An insidious and opportune fixer takes advantage of a fading regime to seize power only to inflict his own brutal dictatorship and oppress his people even more. Cue years of rebellion and in-fighting as the “goodies” struggle manfully to overthrow the terrible dictator. Sounds like fiction? It is and its a story which has been played out in fiction time and again, from Julius Caesar to Star Wars to Gladiator. Yet, following another evening of “revelations” on the BBC about Craig Whyte, some might have thought I was talking about the plight of Rangers under the current owner. And whilst the details shared in last night’s programme may or may not be true, such stories have three lasting and damaging side effects for the club.
Firstly, these stories provoke a continuing level of hysteria, paranoia and dissatisfaction amongst sections of the fanbase. For those willing to believe the worst, Craig Whyte has mercilessly taken over the club on false pretences, mortgaged it to the hilt to fund his takeover and appears to have no interest in putting the necessary cash on the table to back success on the pitch. He will say, as he has many times, there wasn’t exactly a queue of willing buyers and that he is doing what he can. Whether or not that is true, Craig Whyte is the owner of the club and it is hard to believe, however true the allegations about his previous lack of judgement in business, that he would knowingly take on the cost and the hassle of running any football club – let alone one like Rangers, with its unforgiving glare and scrutiny – unless he had a very clear sense of how to make a healthy business return. That is business 101 and even the most ardent cynic can see that there must be quicker ways to make big money than by buying into a Scottish football club in the current environment. And before we lurch into the Gordon Gekko theories, breaking Rangers up for scrap and selling off the parts is not the prize here. Craig Whyte will have an exit strategy where he retires with millions from the sale of the club but it will be a plan which assumes that having put the club back on an even keel financially, he is able to rebuild the playing squad, win trophies and take advantage of the commercial opportunities which come with success (increased sponsorship, unilateral TV contracts, stadium redevelopment, building the foreign fan base etc). Only success will ensure that he gets the highest price for the club when he does eventually sell. His optimism may be misplaced – it may be dashed already – but that will still be his plan. And as a fan of the club, not of the owner, I have to hope that he’s right.
Secondly, such stories distract attention from the actual concern that most of us have which is this: with or without Craig Whyte, and irrespective of whether he is a business genius or not, we appear to be on the slow, inexorable slide of a club heading for oblivion. It is clear that in a financial sense, the club is on life support awaiting the diagnosis of the HMRC biopsy – a situation that arose before Craig Whyte’s direct involvement at the club. If the outcome of this examination is positive, we can brief a collective sigh of relief and figure out how to rebuild the club based on where we are. If, as we are being lead to believe, the outcome is negative, the club could find itself lapsing into administration and subject to external forces that it cannot control. As we saw with Leeds United and Portsmouth, no good, in a footballing sense, seems to come at a club where accountants and auditors determine who stays and who goes. At this stage, it’s hard to foresee what happens next at Rangers Football Club but until we know, it would be foolish of anyone to turn off the life support.
Which brings me to my third and final point. Ultimately, the negative press surrounding the club does nothing but reduce fan morale and encourage our rivals. And it appears to be working. In a week when less than 18,000 turned out for a cup match against an SPL rival, the chat rooms and fans sections online have been awash with Celtic fans hoping to make the most of the imminent demise of Rangers. If you are a fan of Celtic Football Club right now, you can smell blood. So, this is not the time for in-fighting or for withholding support for the club. You may hate the sight of Craig Whyte and feel that to stay away is to hurt him and his cause by depriving him of your custom. And you would be right. But for as long as he is owner, hurting Craig Whyte is to hurt Rangers Football Club. The club withers dies without the money the fans spend and the support they provide every other Saturday.
Unlike the movies, there is no guarantee of a happy ending and without your continued support, there is every chance of this being a weepy.
Saving Rangers FC 
Good luck with the blog.
Can I ask you why you are so certain that the quote below is accurate? Are you familiar with CW’s plan? No one else seems to be.
“Craig Whyte will have an exit strategy where he retires with millions from the sale of the club but it will be a plan which assumes that having put the club back on an even keel financially, he is able to rebuild the playing squad, win trophies and take advantage of the commercial opportunities which come with success (increased sponsorship, unilateral TV contracts, stadium redevelopment, building the foreign fan base etc). Only success will ensure that he gets the highest price for the club when he does eventually sell. His optimism may be misplaced – it may be dashed already – [b]but that will still be his plan[b/]. And as a fan of the club, not of the owner, I have to hope that he’s right.”
Great question, thanks. It’s not that I’m so certain, it’s that I can’t conceive of any other plan in his mind. No other plan makes sense, based on what we currently know.
“But for as long as he is owner, hurting Craig Whyte is to hurt Rangers Football Club”
I see your point but what other avenue of protest was/is open . What would have hurt the fans more ?
(A)Tranparency about the finances or
(B) Rubbish about “Warchests” and squad investments
The fans have been hoodwinked and are drained of their famous loyalty , you’d be an imbecile if you returned to pat a dog that had just bitten you .
I respect your views but I don’t personally believe that Rangers fans have been drained of their loyalty. The most important thing is to continue to support the team. At the end of the day, that’s all that matters.
” I don’t personally believe that Rangers fans have been drained of their loyalty ”
The attendance for the Scottish Cup exit would suggest otherwise . After falling behind Celtic in the title race , it could be argued that the Scottish Cup was the club’s best chance of silverware . If you discount the number of DUFC fans , the ” loyal ” numbered around the 14 -15,000 mark . To me , that looks like loyalty being tested . What was wrong with 40,000 loyal fans turning up to support the team and using their voices to protest anything else ? There are a lot of unhappy fans out there and slowly but surely they are realising that there are huge problems haunting the club , problems that could , genuinely , destroy it completely . They also know that loyalty , in any amounts , doesn’t pay bills or clear debt .
Poor financial practices by more than one owner have left the club and the team in a sorry state and is driving Bears into hibernation mode in droves . Hopefully , many good bears , like yourself , will take action and do positive things to help the situation , although i’m of the opinion that it may be too late .
Good luck with blog
Posted on FF earlier tonight. Interested in hearing your thoughts on it.
An open letter to Craig Whyte
Dear Craig,
Please accept this in the spirit it is intended – to help you and Rangers find a way out of the current crisis at Ibrox.
You admit there is a £10m hole in the club’s finances, even without addressing any possible bill from the taxman, so every penny has to be spent wisely.
Let me start by saving you a not inconsiderable sum on the club’s PR bill. By any yardstick, your PR strategy has been disastrous, with almost every other day bringing a media broadside lobbed at you from a great height.
You might argue that it is only the usual suspects who are attacking you but that is no longer the case. You are now at a tipping point with the club’s fans. And that is a highly dangerous position.
So, in the obvious absence of the right PR advice, let me offer you this simple strategy for free – put your cards on the table and explain to the club’s suffering supporters what your plan is. They can take it. They know there are problems and there will have to be tough times before things get better.
What they cannot countenance is being kept out of the loop.
So don’t try to fool them with clever soundbites. Just be honest. Even if it’s bad news they will respect you for that – and back you. But don’t just ask for their trust – you will have to earn it by not treating them as outsiders. They are not. They are all part of the Rangers family so treat them as such.
If you have made mistakes in your business past, admit it. If you have made mistakes since taking over the club, admit that too. We all make mistakes. Every single person on this planet.
Let me give you a footballing analogy. A referee makes a horrendous decision that costs your team three points or a cup exit. As a fan, you rage. If the ref admits his error next day and apologises, you warm to him and the anger subsides. Okay, he might have cost you a vital game but he had the good grace to admit he was wrong. That man quickly regains his respect. And the respect of others. To err is human; to forgive, divine.
So start by giving honest answers to the club’s fans. They want to know where the cash from the deal with Ticketus is. Tell them. If, for example, you need it to save the club from going under then tell them that. If you have another reason, then explain what it is. But don’t use clever words to hide the real answer. At the end of the day, you should have nothing to hide.
The greatest power you have to discredit your critics is transparency.
Construct a new business plan if need be, one that keeps the fans informed and onside. One that doesn’t require you to keep them in the dark by claiming that ‘commercial confidentiality’ prevents you from giving an explanation – that won’t wash any longer. One that allows you to publish accounts and pay bills on time. One that keeps the club’s dignity intact.
A plan to revive or save a football club isn’t that difficult to understand anyway – you need to reduce expenditure and increase income. Er, that’s it. Even the dimmest gets that.
If you need to ask fans for help with finances, then simply ask them. If you have earned their trust then you will get a favourable response, even in these straitened times.
I don’t know if you are fully aware of how much the supporters want to believe in you. They really, really do. They know the club’s dire financial position is not of your making. If you are open with them, I can guarantee that you will be amazed at their reaction.
They want you to be a good guy more than anything in the world right now. But they have to trust you.
Curved balls and spin is PR advice from another era, from yesterday’s men, and people are too media savvy now – and cynical – to accept it. They can spot it a mile off so it doesn’t work. As you now know, to your cost.
You have a massive decision to make and not a lot of time to choose the right road. You can save this fine club and be forever remembered as one of its greatest heroes who delivered in its greatest hour of need.
Or you can be stained, ostracised and reviled till the day you die – and beyond.
The choice is yours. If you choose correctly then your legacy will be assured. All you have to do is be honest and open. In fact, nothing could be simpler.
Let me wish you the best of luck. Just be a good guy and do the right thing. You won’t believe how easy that is.
And the rewards will be truly astonishing.
Best wishes,
From a football fan
Great letter. Completely share your sentiment on the need for open communication: I said as much in today’s post on ownership. Would be very keen to know what sort of reaction you get to this.
This is a busy community.
rangerstaxcase.com
From little acorns…
rangerstaxcase.com is arguably the most important Rangers forum online, having taken a lead in sharing information about the tax case and the wider implications for Rangers Football Club. Invaluable.
I appreciate how you are laying this all out. However, it matters a great deal, in the short or long run, if Craig Whyte is a wido or not. There’s no alternative to sifting through all the facts dispassionately.
It’s not for me to comment on whether or not anyone is a wido and I can’t promise complete dispassion given that we’re talking about Rangers. But I promise to do my best to present the facts as plainly as I can.
people like craig whyte/white, david murray and the old celtic board think they own the clubs. they dont all they do is own the key to the door of the stadium its the fans that own the club, the history. and as a result keep the fans in the dark thinking they dont matter and can be counted on all the time no matter what.
glad to see rangers fans are starting to try and organize themselves in defence of thier club. but plan for 2 outcomes the status quo and the one where you the fans will need to restart the club yourselves and work up from div3. there was talk of a fan owned club before CW came in so why not if CW forces you out of business.
good luck with the site.
Thanks for the message. I appreciate your comments. I strongly agree with you when you say that directors don’t own football clubs, fans do. Spot on.
Is it not just possible that Craig Whyte just wants to walk away with cash and doesn’t care what, if anything, is left behind?
You mention the press and adverse press coverage. I happen to think that Rangers have got off lightly and have done throughout the Murray era. SDM spent a fortune on media relations ( using Media House) and was skilled in the art of self promotion. Remember the casino/ “Murray Dome” and the “for every £5 Celtic spend, we will spend £10”. The press have also sat twiddling their thumbs for over 18 months since the BTC was first discussed (despite being aware of the tax case as it was aired in the first BBC documentary), as have fans of Rangers. Few searching questions have been asked until publication of the Daily record article. Yet, The Rangers Tax Case blog has been on the case for ages and ordinary Celtic fans appear to have a greater grasp of the situation faced by Rangers than Rangers fans themselves.
How exactly should the press be handling the issues faced by Rangers and the impact of what has happened at Rangers (all of their own volition, no-one but Rangers caused this situation) upon the rest of Scottish football and HMRC?
There was no motivation by Rangers fans to start a campaign for change or action when the BBC aired its documentary last October. Time stops for no-one and the tax case decision is likely within a relatively short time.
For sure, Craig Whyte wants a large financial return. But why do you assume that Craig Whyte will leave the club on a sound financial footing? How would he achieve that?
You mention administration but not liquidation. Why is that?
You state that Rangers fans should not withhold support. What advice do you offer them at season ticket renewal time? Personally, I think that every other club facing a match at Ibrox should not pay Rangers in advance for tickets and that payment should follow the match taking place, so that all football fans outwith Rangers do not lose out financially should Rangers be unable to fulfill its fixtures.
The last comment from Hoopy Harry is very accurate, although most Rangers fans would not be pleased to see it, why do the fans think that they are getting a hard time from the media ??
As HH said fans from Celtic are more aware of the issues than real Rangers fans, I know it can be difficult to accept but the information is available in the public domain regarding the life and times of most of the financial players up the great marble staircase at Ibrox. Several sites have all the sordid information before it gets published, and believe me the newspapers in Scotland have been very lenient, the phone in shows even more so.
The perception of the normal Rangers fan in the street at the moment is that everyone is against them at this time, everybody is picking on RFC – all that is being done is people are highlighting the potential problems and pitfalls that could arise if something is not done quickly. One of the earlier posts showed an excellent open letter to Mr Whyte – or should that be Mr White, great stuff, but what the person asks from CW is not being widely copied by the actual fans.
A huge percentage of Rangers fans just do not accept that they WILL go in to ADMINISTRATION, never mind the possibilities of LIQUIDATION, accept it but get a few lessons on the differences, and don’t for one second think that if the worst scenario did happen and RFC were liquidated that RFC NEWCO will bounce straight back in to the SPL, that is the sort of arrogance that has got this once great club to where it is now.
Good luck