Oh dear Rangers

[Lord Tyrion]

So, first of all you are effectively in Mike Ashley's pocket now. This morning it has just been released that his sidekick, Derek Llambias has been sent up to be the new Chief Exec. Feel free to ask any Toon fan what they think of either Ashley or Llambias, stand well back first of all though. How did it come to this?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

So, first of all you are effectively in Mike Ashley's pocket now. This morning it has just been released that his sidekick, Derek Llambias has been sent up to be the new Chief Exec. Feel free to ask any Toon fan what they think of either Ashley or Llambias, stand well back first of all though. How did it come to this?

The Rangers - a branch office of Sports Direct (The Toon) plc. Oh dear. That does not sound great - you never know though!

 

[Val]

Ashley is a money maker so he'll have an eye on something else for sure, from a fans perspective is Mike Ashley any worse than the charlatans who have had control since the clubs re-birth? At least he is sticking his ££££ in.

 

[Birchy]

I don't see the problem tbh.

I know the Newcastle lot aren't that keen on him but there's loads worse than him.

 

[c1973]

As a Rangers fan I've stopped trying to work out what's going on and who or what is the best investor/option. I'd probably get an infraction if I posted what I think of the current board. Who knows if Ashley will be good or not. The current board are not conducting themselves in the proper manner, the way that previous custodians of Rangers have historically done. The club will pull through eventually and rid itself of this lot, I just hope we can do it sooner rather than later. However, I fear there are more dark days ahead before we can do so.

I feel sorry, heartfelt sorry, for the supporters who go week in week out putting their hard earned cash in to Rangers, as well as the wider Scottish game btw (as any genuine football fan should). They don't deserve this, no football team supporter does.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

You and a few other clubs at the moment, Birmingham, Blackpool, Leeds. They are the ones I know of, there may be more. A great shame as these clubs are institutions.

 

[Captainron]

You and a few other clubs at the moment, Birmingham, Blackpool, Leeds. They are the ones I know of, there may be more. A great shame as these clubs are institutions.

They're businesses too. Being around for x number of years with x number of supporters means nothing. You can't pay you shouldn't play. Quite happily see a few clubs go.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Ashley and LLambias will be like the A team after the rubbish the Gers have suffered recently.

Ashley is no fool and knows where the money lies, selling Newcastle for a big profit and re-energising Rangers seems like a smart move.

 

[ManinBlack]

Ashley has put Newcastle United on a sound financial footing and is running the club as a business. The fans don't like it, they'd rather he splashed millions on people like Ballotelli and put the club in hock for years for some short term success. I think he gets more stick than he deserves. I think he'll turn Rangers around, probably finish up owning it too.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Ashley is a businessman looking for the next big deal and this is how he thinks he can do it. Not sure what the repurcussions for Rangers will be but has got to help purely from a financial stability point of view hasn't it

 

[Khamelion]

As a businessman, Ashley has the know how to make a business a success, as an owner of a football club he knows nothing.

Yes many are correct in thinking that Ashley is disliked, but running Newcastle as a business he has all but cleared the debt, granted a good portion of what he cleared he did with his own personal cash and it is that cash he wants back should he sell the club.

But that written, Newcastle are probably one of the only clubs that will be in the black, or if not the black, have very little owed.

As the owner of a football club, many will do a lot worse than Ashley. Unlike Peter Ridsdale that ran Leeds into the ground.

So as an owner Ashley will sort Rangers debt, the fans may not like it, nor the way he does it, they may not buy the players the fans want, but the club will end up on a sound financial footing and still in existence.

 

[c1973]

Well, Mr Ashley won't have been encouraged by the fans staying away tonight.

I'm sure he'll be delighted that the (currently) 2nd tier team that he appears to be in control of are through to the semi final of the league cup though, having knocked out the current Scottish cup holders and 1st tier team St Johnstone in a drab and unexciting game at Ibrox Stadium tonight.

The worry is that an extended cup run could hinder the team in their efforts to gain promotion......maybe a few million to strengthen our squad in the transfer window??

 

[CMAC]

from what I see as an outsider;

Rangers were rumoured to effectively be 48hrs away from administration...again.

Along comes the 15th richest man in the country and gives Rangers a zero interest loan and his successful business experience incl within a successful Premier Club.

Rangers fans boycott tonights game


They should be thanking this man who could possibly turn around the business aspects of a badly run club and put in an experienced and proven snr management team.

I wouldn't be surprised if he doesnt make a larger financial investment soon.

 

[Liverbirdie]

They're businesses too. Being around for x number of years with x number of supporters means nothing. You can't pay you shouldn't play. Quite happily see a few clubs go.

Why be happy to see some clubs go?

I'd happily see all the clubs go and start again, but not to see some clubs go, for no apparent reason.

There has never been more money in football than now, and there has never been more financial problems than in the last 10 years, since so called "money men" have come in.

I'd even go back to the 1980's (even with the problems that football had then), than the way we are going now.

 

[Val]

Well, Mr Ashley won't have been encouraged by the fans staying away tonight.

I'm sure he'll be delighted that the (currently) 2nd tier team that he appears to be in control of are through to the semi final of the league cup though, having knocked out the current Scottish cup holders and 1st tier team St Johnstone in a drab and unexciting game at Ibrox Stadium tonight.

The worry is that an extended cup run could hinder the team in their efforts to gain promotion......maybe a few million to strengthen our squad in the transfer window??

For me, Mike Ashley has an eye on bigger things which is his Sports Direct brand and having it showcased on the biggest stage available which in European terms is the Champions League, ask yourself this question, Who is he likely to get to it with and at what cost? No brainer, it's Rangers and for a fraction of what it would cost to do it at Newcastle. He could spend £300m+ with Newcastle and still not get close, he might just manage it at Rangers if he spends £20m+

Rangers fans need to be very careful what the wish for, they've had their wishes answered since Whyte was billed as the savior, the Green and so on. Mike Ashley might just be the man they need, he doesn't have to be a "Rangers man".

 

[CMAC]

For me, Mike Ashley has an eye on bigger things which is his Sports Direct brand and having it showcased on the biggest stage available which in European terms is the Champions League, ask yourself this question, Who is he likely to get to it with and at what cost? No brainer, it's Rangers and for a fraction of what it would cost to do it at Newcastle. He could spend £300m+ with Newcastle and still not get close, he might just manage it at Rangers if he spends £20m+

Rangers fans need to be very careful what the wish for, they've had their wishes answered since Whyte was billed as the savior, the Green and so on. Mike Ashley might just be the man they need, he doesn't have to be a "Rangers man".

Exactly! Look at the state they are in the last 5 years with 'Rangers Men'!!

 

[Val]

Exactly! Look at the state they are in the last 5 years with 'Rangers Men'!!

Just 5 years? £80m in debt at one point would suggest it's been more like 15 years. Football clubs needs sound business men now at the helm, not men with ego's chasing big prizes like David Murray was.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

I find it very amusing that good businessmen/women running football clubs in profit are generally disliked by the fans.

I really like the way my team Hearts are going, no debt and soon to be owned by the fans. We suffered in recent years but now I feel more connected to my club than since the 1960's.
I notice that they have become the first British club to pay all of their staff a 'living' wage. Unlike many businesses who pay the least amount that they can legally get away with.

 

[Liverbirdie]

I find it very amusing that good businessmen/women running football clubs in profit are generally disliked by the fans.

See if you still think like that, if you won nothing for 20 years. You've got to let dream at least a little bit.

Since football has become more of a business and more money in the game, more liquidations/points deductions/administrations have occurred AND its lost whatever soul it had.

Are we better off since the 1980's. Less overt hooliganism, better stadia, but major downsides as well.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

The dislike of Ashley and Co at Newcastle is not entirely related to a failure to spend money. In finance terms I agree with most of the posters here, he has done a very good job. The failures are in other areas. Diabolical communications, truly clueless. Terrible PR moves, changing the name of the stadium for example showed a lack of nous of the consequences. Utter lack of ambition. It is well documented that Ashley has stated at boardroom level and to the manager that silverwear is of no interest. The sole target is Premiership survival. Put out the reserves for the League Cup and FA Cup. Start the season with NO hope whatsoever of winning something. What is the purpose of a club if not to win something? Upon signing foreign players they have been told "come to us, use Newcastle as a shop window for a bigger club". Is it any wonder that players look half hearted at times as they know they will be gone within a season or two. No affinity to the club.

A supporter has to start a season with the hope of progress or silverware, no matter your level. Ashley has taken that ambition away from Newcastle. They exist, nothing more. How bleak is that?