Depending on the game they show on TV, the atmosphere alone makes me tune in even if I have zero interest in rooting for either team or watching a specific player.
Maybe Mo can get the fuck out of Scotland now. I think he'd fit in nicely with a Fulham/Norwich type hard-working team. Bedoya might do well to come stateside. Boca... Who the fuck knows. Thought he was great with ASSE. Still unsure of what happened there.
Miller withdraws Rangers bid May 8, 2012 Email Print By ESPN staff Rangers' preferred bidder Bill Miller has withdrawn his bid to buy the Scottish giants. Miller was named preferred bidder by administrators Duff and Phelps last Thursday, in preference to a rival offer from the Blue Knights and Brian Kennedy. Miller said in a statement explaining his actions: "As soon as I was announced as preferred bidder for Rangers, my team began to press ahead with our due diligence. "Until then, information had been limited to what was made available in the internet data room and questions addressed to the administrators and their staff. In addition, I had preliminary discussions with the Scottish Footballing Authorities and limited discussions with Ally McCoist. "Upon being named preferred bidder, discussions with Rangers staff started and discussions with all interested parties intensified. We continued to work through the holiday weekend in order to meet a very compressed schedule. "By late Monday night, it became clear to me that preliminary information, discussions and analysis were, unfortunately, more optimistic than reality. "Having no intention of negatively affecting the potential outcome of the club's future and after hearing the message from Rangers supporters and fans loud and clear ("Yank go home!"), I notified the administrators today that I have withdrawn my bid for Rangers and will not be moving forward. "I am deeply disappointed as I had considered the opportunity to bid for one of the most historic football clubs in the world, an honour and a privilege. "I wish Rangers fans, supporters and employees my very best. I hope all your dreams and wishes come true. You certainly deserve it. "I am most disappointed that I won't have the opportunity to walk into Ibrox on the day of an Old Firm match as my friends tell me the hair on my arms will stand up and I will never witness such passion and spirit at any sporting event. "God Speed, Rangers!"
Gers transfer ban overturned in court May 29, 2012 Email Print By ESPN staff Rangers have successfully appealed against a 12-month transfer embargo after contesting the Scottish Football Association's ruling in court. GettyImagesRangers' future is uncertain Lord Glennie considered the arguments of the club and the SFA after a three-hour hearing at the Court of Session in Edinburgh before ruling that the SFA had "no right" to issue the ban. The matter will now be referred back to the governing body's appeals tribunal for a new hearing. Rangers were hit with the transfer ban, the first of its kind in Scottish football, for bringing the game into disrepute after failing to pay £13 million in taxes last season, and lost their first appeal with the SFA last week. The conventional next step for Rangers would have been to take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, but instead the club turned to legal action, which is prohibited under FIFA rules. Rangers argued that the sanction was an unlawful punishment as it had not been an available option to the SFA panel that imposed it, specifically a ban preventing the club from registering any players aged 18 and over. The SFA disputed that claim, arguing that it exercised a clause included in their rules that a judicial panel can implement any sanctions it deems appropriate, and also questioned whether the court had jurisdiction over a footballing matter. The panel stated that the club's actions were second only to match-fixing in their seriousness and that it had considered expelling or suspending Rangers from the SFA before opting for the transfer embargo, a decision upheld on appeal by serving judge Lord Carloway. Meanwhile, administrators Duff and Phelps remain upbeat about their chances of handing Rangers over to Charles Green's consortium after sending a pence-in-the-pound proposal to the club's creditors in a bid to exit administration. If the Company Voluntary Arrangement proposals are agreed at a meeting on June 14, Rangers could exit administration within a month, but the success of that meeting is largely dependant on the result of a HMRC tribunal. Rangers' debts are estimated to be between £55 million and £135 million, with an investigation into the club's tax affairs ongoing.
Rangers to be re-formed June 12, 2012 Email Print By ESPN staff Rangers appear set to be liquidated and re-formed as a newco after Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs decided to vote against a Company Voluntary Arrangement put forward by the prospective new owners. PA PhotosRangers have been in existence since 1872 • Gattuso wants Rangers return • Rangers' transfer ban overturned Buyer Charles Green has been informed that HMRC - the most significant of the club's creditors, owed more than £21 million - will not accept a CVA, which would see a small percentage of the money repaid as a compromise arrangement. As a result of HMRC's decision, Green - who leads the Sevco consortium hoping to buy the club - will press ahead with his plans to purchase the club's assets and form a new company. Green said in a statement: "I am hugely disappointed by the decision of HMRC not to support the CVA proposal and that disappointment will be felt acutely by Rangers fans across the world." HMRC has said that it will pursue individuals for the money owed in the belief that it stands a greater chance of receiving the funds it is due. A statement from the tax authority read: "A liquidation provides the best opportunity to protect taxpayers, by allowing the potential investigation and pursuit of possible claims against those responsible for the company's financial affairs in recent years. "A CVA would restrict the scope of such action. Moreover, the liquidation route does not prejudice the proposed sale of the club. This sale can take place either through a CVA or a liquidation, so the sale is not being undermined, it simply takes a different route. "Liquidation will enable a sale of the football assets to be made to a new company, thereby ensuring that football will continue at Ibrox. It also means that the new company will be free from claims or litigation in a way which would not be achievable with a CVA. "Rangers can make a fresh start." Rangers' administrators, Duff and Phelps, said in a statement that a "binding" sale and purchase agreement with Green would now come into effect. Joint administrator Paul Clark said: "As we have always stated, administrators have a primary objective to ensure the survival of the company and in this case, this would have been achieved through a CVA. It was with HMRC's approval that a proposal was placed before creditors for consideration. "However, it is the commercial view that the level offered within the CVA was not enough to merit departure from their normal policy of seeking a detailed investigation via a liquidator. "However, we have been left in no doubt by HMRC the fundamental reason for the rejection of the CVA proposal is the historical non-compliance with tax liabilities by the former owners and directors of the club." Clark said Green's consortium will move to acquire the club's assets immediately after the formal rejection of the CVA proposal at a creditors' meeting at Ibrox on Thursday morning. "That transaction will be completed within a few days," Clark added. "The sum payable to creditors will be £5.5 million, most of which has already been paid over to us by the Green consortium. "Over the coming months, we as administrators will continue to finalise the administration of the club and we will work in conjunction with BDO, who will undertake the liquidation process. While the club will continue to face difficulties in the short term, it will survive and continue to play at Ibrox."
Good job ESPN not reporting that there is still a tax tribunal outcome that could add 35m to 70m to the debt. Also the SPL clubs will have to vote to allow the new Rangers into the league.
They have Rangers by the nuts and can impose more sanctions on them. Just getting the vibe from the vote for the new sanctions at the last SPL club meeting that there will be a couple of clubs that vote against allowing new Rangers back into the league. Also Rangers will be banned from Europe for 3 years after the new company takes over ownership.
No way in hell are clubs like Hibs, Hearts, Motherwell, Aberdeen vote them back in. But for them it is a double edged sword as the TV money and other revenues would take a huge hit that would affect them.
When the vote takes place I want to know what Celtic does with their vote. There have been rumblings for awhile about Celtic exploring a move and have had discussions on a move.
You are pretty retarded if you think of it as great news. The residual effects that possibly losing one of the two biggest teams in the league are huge. Sponsorship and TV money are sure to go down, as well as continuing to slip with the UEFA League Coefficient even though Rangers has sucked the past few years.
It's a horrible thing for Scotland. While part of me wants to see the monopoly of the SPL end, it would be devastating for Glasgow's economy since they're already in trouble as it is. It's amazing how much revenue the Old Firm generates.
Welcome to 'The Rangers Football Club'... new name for crisis club as Green beats late Smith bid to seal deal By Sportsmail Reporter PUBLISHED: 10:33 EST, 14 June 2012 | UPDATED: 11:20 EST, 14 June 2012 Comments (5) Share Charles Green has completed his purchase of Rangers' assets - shortly after former manager Walter Smith announced an 11th-hour bid. Green completed his £5.5million newco acquisition after his Company Voluntary Arrangement was formally rejected. The former Sheffield United chief executive stressed he wanted Ally McCoist to stay following reports that the manager was on the verge of quitting after apparently discovering that Green planned to replace him. We've won: Charles Green says he has bought Rangers The club have also appointed Ayrshire-born pension fund manager Malcolm Murray as chairman. Green is chief executive of the new company, while Brian Stockbridge will be financial director while Imran Ahmad of Zeus Capital will join the board as a non-executive director. Green, who made no mention of Smith's bid in a lengthy statement, said: 'Following the formal decision of the creditors' meeting at Ibrox Stadium today, the consortium I represent has fulfilled its agreement with the administrators and has completed the acquisition of the business and assets of The Rangers Football Club plc. 'The transfer of the business and assets to a new company structure has taken effect immediately and the new company is The Rangers Football Club. 'An application has already been made by the company to register with the Scottish Football Association and to participate in the SPL.' Smith had earlier confirmed he was leading a bid - believed to be worth about £6million - and urged Green to step aside. Green could conceivably make a quick profit by agreeing to sell Rangers to Smith's group immediately but his statement pointed to a longer-term involvement. The Yorkshireman named several of his investors and addressed the future of McCoist, who has remained tight-lipped on Thursday. 'Our consortium wants Ally McCoist to remain as manager and we firmly believe he is the man to take Rangers forward,' Green said. End of the road? Rangers boss Ally McCoist leaves Ibrox on Thursday morning 'He embodies everything that is great about the club and without question we want him to continue as the Rangers manager. 'I fully understand that other people have courted Ally who do not wish to see my consortium succeed, however I believe time for decision and rancour is over now that the club has been sold and everyone with the interests of Rangers at heart should unite. 'The rebuilding of the Club will happen from today.' Green added: 'In terms of investors in the company, to date our investors include Chris Morgan, a UK-based businessman representing family trusts; Glenmuir, the renowned Scottish clothing company; Ian Hart a Glasgow-based businessman; Alessandro Celano of Blue Pitch Holdings and Zeus Capital.' Murraay's experience in football comes from his purchase and stewardship of a 25 per cent shareholding in Manchester United which led to him working closely with the executive management team. End of an era: Rangers will be forced to reform as a newco after liquidation Murray said: 'It is a great honour to be invited to become non-executive chairman of an iconic football club. 'I am intensely proud to have been a supporter since my father took me to Ibrox for my first match and Colin Stein scored a hat-trick on both our debuts. 'I was hooked from that moment on and as a supporter and season ticket holder I have been - like all Rangers fans - utterly appalled by what has happened to the club. 'Those responsible for bringing the club to its knees should start by apologising to supporters who have been left to face the consequences. 'I have spent most of my working life developing a long-term investment philosophy, taking stakes in companies and working closely with the boards while imposing the highest standards of corporate governance. 'It is my firm intention to ensure high standards of transparency and probity are adopted and the club will be managed with a prudent long-term strategy avoiding the fiefdoms and excesses of the past. With that approach I am sure that Rangers can look forward to better days.' Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2159368/The-Rangers-Football-Club-bought-Charles-Green.html#ixzz1xn9USuin
Independence day seems kind of ominous for that vote. If I had to guess, though, they'll let them back in. Too important for the Scottish economy.
Saw a report that they are looking to buy Bury as a way to get into English football. Not really sure how that would work?
Do you have a link? My guess is that if this is true then they would basically re-brand Bury as Rangers and then just have them play out of Ibrox. Don't see how they would let this happen though.
Oh hell no. They can fuck right off. Bury is my FIFA manager mode team. Go fist your anuses, Rangers (unless you want to keep the name and pump all kinds of money into Gigg Lane... then I love you).
http://www.itv.com/news/granada/update/2012-06-21/bury-chairman-dismisses-rangers-takeover-rumours/ http://vimeo.com/44450136 This was all a hoax.
Its getting messy ahead of this vote. Hibs, Hearts, and Dundee have all gone public now that they will vote no on admitting The Rangers into the SPL. Motherwell is letting the fan ownership group "Well Society" vote. No club has gone public yet with a Yes vote.
Those public no votes can only influence the other teams to vote no now. Don't see any way Rangers gets in. What's their backup plan now?
St. Johnstone, Aberdeen, and Inverness all went public with the intent to vote No. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18577192
They could just buy a League One or Two team in administration like Plymouth Argyle. Bury is good financially and their chairman basically said they'd never sell.
I'd be shocked if Rangers accepted the No vote and went to the 2nd division. They'll end up in the SPL somehow, or find a way into the lower English level
It is going to be interesting to see what happens with the SPL TV deal now that Rangers are not going to be in the SPL for at least 1 season.
Also wondering where Boca, Edu, and Bedoya end up. They have an opt out option to become free agents.
They are fucked. Sucks we won't see any old firm matches for a while unless they are drawn together in cup matches.