Phantom Bud

St Mirren's "early bird" offer runs out on May 30th. I'm going to hold off renewing mine for the time being, I'm sure thousands of fans across the country are doing the same.

I don't think this has been posted here - gloomy predictions from a contributor on the Scots Law blog: (ETA - the smileys are not in the original, can't get rid of them on my phone). Regrettably, what will happen in my opinion is this… 1) rangers 1872 will form a new company say rangers 2012 (‘incubator’)and transfer its SPL share (each club has 1 share in the SPL) 2) Duff and Phelps as administrators will sell the ‘Goodwill’ or ‘intellectual property’ of the old club to the new club, probably for a nominal sum. That includes its History of trophy’s leagues etc. 3) The old company will try and exit administration via a CVA (Company Voluntary Agreement) by way of offering its creditors a ‘pennies in the pound’ deal. 4) HMRC will NOT settle for 10-15p/£ they will press for upwards of 50p. 5) If the big tax case goes against rangers HMRC (and Ticketus who are owed £27 Million ) will BLOCK a cva. Result of that will ensure rfc 1872 is liquidated. 6) Rfc 2012 will continue in the SPL as if nothing happened, with minimal sanctions as there is no sanctions available under the current articles of association. The spineless directors who adjourned Monday’s meeting will reconvene next week and pass new rules for clubs getting in a mess in the ‘future’. This against a backdrop of intimidation and fear not to mention nepotism. 7) Rfc 2012 will offer shares to the mass of orcs and buy large!….result will be that they’re still up there competing against Celtic. Meanwhile Dunfermline who have been financially prudent all season (closing stands to save money) will be relegated…hence the uproar about footballing integrity, both moral and sporting. Whyte who has a floating charge over ALL assets as it was assigned to him from Lloyds TSB when he settled the overdraft using Ticketus money. He will either sell to rfc 2012 over a period for many millions or transfer the assets and remain a major shareholder in the new company. Once on their feet he can sell his shareholding…assets restored, whyte walks with Millions…win win. 9) Ticketus may try and block deal, but Lord Hodge has observed that they are a normal creditor and should be treated as such. An observation NOT a ruling as he had insufficient time and information to make a proper judgement. Ticketus will pursue Whyte separately (which will take years) 10) SFA meanwhile will uphold partial sanctions (maybe 6 m ban on transfers suspended to see if they pay the outstanding money on players at present) and the semi-derisory fine of £160,000 will be halved. 11) UEFA will ban rfc 2012 from Europe for 1 (maybe 3) years. 12) SPL will rule that rfc 1872 broke the rules using EBT’s and may or may not strip them of trophies. It won’t matter as rfc 1872 is in liquidation. 13) Domestic and European clubs who were damaged with their cheating will desist from pursuing rfc 1872 for damages as they are in liquidation Summary 1) The rangers fans will claim a seamless history despite rfc 2012 having a new company number. (You can change names to the cows come home but it is the number which is important. Celtic FC have had the name number registered at companies house since 1887). 2) The creditors will be stiffed big style including HMRC and Ticketus. 3) Business as usual for SPL 4) Business as usual for SFA 5) Duff and Phelps will be lauded as geniuses and can take their seats at Ibrox whenever they want…despite the Police warning them that it was unsafe at a recent league match….our old friend Intimidation again! 6) UEFA may make some noises under financial fair play rules (STILL TO BE INTRODUCED)but will let domestic association deal with it all. 7) Due to intimidation, threats, aggressive posturing rfc have essentially got their way….the authorities have capitulated. David Murray absolved…indeed not even questioned. 9) Whyte seen to be playing ball will be left alone as his actions will have been vindicated…semi heroic status conferred. 10) The establishment club saved. 11) Bigger than usual party in Stirling on July 7th 2012……a real ‘we arra peepil celebration’….confirmed by the actions of all involved. I personally, will not so much as watch another football match in Scotland let alone spend money to go and see one. There will be many like me…for a short while, then normal service will be resumed.

Turnout of around 5,000 so far according to a colleague who is on the march. So at least 95% of those who went down to Manchester for their UEFA Cup Final haven't bothered, maybe they all agree with the SFA punishment.

DUFF and Phelps, administrators of Rangers Football Club, has issued the following update this evening. Following discussions with Mr Bill Miller today, he has informed us he wants to progress and discussions will continue between us prior to a preferred bidder being anounced Mr Miller has asked us to issue the following statement from him to Rangers fans. Bill Miller commented: “After speaking with the administrators today, I understand that no other bidders have stepped up to offer to save Rangers. As I stated on Friday, if there were no other bids by close of business Monday, I would begin the process to acquire Rangers according to the plan I outlined on Friday. “To clarify earlier statements in the press, I did not ask for more time to move forward. “However, at the request of the administrators, I will wait to enter into exclusivity in order to give The Blue Knights/Ticketus more time to put an alternative offer on the table for the administrators to evaluate. “I will leave it to Duff & Phelps to determine when they want to identify their preferred bidder. “Until then, I am moving forward with my process and continuing my discussions with all related parties. I can confirm that I did have confidential conversations with the SFA and PFA Scotland representatives. Finally, I will be having discussions with Ally McCoist later to discuss his recommendations regarding the players.”

"PROSPECTIVE Rangers bidder Paul Murray has warned the club’s administrators that time is running out to save the club from liquidation. The former Ibrox director’s Blue Knights consortium, a Singapore group fronted by Bill Ng and American tycoon Bill Miller remain in the running to take over the ailing Glasgow club despite proposed changes to Scottish Premier League rules. If passed, the resolutions will mean tougher sanctions for clubs who go into administration in future or face the prospect of liquidation - an option which has not yet been ruled out for Rangers. Administrators Duff and Phelps yesterday announced a delay in choosing a preferred bidder so “parties” can further explore the likely penalties with the SPL. The Daily Record claims that delay was at the behest of Miller and Ng and quoted Murray as saying: “I urge the administrators to choose a preferred bidder and allow one of us to get on with the job. “Whether it’s me or anyone else does not matter - just choose. “This is becoming more and more difficult. I am extremely concerned about the timetable. “The longer it goes on the more difficult it will be to avoid liquidation. “Any new buyer needs to be able to start talking to the players in order to renegotiate the clauses which were recently inserted into their contracts. “We need to make sure these guys know there is a future at Ibrox. It wouldn’t surprise me if some have already instructed their agents to find new clubs. “If these guys leave in big numbers the cost of replacing them and keeping the team competitive will run into tens of millions. That would alter significantly any business plan.” The SPL revealed on Tuesday proposed rule changes which would see a phoenix Rangers hit with massive financial penalties and 10-point deductions over each of its first two seasons."

Alex Thomson has just tweeted "Boumsong started whole story. Fraud Squad were onto Redknapp and looked at B deal...went to Ibrox. found lots of weird-looking voodoo on the computers..smelt rat...told bowler hats at HMRC...and here we are..." Good old 'Arry indirectly responsible for the Big Tax Case - TRIFFIC!

Recent correspondence between Salmond and Rangers - includes some quite boak-inducing brown nosing from Salmond to Walter Smith: http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/106335/response/267910/attach/3/s2dCBFD00DE06A3FF8BF25A7137C269A479%201.pdf

Rangers fans planning to protest against liquidation on Saturday ... "Show The Red Card To Liquidation! Anti-Liquidation Demo On Saturday! On Saturday versus St Mirren 50,000 Bears will show that Rangers will not die by giving a red card to the threat of liquidation. At kick off and in the 18th and 72nd minutes - 1872! - raise your red card and voice your determination not to support anyone who is trying to drag the club down into liquidation. On Monday evening a meeting took place in Glasgow with host of fan groups to discuss the Bears fight-back against those who seek to do the club down. Rangers Football Club have survived the good and the bad for 140 years , the vast majority being very successful for a club now known to be the most successful club in world football. Its more than just a club, it’s a way of life for far too many people the world over to simply give it up to faceless money men with no love nor interest in this famous fitbaw club. It was agreed unanimously that we The Rangers support would fight tooth and nail against anyone or group who seek to liquidate the Gers. The message is simple, sink us and we will sink you ! You won’t simply reform a newco and everything’s bright and rosy, not a chance in hell. The Rangers fan base united won’t allow it, no fans, no players, no sponsor. NOTHING This Saturday we have arranged to allow every fan in Ibrox to show the administrators and any would-be liquidators the “red card”. 50,000 red cards will form part of display in protest at the enemy intent on finishing off The Rangers as we know it. Message banners and red cards will make our feelings clear as day, you are not welcome. The display is NOT in favour of any individual bid/bidders, we simply welcome anyone with Rangers best interest at heart. Feel free to bring your own message banners, we all know the rules ! The display will be set up on Thursday and Friday night , ALL Rangers fans are welcome to help set it up. To arrange help please email sie1872@googlemail.com It’s our club, it was our fathers club and it will be the club of our children! The Rangers FC forever! It’s all about The Rangers!"

Alex Thomson tweet: "Craig Whyte tells me any notion he's selling his shares to PM is " absolute nonsense." "

Rangers' liquidation not Ally McCoist's preferred option By Alasdair Lamont BBC Scotland Rangers manager Ally McCoist admits he understands why a new owner of the club may want to liquidate it. "Liquidation would not be my preferred option as a supporter and indeed as the manager of the club," he said. "Sitting here as a businessman, it might be the way ahead, but as a supporter, with a love of the club, it wouldn't be the preferred option. "I can totally understand the business angle and it probably would suit a lot of business-minded people." With Sale Sharks owner Brian Kennedy's bid for Rangers having been rejected on Thursday, four offers remain on the table for the club, which has been in administration since mid-February. One of those bids has been made by Paul Murray's Blue Knights consortium and McCoist has already held discussions with the former Rangers director about his plans. Now the manager, who would prefer Rangers to exit administration via a company voluntary agreement, will meet other parties interested in buying the club as administrators edge closer to identifying a preferred bidder. Consortia based in the United States, the UK and Singapore are also believed to have notified administrators of their interest. McCoist said: "I don't have a preferred option. "Brian is out of the equation and Paul is the only other interested party that I've met. "But I have been in constant contact and dialogue with the administrators and they are keeping me up to speed with other bids. "They've said to me that other potential purchasers would like the opportunity to meet with myself and ask me a few questions and I would like to do the same on behalf of the club." McCoist will play for a Rangers veterans side against a team of former AC Milan stars at Ibrox on Friday evening. "The fans have been amazing in troubled times and they will have a treat tonight at the Legends game," he added. "We all might get a little bit older, but you don't lose the competitive spirit." That's Smith and McCoist now openly talking about liquidation and Amoruso talking about Rangers being stripped of titles. It's as if they already know what's coming ...

Former Rangers chief executive Martin Bain has dropped his case against the club saying the damage Craig Whyte inflicted was "shocking". Mr Bain had claimed for £1.3m damages after alleging his contract with Rangers had been breached following Craig Whyte's takeover. He said that he remains "totally committed" to Rangers and also said in a statement that he made it clear on a number of occasions that Craig Whyte was not a suitable person to take over the club. In a statement issued by his lawyers, he said: "Everyone close to Rangers Football Club knows that I am, and always have been, totally committed to the Club and that remains my position. "As Chief Executive and part of the Independent Board, our job was to assess and highlight to all stakeholders if we believed there was uncertainty over the future financial viability of the Club under new ownership. Unfortunately, the Independent Board had no legal power to block the transaction and Sir David Murray made it plain that he wanted to sell. "I personally strongly recommended on more than one occasion that Craig Whyte should not be allowed to buy the Club, based on investigations into the transparency of his background and the responses to the questions asked of him as part of the process. "Unfortunately that forceful representation was not accepted and when he took over I was suspended and my contract ripped up. With what has subsequently transpired, it is quite obvious why he disposed of me in the manner he did. I was further vilified in the press and continue to be subjected to endless rumours and attacks." Damage He added: "Events have moved on and the damage inflicted on Rangers Football Club is shocking. I had no option but to pursue a claim based on Craig Whyte’s actions; the litigation was a response to his actions and not those of Rangers Football Club. "I firmly believed it was important to make sure he would have to explain everything he did in a Court of Law. Because of the legal process it has not been possible or appropriate to make public comment, which has been extremely hard given the flow of misinformation and falsehoods both myself and the Club had been subjected to. "In the two years since the Board restructure in August 2009 and prior to Craig Whyte forcing my removal from the Club, turnover had increased, operating costs reduced with net debt more than halved from £31.1m at 30th June 2009 to £14.1m at the 30th June 2011, while the Club had won three consecutive League titles in difficult circumstances. This debt reduction was beyond the targets set by the Bank. The former board member was suspended from his duties pending an internal investigation over an alleged breach of contract. Rangers former chief executive Martin Bain had secured a court order to freeze almost £500,000 of the Ibrox club assets as he a pursued a damages claim against his ex-employer.

R5 'debate' - what a bunch of deluded arseholes. Henry McLeish quoting Barack Obama was particularly boak-inducing.

Would buying the club not leave Ticketus liable for the big tax bill? Could they pay it off by selling future season tickets to HMRC??

Some of the Peepul finally waking up to reality on Rangers Media: http://forum.rangersmedia.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=213296&pid=1059845746&st=0entry1059845746

Two weeks later we drew 0-0 with them while wearing clatty Morton away strips, that was even more shambolic.

Kyle Bartley simply oozing class in that photo ... what a clown!

Huybrecht's punching well above his weight with that girl, she's beautiful.

Enjoyed The Specials last night. Not as good as their Academy gigs a couple of years ago but still a great gig considering it was the SECC. Specials songs all becoming relevant again in these recession-hit Tory-governed times.

Magicians really get on my wick. Bunch of smug c***s.

Janelle Monae at the ABC on Saturday night was one of the greatest gigs I've ever seen. Her band is incredible and her performance was as good as anyone I've ever seen - brilliant singer, brilliant dancer, brilliant songs. Also saw Ben Folds on Friday night at the Academy and enjoyed that too - bit of a geek but very talented guy with loads of good songs.

Brechin feckin City.

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