When news broke on Twitter and
news outlets of an apparent agreement from Dundee United’s Jon Daly to join
Rangers, reaction was mixed. Some Ibrox supporters were pleased that a proven
SPL striker was joining the club, one who might not have broken goal records in
Scotland’s
top flight but one known for being robust in the box and having a clear eye of
goal. Reliable, you might say.
news outlets of an apparent agreement from Dundee United’s Jon Daly to join
Rangers, reaction was mixed. Some Ibrox supporters were pleased that a proven
SPL striker was joining the club, one who might not have broken goal records in
Scotland’s
top flight but one known for being robust in the box and having a clear eye of
goal. Reliable, you might say.
However, the more dominant
opinion sweeping fans of the Govan club is that Daly has no resale value and is
on the wrong side of 30. Indeed, the sell-on value was being preached quite
religiously, with accompanying views citing a lack of long-term planning and
potential lack of reversing a negative turnover.
opinion sweeping fans of the Govan club is that Daly has no resale value and is
on the wrong side of 30. Indeed, the sell-on value was being preached quite
religiously, with accompanying views citing a lack of long-term planning and
potential lack of reversing a negative turnover.
So, which branch of the fanbase
is correct? Is it those who worry about the club’s future, in light of the hell
it has suffered in the past year and a half and who declare Daly’s potential
lack of future profit for the club as a severe hindrance? Or is it those who
believe the here and now is the most important aspect of the club’s recovery;
securing passage to the increased finance of the SPL before then setting up
long-term plans once there?
is correct? Is it those who worry about the club’s future, in light of the hell
it has suffered in the past year and a half and who declare Daly’s potential
lack of future profit for the club as a severe hindrance? Or is it those who
believe the here and now is the most important aspect of the club’s recovery;
securing passage to the increased finance of the SPL before then setting up
long-term plans once there?
Let us explore both sides.
Daly is over 30. So is
similarly-linked Nacho Novo – in the Spaniard’s case he is actually 34. The
brutal fact is with income at £9.5M and overheads at around the £15M mark the
club is bleeding money. Not enough is coming in to sustain the costs that a
club of Rangers’ size generates. Subsequently the argument is also made that
these elder statesmen of the game will command more lavish wages than the
club’s incoming revenue can materially sustain for a prolonged period. That is
indeed a fact. Coupled with this the resale of either will be nought. Zip.
Zero. Rangers will make no profit from Novo, Daly, or current stars like Neil
Alexander and Lee McCulloch – all in the twilight of their careers. McCulloch
cost £2.75M from Wigan and Rangers’ coffers
will see absolutely no direct return.
similarly-linked Nacho Novo – in the Spaniard’s case he is actually 34. The
brutal fact is with income at £9.5M and overheads at around the £15M mark the
club is bleeding money. Not enough is coming in to sustain the costs that a
club of Rangers’ size generates. Subsequently the argument is also made that
these elder statesmen of the game will command more lavish wages than the
club’s incoming revenue can materially sustain for a prolonged period. That is
indeed a fact. Coupled with this the resale of either will be nought. Zip.
Zero. Rangers will make no profit from Novo, Daly, or current stars like Neil
Alexander and Lee McCulloch – all in the twilight of their careers. McCulloch
cost £2.75M from Wigan and Rangers’ coffers
will see absolutely no direct return.
However, the rebuttal argument to
this issue is not so much that Rangers are spending
too much – a club the size of Rangers has massive outlay and that cannot be
prevented. No matter what the division. The problem is the level of income. Quite simply it is not enough.
Rangers’ cannot cut costs – if the club reduced its expenditure it would never
get promoted – it would not be able to afford the players the club’s reputation
demands and instead would remain in the bowels of the Third Division. The
club’s 2 top scorers last season were McCulloch and Andy Little – these are not
Third Division-quality players. These two, among others, perpetuated promotion.
Cut costs and use inferior players and there is absolutely no guarantee, or
possibly even chance of promotion.
this issue is not so much that Rangers are spending
too much – a club the size of Rangers has massive outlay and that cannot be
prevented. No matter what the division. The problem is the level of income. Quite simply it is not enough.
Rangers’ cannot cut costs – if the club reduced its expenditure it would never
get promoted – it would not be able to afford the players the club’s reputation
demands and instead would remain in the bowels of the Third Division. The
club’s 2 top scorers last season were McCulloch and Andy Little – these are not
Third Division-quality players. These two, among others, perpetuated promotion.
Cut costs and use inferior players and there is absolutely no guarantee, or
possibly even chance of promotion.
So Rangers cannot reduce the
outlay – it is too big a club to do so. You cannot ‘reduce’ the running costs
of global merchandising or the maintenance of Ibrox. Rangers simply either have
to find ways to increase incoming, or accept that for the short term, the club
will bleed cash.
outlay – it is too big a club to do so. You cannot ‘reduce’ the running costs
of global merchandising or the maintenance of Ibrox. Rangers simply either have
to find ways to increase incoming, or accept that for the short term, the club
will bleed cash.
So this leads us to the other
side; the short-term recovery. It is a view held by a minority, yours truly
included, that it is far more important to lose a small amount of cash, a
sustainable loss, and recover the club to the SPL where that bleeding can then
be patched up. Hence signing players of a higher quality who will ensure that
passage. Short-term fix to get the club back to the top where proper long-term
planning can begin and a fiscal plan drawn up which will secure the club’s
future both on and off the park.
side; the short-term recovery. It is a view held by a minority, yours truly
included, that it is far more important to lose a small amount of cash, a
sustainable loss, and recover the club to the SPL where that bleeding can then
be patched up. Hence signing players of a higher quality who will ensure that
passage. Short-term fix to get the club back to the top where proper long-term
planning can begin and a fiscal plan drawn up which will secure the club’s
future both on and off the park.
Right now the club cannot do
this. It is in a limbo state – a no man’s land within Scottish football’s lower
tiers which prevents clear thinking and a transparent road ahead to propagate
careful planning. Until the club is back in the SPL no plans can be made.
this. It is in a limbo state – a no man’s land within Scottish football’s lower
tiers which prevents clear thinking and a transparent road ahead to propagate
careful planning. Until the club is back in the SPL no plans can be made.
Jon Daly, Nacho Novo and other
‘expensive’ stars can help the club get to the stage where plans can be made.
‘expensive’ stars can help the club get to the stage where plans can be made.
And their resale value? Well, no
outlay bar wages was made so it is a bit
of a paradox but sell-on value? Recouped through the significantly
increased payouts being back in the SPL will reward with.
outlay bar wages was made so it is a bit
of a paradox but sell-on value? Recouped through the significantly
increased payouts being back in the SPL will reward with.
Both sides are valid, and have
fair views and rational thinking. But it is my firm conviction that planning
right now is pointless – nothing can be done till the SPL is within sight
again. Monaco
are a good example of what I am driving at;
fair views and rational thinking. But it is my firm conviction that planning
right now is pointless – nothing can be done till the SPL is within sight
again. Monaco
are a good example of what I am driving at;
In 2011 they were taken over by
the clichéd Russian businessman. At this point they were bottom of Ligue 2.
Money started getting ploughed into the club and nowadays they are promoted.
They are back to the top. Because while they got a dash of fortune with the
takeover, outlay was way higher than incoming before they returned to Ligue 1.
But it was necessary in order to return them to the top. Nowadays they are
courting the likes of Atletico Madrid’s
Radamel Falcao. Outlay will still be higher for sure but sustainably. Most
clubs operate at a loss.
the clichéd Russian businessman. At this point they were bottom of Ligue 2.
Money started getting ploughed into the club and nowadays they are promoted.
They are back to the top. Because while they got a dash of fortune with the
takeover, outlay was way higher than incoming before they returned to Ligue 1.
But it was necessary in order to return them to the top. Nowadays they are
courting the likes of Atletico Madrid’s
Radamel Falcao. Outlay will still be higher for sure but sustainably. Most
clubs operate at a loss.
While I accept Rangers are not Monaco,
the situations needed for recover – aka a bit of risk and slightly higher
spending are necessary for the short-term.
the situations needed for recover – aka a bit of risk and slightly higher
spending are necessary for the short-term.
If Rangers fans want their club
to return to the SPL, similar lower-key actions are required as in Monte Carlo.
to return to the SPL, similar lower-key actions are required as in Monte Carlo.
The most important thing at this time is that we get true Rangers men running the club , who aren't looking mainly at making a quick profit for themselves but are looking towards securing the long term future of the club . Maybe we should look towards selling Murray Park to help finance the next few years , it seems to be leaking cash anyway and hasn't fulfilled expectations by any means . We do need some experienced players in the team to help the younger players , look how its worked for Ross County in their climb through the leagues , but we also need to bring through youngsters .
ITS GOING TO BE SOMETIME BEFORE RANGERS WILL BE FIREING ON ALL CYLINDERS,ALLY IS NOT THE MAN TO TAKE THEM ON A LONG JOURNEY BACK TO THE TOP.EXPERIENCE IS WHAT THEY WANT NOW AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME.I STILL SAY CLEAR OUT ALL THEV HANGER ONS WALTER ESPECIALLY,HE WALKED WHEN NEEDED MOST. GO FOR MCCOLL OF MOTHERWELL,DONT LET HIM SLIP AWAY TO ENGLAND.THATS YOUR FOUNDATION.
Utter pish! Your plan will see the club enter administration again and again as spivs chase the money from a loyal (but gullible) support. Rangers need to cut costs; if that means selling Auchenhowie or Ibrox and lease back then so be it. The days of 'for every fiver…' need to put well and truly in the past.
Your article makes sense in some ways, but there are some transient points I'd like to make, which will agree or disagree with your comments.
Rangers have to blend their squad in a 'horses for courses' set up to return us to the top.
By acquiring Jon Daly at the age of 30, we have a tried and tested striker, but he is also a very competent centre half. McCulloch can't go on much longer as a number one starter, he is prone to injury and his pace slowing, so he is an ideal replacement for him Resale valune for Daly – nil, but a required asset to get us where we are going.
Additions to the squad like Nikki Clark from QOS, possibly bringing in Tom Hately and Nicky Law from Motherwell and possibly a sturdy journeyman centre-half, along with the return of our long-term injured players like Dean Shiels, and futher development of the likes of youth players like McLeod, McKay, Aird, Gasperotto, etc is the way forward. We need not bring in too many experienced players this season, but we need to start supplementing for the future and we need to bolster the squad to get there.
Monaco get crowds of 5-7 k,and could never survive without the generosity if its owner. We should be able at least to break-even with our crowds and merchandising.
"Quite simply it is not enough. Rangers' cannot cut costs – if the club reduced its expenditure it would never get promoted – it would not be able to afford the players the club's reputation demands and instead would remain in the bowels of the Third Division."
How did QOTS manage to win a tougher division with a fraction of the squad costs that Rangers used in the 3rd Division? There was no need for international players or SPL level players to win Scottish Div.3. A lot of this year's running costs were wasted in providing some kind of "continuity factor". The 3rd division could have been won more cheaply with a squad of decent Scottish journeymen from Divs. 2 & 3 plus the best of the Rangers youngsters.
Would the fans have accepted this, though?
I have to strongly disagree with you. What you're basically saying is wait until the future to plan for the future. The way I see it we have a couple of years to build before getting back to the SPL, get younger guys in with potential and actually play them. Preferably in their own positions and in a structure that will take us forward. We dont need to win each division by 20-30 points we just need to show the right attitude and signs of continual improvement and we need to start building a proper structure throughout the club to prepare us for a top division return. I'm not so worried about Daly in particular as he will help on the journey and is capable of filling different positions, as you say no outlay so no great loss and he will be good enough and young enough to help for the duration of his contract but guys like Novo are a complete non starter for me. I love the guy but all he'll do at this stage of his career will stunt the development of the young players he'll get a game in front of.
Fair enough we'll lose money over the next couple of years but lets lose it through preperation for the future in terms of youth scouting and training improvements not on old players who will be done by the time we get back to the top leaving us with no plan in place, under developed youth players and a dire need for a full new squad that we cant afford.
Comments are closed.