Well, that’s that then.
Champions again!
Even for the staunchest stenographer, Celtic’s era of domination is now impossible to ignore.
The default colour setting for Glasgow is green and white.
This is the post-2012 normal.
The Ibrox klanbase hoped that the Off License Putsch of 2015 would feed their supremacist delusions.
Instead, a decade of what Mr David Cunnigham King described as “soft investment” yielded ONE league title.
ONE!
Yesterday morning, I was contacted by a well-placed source who hadn’t been in touch for a while.
This person is in a position to know what transpires in the Blue Room and has consistently been on the money in that regard.
He named the senior person in the Sevco High Command who instigated the joint statement released on April 23rd.
That dignified communiqué was very light on detail, with “productive conversations”, doing a lot of heavy lifting.
Then there’s the proposed timescale of this putative takeover.
“Talks have been ongoing since the end of October, and a deal – which will see the US group gain at least 51 per cent of the shares in Rangers – is expected to be completed ahead of the new season.”
So, we are to believe that it is “expected” that it will be all done by the start of the new campaign.
This statement makes sense if you consider its utility function.
After defeat in Bilbao on April 17th, the grim reality of a trophyless season could not be denied, only deflected.
Hence, something was needed to keep bears warm during the summer months.
Athletic club ended Sevco’s season, but season tickets still have to be renewed, hence the statement.
The folks in the Stateside consortium are fully aware that RIFC shares are effectively worthless.
Consequently, I suspect that only a nominal fee for that hillside of confetti will be on the table for the current regime in the Blue Room.
After that, paying back the director’s loans, should see it over the line.
As ever in the land of succulent lamb, there has been zero journalistic scrutiny of this statement.
It’s been gushingly reproduced with unquestioning joy by the Stenography Corps.
Given that the home crowd at Ibrox has definite sugar daddy issues, all they are hoping for is someone, anyone, to bankroll the loss-making business.
Of course, such pishful thinking ignores the realities of UEFA’s FSR ordinances.
Dear reader, do not expect any of the succulent suspects in the Stenography Corps to point out that inconvenient fact.
I have already styled this potential new regime as “American Ashleys”, and I’ll stick with that.
They are not benefactors.
If they do not see a way to make a substantial return on their initial investment in a three to five-year period, they will Do Walking Away.
Meanwhile, Celtic are in another financial postcode due to a slow build-up of resources that started with the Fergus McCann takeover.
Across the city, there is no quick fix available for a nativist klanbase with a patience deficit.
That is their Catch-2012.
With Lawwellball now a thing of the past and Brendan in full charge of football operations, whoever is in the Blue Room next season has a Major Major Major Major problem.
Catch 2012 and Major Major Major Major problems – reminds me to re-read my favourite book thanks!
Something Happened and Picture This are worth a read too. Picture This even mentions Glasgow
Once the money men look under the bonnet of that omnishambles the full reality of this undertaking will rapidly become apparent.
A business that hasn’t turned a single penny in profit since its inception,despite full houses ,extended runs in Europe and soft loans continually plugging the holes in the finances.
Quite the opposite in fact it’s been gushing losses from day one week one and hasn’t improved one bit in that regard.
Last count over £120m has haemorrhaged in an attempt to keep the pretence of Real Rangers alive.
A cursory glance meanwhile over at the Celtic Annuals will certainly rubber stamp it with PROCEED WITH CAUTION in uppercase RED.
A fool and his money are soon parted they say?
Well I’m not so sure these guys are fools.
Phil,
Explain any reason, any, for a takeover or any investment of any kind? I cannot fathom why any single person or entity would want to tackle the nonsense involved in it other than to grab it and destroy it. HAIL HAIL
They are “the American Ashleys”….brilliant.
I get the impression the more they pay for 51%, the more scunnered they’ll be …and destroy the place to get their money back….onerous contracts from day one too.
It’s almost as if you are suggesting there’s a whiff of (Red) Bullsh*t in what being said in the media.
IF the shares are exchanged [for a nominal fee as suggested], and the loans are repaid,
that is a minimum of c.£20M up front from the consortium?
Then maybe another commitment [loan?] of c.£20M for operational costs?
Then, I’m not sure what they can add to any War Chest, whilst complying with the FSR restrictions?
Anyway, ballpark: c.£50M upfront to take control and keep the lights on?
For that sort of cash and risk, a lot of ibrox traditions and expectations could simply
be swept aside without a second thought by detached, objective ‘outsiders’?
It would be brutal cost cutting at ibrox?
[Still don’t believe this ‘takeover’ though, until/unless it’s finally confirmed.]
Be a lot more than 50 million to take control, these shareholders won’t sell their shares on the cheap
With Jackson saying “Only the financial scrutiny to be finalized remains to be done”!
Right then Keith, so, that`ll the 99.9% part of any takeover deal is all that remains then, shouldn`t take too long should it? Should it??
In Brendan we trust. Must be hell being a Hun these days. They could do worse than saying a few decades of the Rosary at the tomb of the late Holy Father. You never know a miracle just might be on the cards if they pray sincerely. But then again….
looking forward to the takeover and the makeover to St Francis Govan.
The consortium might do walking away and so too could the Loyal .
“American Ashley’s ” is bang on target and if Celtic stroll to another “tedious” treble next season it will be meltdown in the trenches
There is a rumour that they will buy the club* sell the stadium to Lidl, relocate to San Francisco and market themselves as Americas most successful Soccer club
Phil, my big chubby stumps for fingers sent the last email before I’d properly completed my details.
Joe-Bhoy ’67
Fat fingers, small keyboards and predictive text are the bane of my life!! If I didn’t have Sevco to give me a regular chuckle, life would be grim!!
What we have learned this season:
1: It’s not enough to have “real Rainjurrs men” at the helm.
2: They do do the “walking away”!
Hail and Hail again!
“That is their Catch-2012” . Love it!!
Congratulations to everyone at Celtic on another well deserved league title.
Commiserations on another trophy less, classless season to the blue side of Glasgow who managed to remain second best.
It will take a lot more than the proposed takeover to sort out the mess they are in.
Years of mismanagement can take a lot longer to recover from than they realise.
Not that that will stop them spouting their usual pish, egged on by their pals in the so called mainstream Scottish media 🙄
Phil
There takeover ment to be joint one with Leeds United being taken over by the same party in the blue room owners can’t spend to much because of the rules it’s gonna be a total domination from Rodgers and the squad there gonna accelerate again come pre season the espanyol of Govan only trophy they will in is the close season cup
The steel from China needed for the Ibroxland stadium ‘ tinkering ‘ Phil , had a quicker delivery than this ‘ alleged buyout ‘ saga ! Steel from China …big money from the US … Parks of Hamilton transport ! What’s next in Govanlandia ?