Where now for Rangers?
No takeover coming soon for Ibrox club
First of all, many Rangers fans will be saying “if it ain’t broke, why try and fix it?â€
The club clearly still has a level of debt that isn’t welcome but two league triumphs in a row has left many Rangers fans delighted with the current on-field status of the club. They will also argue that two Champions League qualifications in a row have helped put the clubs finances in a better position than what could have been the case, so these fans will not be upset at the news that a buyer for the Ibrox club is no longer actively being sought.
However, not everyone feels the same.
This site has had some Rangers fans coming on imploring new funding to back Walter Smith with one or two gloating about what was going to happen after what they thought was an imminent take-over. They may take this news hard but will Rangers be affected?
There will have to be some funds released for new recruits to the squad, the vast amount that Rangers spent in the summer of 2008 is now in need of being topped up. There will be money for Rangers to spend but how it is used is now the big question.
With players like Kris Boyd and Kirk Broadfoot out of contract but not signed up for a new club, will Rangers step in and have them in their squad for next season? This may greatly reduce their ability to bring in fresh faces.
One way that Rangers could ensure they improve their squad depth is by selling some key players whilst bringing in more players but of a lesser supposed quality. Sometimes these players with something to prove or with hunger can be the key players in a squad so it is not necessarily a disaster if this happens.
The loss of players like Madjid Bougherra or Steven Davis would be felt but their loss could free up funds for a squad that needs bolstering.
Whatever happens with the ins and outs, there is no doubt that the key man remains Walter Smith. It will be down to the Ibrox manager to inspire his players to give everything and dig in to show the world. Smith revels in having Rangers players running through walls, much like the way that Jock Wallace used to and it will be this spirit that Rangers will need to rely on this season.
The challenge from Celtic this year will be different from the last. Not much is known about Neil Lennon’s managerial skills but his ability to inspire and drive players on is unlikely to be in question.
As always, things are going to be a bit interesting when the big two clash in Glasgow.
So Rangers fans, what are your thoughts about the club not being up for sale?
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Unsellable Ha Ha!
hey nelson 53 and counting we can alwayus rely on atim making astupid comment erm same as last season and the sason before and who won the league ?????????go home its over
You may well be right Nelson, many have thought for a long time that the only serious buyer in town was and is Dave King. His issues are well documented at the moment and if and when he concludes his Tax case with SARS, we may indeed see a new fresh approach for overall control of the Rangers.
As for Ellis, well I wait with baited breath to hear his version of events. For so many sources of his to conclude that the deal was almost done, to this yesterday from MIH, something is not right here.
In many way’s it’s similar to the last time that Murray stepped down and left McLelland to pick up the broken mess he and Advocaat left us with, we rode the storm then with big name players being punted and sub standard ones in their place, he then swept back into power and ‘invested’ more money and a couple of more titles were won, including the incredible ‘Helicopter Sunday’. Murray has taken a huge bath off the field through his Steel and Property portfolio but Lloyds Banking Group have put in place a recovery plan and indeed latest forecasts show that his portfolio is back on the rise again, could it be that with all the hard work done by Walter and his team,two quite remarkable SPL titles in a row and the bounty of Champions League money confirmed, that he see’s a bit more light at the end of the tunnel and the longer term return being higher from Dave King should things get sorted there?
Who knows? We deserve answers, but I doubt we will get them. Maybe now all the season tickets have been renewed Murray decided to break cover?
As for player sales, I expect that Bougherra and McGregor will leave this summer raising upwards of £9/10M between them, hopefully the lion share of these funds are re-invested as well as the promised £5M. Rangers are in a fairly stable position on the park and the loss of those two won’t be catastrophic, finding a replacement for Boyd will be difficult though.
Some good insight Quagmire, that’s what we’re looking for.
What are your thoughts for the CL?
The money is clearly welcome but if Rangers have a depleted squad, how do you think they should play it?
6 tough games for the squad to take on will need to be managed carefully.
Even though this is not the outcome many Gers wanted, at least it has been settled in time to allow the management squad to wheel, deal and prepare for the new season.
Quags….
When King concludes his Tax case with SARS.. He might be sent to Robben Island, so I wouldn’t count your chickens on that one.
Smith spent as much bad money first time round as Advocatt, he also right royally messed up his final season first time round.
You say Murray swept back and invested money, yeah it was money you never had and could put Rangers in a financial straight jacket for the next generation. The last two seasons you have been living off the £28 million you splurted that summer despite not reaching the CL with one of your worst nights in Europe.
If Bougherra & McGregor go, can you see Lloyds letting you spend the majority of the money, never mind Lloyds what about the Tax man?
Quags once again I’m amazed at your rosy garden, keep it up sir!
Champions League?
Well last years ‘performance’ was a group of two halves. Away from home a tight and decent looking unit that was tough to break down, good result in Stuttgart and a wonder goal from Unirea stopped us taking all three points in Romania. Then at home, well there can be no excuses for the abject performances in which Walter and his management team deserve plenty of critcism for.
Sadly this could be Scotland’s last crack at the CL for the foreseeable future, the guaranteed place going and very difficult qualifiers in it’s place. The Europa League is the level for the top Scottish clubs now, mostly borne out of finance.
I only hope they don’t try and fleece me for £100 for a three game package, in the current climate I would be tempted to stay and watch the games on Sky in the comfort of my own home. Last years abject display’s were too much.
Dubz,
The King case I can’t comment either way as I know nothing of the REAL facts, only stories printed in the media here. Not blindly thinking that he will get off scot free we will just have to wait and see how it develops I suppose.
Lloyds have already stated that the credit facility has to reduce by a minimum of £1M per year, which it appears to be doing. I think they are more comfortable with the cost savings the club has put in place, certainly for the time being.
As for the tax man, MIH has already stated that THEY are responsible for any future penalties, should indeed any arise from the investigation, so any financial penalty will not sit on the books of RFC.
Yes my cup is half full as opposed to half empty, I suppose it’s borne out of the fact that in the midst of the greatest crisis the club has faced since the Ibrox disaster, we have seen off the challenge of out greatest rivals with comparative ease and at a time when really, they should have buried us.
As an aside, the Murray statement is hardly convincing that he might still be gone from the club in due course.
Quags
It could be a very interesting season.
Where’s the inept wee bum sniffer with his gloating words of wisdom when you need them?
Maybe he’s collecting ginger bottles from the neighbours and local schools to fund his own bid…………
” For so many sources of his to conclude that the deal was almost done, to this yesterday from MIH”
If you looked at the time, it was the The Daily Heil (Mail) that led with that story and everyone picked it up and either credited the Heil or said “media reports”, so I don’t believe it was much more than a flier sent out around the time of the stock exchange non-announcement.