Why Charles Green is Back
|
| Back again, Charles? |
It had almost been boring had it
not? Rangers fans had gone a good three or four weeks without any major boards’
politics nonsense, or fan protest and the ilk. Long-suffering Bears were
actually arguing about football, and Ally McCoist.
not? Rangers fans had gone a good three or four weeks without any major boards’
politics nonsense, or fan protest and the ilk. Long-suffering Bears were
actually arguing about football, and Ally McCoist.
My last entry analysed the
manager, his tactics, and the team’s performances.
manager, his tactics, and the team’s performances.
But then, that could not last.
Literally 24 hours later news
broke on two separate counts, in a subject area that supporters have got beyond
sick of and that undid all the football-oriented discussion of recent weeks,
not to mention slightly overshadowing tomorrow’s flag day.
broke on two separate counts, in a subject area that supporters have got beyond
sick of and that undid all the football-oriented discussion of recent weeks,
not to mention slightly overshadowing tomorrow’s flag day.
Sunday at Ibrox was supposed to
be purely about unfurling League One’s mast, while hopefully beating visitors
Hearts. Last but not least was the lovely moment when the Govan Stand would
officially be renamed the Sandy Jardine Stand.
be purely about unfurling League One’s mast, while hopefully beating visitors
Hearts. Last but not least was the lovely moment when the Govan Stand would
officially be renamed the Sandy Jardine Stand.
But no, here we are bleating on
about Dave King, David Somers, Charles Green & a brand new name to the
Rangers world – George Soros.
about Dave King, David Somers, Charles Green & a brand new name to the
Rangers world – George Soros.
The first story to break saw
chairman Somers discussing future share issues, and the opportunities for
investment. Asked on Dave King specifically, Somers replied:
chairman Somers discussing future share issues, and the opportunities for
investment. Asked on Dave King specifically, Somers replied:
“We are always open to dialogue with new
investors, including Dave King. On an occasion in the future when we might be
talking to new investors, I would expect us to have a courtesy conversation
with him.”
investors, including Dave King. On an occasion in the future when we might be
talking to new investors, I would expect us to have a courtesy conversation
with him.”
Many may disagree but I feel this
to be a weak, poor and incompetent response about a man who has openly attacked
the Club and tried to strange its coffers with the failed ST Trust scheme. If
someone attacks you with a knife in the street, you do not then ask them to
help heal the cut they caused. Dave King tried to hurt Rangers, and now Somers
has his cap out?
to be a weak, poor and incompetent response about a man who has openly attacked
the Club and tried to strange its coffers with the failed ST Trust scheme. If
someone attacks you with a knife in the street, you do not then ask them to
help heal the cut they caused. Dave King tried to hurt Rangers, and now Somers
has his cap out?
For me, the response here should
have either been ‘no comment’ or an outright ‘no’. I know the Club is in dire
need of finance, but given King has threatened to invest for 15 years (the £20M
story from the 90s is history) without anything materialising I believe he is
beyond a busted flush – consequently rejecting him is like saying ‘no’ to the
hopes of a lottery win before the numbers are drawn. You are rejecting the
occurrence of an event which is nearly impossible anyway.
have either been ‘no comment’ or an outright ‘no’. I know the Club is in dire
need of finance, but given King has threatened to invest for 15 years (the £20M
story from the 90s is history) without anything materialising I believe he is
beyond a busted flush – consequently rejecting him is like saying ‘no’ to the
hopes of a lottery win before the numbers are drawn. You are rejecting the
occurrence of an event which is nearly impossible anyway.
Dave King could have pinched this
Club for less than £10M during the admin days, but was nowhere to be seen.
Indeed he could have taken it off Murray’s
hands for £2. He was the invisible man.
Club for less than £10M during the admin days, but was nowhere to be seen.
Indeed he could have taken it off Murray’s
hands for £2. He was the invisible man.
No sooner had that story made the headlines though,
when it was completely trumped by yet another public takeover threat from
former CEO Charles Green.
when it was completely trumped by yet another public takeover threat from
former CEO Charles Green.
Not for the first time, the former
head of the Club made public waves about recapturing Rangers, only this time
purely as a proxy for American billionaire George Soros. This is what Green
said:
head of the Club made public waves about recapturing Rangers, only this time
purely as a proxy for American billionaire George Soros. This is what Green
said:
“I’ve got a number of people ready to
invest in Rangers. I’ve told people this is a great club and a great
opportunity. It’s one of the world’s biggest brands in terms of football. I
don’t want to go back to Rangers, I left unhappy last year and know it wouldn’t
be right to go back. However, to see where the club is now is a disaster.
invest in Rangers. I’ve told people this is a great club and a great
opportunity. It’s one of the world’s biggest brands in terms of football. I
don’t want to go back to Rangers, I left unhappy last year and know it wouldn’t
be right to go back. However, to see where the club is now is a disaster.
Why Charles Green? I’m not applying to be the Messiah but I won’t let
the club continue to slide and become a laughing stock. What I’m saying is if
someone else can raise the money then great – if not, I’ll do it.
the club continue to slide and become a laughing stock. What I’m saying is if
someone else can raise the money then great – if not, I’ll do it.
It’s a disjointed fan base and someone needs to stand up and say how it
is. I’ve made loads of mistakes I’m not saying I’m a good guy but I’m certainly
not the worst guy.
is. I’ve made loads of mistakes I’m not saying I’m a good guy but I’m certainly
not the worst guy.
I wouldn’t be involved at executive level or operationally but if I
bring investors in, they’ll want some kind of representation on the board. That
could be me or someone else.
bring investors in, they’ll want some kind of representation on the board. That
could be me or someone else.
Raising cash is what I do. It’s what I’ve done for 30 years and it’s
all I do. What is important is that the club is saved. If the club doesn’t
raise cash, then it won’t be able to continue to trade.
all I do. What is important is that the club is saved. If the club doesn’t
raise cash, then it won’t be able to continue to trade.
If some fans would rather the club goes back into administration then
they are not real fans. Sit and wait and see what happens – if I don’t raise
the cash then that’s it but if I do the club will be stronger.
they are not real fans. Sit and wait and see what happens – if I don’t raise
the cash then that’s it but if I do the club will be stronger.
Fans need to unite. One week it’s the Sons of Struth and then the Union of Fans – there is no union of fans.
I’d love to see all the fans unite and hate me – at least then they’d
be united. It’s a disjointed fan base and someone needs to stand up and say it
how it is.”
be united. It’s a disjointed fan base and someone needs to stand up and say it
how it is.”
 |
| George Soros – the new kid on the block? |
In simple terms Green wants to
make more money (well, he would not do this for free would he) and believes,
among others, Soros (who owns around 7% of Manchester United) see Rangers as an
investment opportunity. Readers of my blogs down the years know I have always
been an advocate of Green, and that I never subscribed to the propaganda
against him. Yes, the guy wants to make cash, but he has never lied about that.
Here he appears to trying to get Soros to invest in Rangers (possibly buoyed by
Rangers’ popular American tour where obscure stadiums in California &
Ottawa were filled with blue jerseys) while using the cover story that he
genuinely cares about the Club.
make more money (well, he would not do this for free would he) and believes,
among others, Soros (who owns around 7% of Manchester United) see Rangers as an
investment opportunity. Readers of my blogs down the years know I have always
been an advocate of Green, and that I never subscribed to the propaganda
against him. Yes, the guy wants to make cash, but he has never lied about that.
Here he appears to trying to get Soros to invest in Rangers (possibly buoyed by
Rangers’ popular American tour where obscure stadiums in California &
Ottawa were filled with blue jerseys) while using the cover story that he
genuinely cares about the Club.
Maybe he does, but to me this
does not matter – if Charles Green, who said, by the way, that he does not want
back at Rangers (to which the Union of Fans’ respond “Charles Green is not
welcome at Rangers” – bit slow, are they not?), can get American billionaires
to pump money into Rangers so that the Club can get back to a financial keel
while a few folk make a bit of cash of it, that is fine with me.
does not matter – if Charles Green, who said, by the way, that he does not want
back at Rangers (to which the Union of Fans’ respond “Charles Green is not
welcome at Rangers” – bit slow, are they not?), can get American billionaires
to pump money into Rangers so that the Club can get back to a financial keel
while a few folk make a bit of cash of it, that is fine with me.
There appears to be a curious
belief among certain fans that Rangers are not a business, and that ‘how dare
these crooks make cash from our Club’. Apparently some fans expect rich men to
literally ‘gift’ them the cash for no return, because otherwise they are just
thieves. It is beyond naïve.
belief among certain fans that Rangers are not a business, and that ‘how dare
these crooks make cash from our Club’. Apparently some fans expect rich men to
literally ‘gift’ them the cash for no return, because otherwise they are just
thieves. It is beyond naïve.
In the end, nothing will likely
come of this anyway, as is so often the case. But if Green can get rich people
to invest cash in the Club to help us through this period, obviously while they
get a return, it is something I would take.
come of this anyway, as is so often the case. But if Green can get rich people
to invest cash in the Club to help us through this period, obviously while they
get a return, it is something I would take.
He raises cash. It is what he
does. He gets paid for it.
does. He gets paid for it.
No one does anything for nothing
in this life.
in this life.