtic needs to publicly refute the continuity lie. Sevco is a tribute act. No Old Firm, no150 years and no 55 titles.
Think The Rangers will paying for this cock up for sometime: who would want to invite them to any other mini-tournament in future?
Bisgrove should have sourced a legal firm to sponsor the shirts – and to get ‘mates’ rates’ for the inevitable, future court actions.
Still making friends along their journey! 🙂
A few years ago I visited hun media regularly. A couple of topics I recall were ” Broomloan Stand Tickets” and ” Trial by Sportscene”.
The klan lobbied their board vehemently, as they didn t want Celtic supporters taunting them any more after any defeats…. AND as we know BBC no longer opine on their bad tackles /poor refereeing decisions etc. Much rejoicing on hun media…
BBC were only too happy to conform via the Lodge.
Now Sydney. Lobbied again: but this time the klan’s wishes may cost them a few million…
Idiots are now running the asylum…
PS
The BBC one pisses me off the most.
I am so glad the rangers have pulled out of this tourney. I simply did not want Celtic to be associated with the matchday violence in Sydney that would most certainly have ensued if they were there. Rah peepil seem to think it is their duty to trash every city they visit — including their own.
It turns out to be the non-use of the term Old Firm that was the dealbreaker for the rangers. Am I alone in finding it strange that rangers fans who despise Celtic and what the club stands for can only find meaning in their own club by tying it and themselves, through this archaic idea of an old firm, to the very thing they hate?
Maybe, at last, the rest of the world will finally understand that the old firm does not exist anymore. It is time too for the Celtic board to be unequivocal about this.
Hoist by their own petard, the rangers are once again heading towards the financial plughole. Who in Scotland will truly miss them when they are finally gone? Not I.
The sooner the better