Great Article by Keith Jackson

[MisterC 12,256]

HIS first ambition is to steady the ship. But there’s an iceberg dead ahead, Capt’n Smith.

Because this fractured Rangers board and its new chairman have until Wednesday to unite behind fundamental decisions which may determine if this thing can be straightened up, or if it is listing on towards more white water and destructive waves.

Indeed, Walter Smith has just 48 hours to find a way of quashing a hostile EGM which was called for by a coalition of shareholders, made up of the controversial Easdale brothers and Blue Pitch Holdings.

They have demanded seats on a new-look board for James Easdale and Chris Morgan, two men who backed Charles Green’s regime with hard cash. They also want Malcolm Murray removed from the directors’ box along with Phil Cartmell, two men with whom Smith has sided.

Which means one of four possible outcomes:

1) The Easdale/Blue Pitch camp back down, withdrawing their demands now Murray has been deposed and Smith is at the helm. This would be the best possible outcome for Smith and the club.

2) They take positions at the top table and withdraw their threat of an EGM. This would represent a major victory for the forces that were once aligned with Green and axed commercial director Imran Ahmad – men whom Smith did so much to vanquish. It would also cause concern amongst institutional investors in London and the SFA.

3) Smith turns them down flat and battens down the hatches for another round of bloodletting in three weeks’ time when it will be put to the shareholders to decide the make-up of his board. Given his determination to bring about a period of relative calm, this is likely to be Smith’s least favoured option.

4) A compromise is reached which satisfies some but not all of the demands. But it must be enough to avoid the expense and trauma of a shareholders showdown. This would most likely hinge on Murray being removed from the board, denied the pride-saving consolation of a position as a non-executive director. Again, such action would not sit well with Smith who has huge sympathy for Murray.

There is no sure way of knowing what will happen. However, there was an indication last week this club may be about to rediscover its own sense of decorum.

It came at that board meeting in London, which had been shaping up as a bit of a bloodbath. Murray had been stubbornly refusing to step aside. Green was threatening to call an EGM of his own unless his nemesis was removed. Cartmell’s position hung in the balance and Smith could have gone, washing his hands of this political battle.

But then something remarkable happened the likes of which has not been seen inside a Rangers boardroom since Craig Whyte cleaned out the remnants of the old board two years ago. Since then this club has been run in a reckless noses-in-the-trough fashion by a collection of cut-throats whose sole intention was to squeeze from it every last drop of cash.

But on Wednesday two men put their self-interests to one side and acted on behalf of their club. First Murray backed down and, by accepting that his own time was up, sacrificed his position.

There are many inside of this thing who believe Murray’s last act as chairman was by far his finest. In fact, there are some who will tell you it was his only good decision and that he ought to have taken it a long time ago but, in the end, Murray did the decent thing and proposed that Smith take on his role.

Then Smith, who has been wanting to step down from his directorial duties for months, agreed to take one for the team. By accepting this position he places himself in the firing line not for personal satisfaction but for the good of his club.

So one man who was desperate to remain as chairman gave up the position, handing it over to another who would rather not have touched it with a bargepole. All done in the name of Rangers. And, after all the damage of the last two years of self-serving, that is at least a start.

It is Smith’s plan to take control of this carnage, clean it up quickly and place people who can be trusted in charge. If he is still chairman next year, something will have gone badly wrong. But Smith will not go until he is sure his club is being run by others whose intentions are as honourable as his.

It’s why, back in April when the board convened a crisis meeting to consider the damage being done by Green and Ahmad, Smith entered Murray Park armed with a grainy, dog-eared, 60-year-old photograph from his own family album. It was taken at Ibrox and showed a five-year-old Smith accompanied by his grandfather amongst others from their local supporters’ club in Carmyle. Smith produced this picture and delivered an emotional and powerful speech in a bid to demonstrate to fellow directors why this club means so much to so many.

And why it must no longer be treated as a hostage to fortune or endangered by the selfishness of opportunists with pound signs flashing in their eyes and grasping hands. They don’t always have to be from Yorkshire but it helps.

Green has gone now, his mitts stuffed full of Rangers money. He will also soon be able to cash in his chips and collect around £3million worth of shares.

That’s not bad going for a man who arrived with one suit and an endless supply of moonbeams for sale just a year ago. He should take his money and run. And perhaps those who bankrolled him can also then be encouraged to back off and allow Smith to steer his ship back towards safer waters.

Either way, the direction Rangers take in the next two or three days could save this club ... or sink it.

[1st_Jan_1994 4,868]

Your definition of a great article differs from mine.

[johanhentze 14,057]

HIS first ambition is to steady the ship. But there’s an iceberg dead ahead, Capt’n Smith.

Because this fractured Rangers board and its new chairman have until Wednesday to unite behind fundamental decisions which may determine if this thing can be straightened up, or if it is listing on towards more white water and destructive waves.

Indeed, Walter Smith has just 48 hours to find a way of quashing a hostile EGM which was called for by a coalition of shareholders, made up of the controversial Easdale brothers and Blue Pitch Holdings.

They have demanded seats on a new-look board for James Easdale and Chris Morgan, two men who backed Charles Green’s regime with hard cash. They also want Malcolm Murray removed from the directors’ box along with Phil Cartmell, two men with whom Smith has sided.

Which means one of four possible outcomes:

1) The Easdale/Blue Pitch camp back down, withdrawing their demands now Murray has been deposed and Smith is at the helm. This would be the best possible outcome for Smith and the club.

2) They take positions at the top table and withdraw their threat of an EGM. This would represent a major victory for the forces that were once aligned with Green and axed commercial director Imran Ahmad – men whom Smith did so much to vanquish. It would also cause concern amongst institutional investors in London and the SFA.

3) Smith turns them down flat and battens down the hatches for another round of bloodletting in three weeks’ time when it will be put to the shareholders to decide the make-up of his board. Given his determination to bring about a period of relative calm, this is likely to be Smith’s least favoured option.

4) A compromise is reached which satisfies some but not all of the demands. But it must be enough to avoid the expense and trauma of a shareholders showdown. This would most likely hinge on Murray being removed from the board, denied the pride-saving consolation of a position as a non-executive director. Again, such action would not sit well with Smith who has huge sympathy for Murray.

There is no sure way of knowing what will happen. However, there was an indication last week this club may be about to rediscover its own sense of decorum.

It came at that board meeting in London, which had been shaping up as a bit of a bloodbath. Murray had been stubbornly refusing to step aside. Green was threatening to call an EGM of his own unless his nemesis was removed. Cartmell’s position hung in the balance and Smith could have gone, washing his hands of this political battle.

But then something remarkable happened the likes of which has not been seen inside a Rangers boardroom since Craig Whyte cleaned out the remnants of the old board two years ago. Since then this club has been run in a reckless noses-in-the-trough fashion by a collection of cut-throats whose sole intention was to squeeze from it every last drop of cash.

But on Wednesday two men put their self-interests to one side and acted on behalf of their club. First Murray backed down and, by accepting that his own time was up, sacrificed his position.

There are many inside of this thing who believe Murray’s last act as chairman was by far his finest. In fact, there are some who will tell you it was his only good decision and that he ought to have taken it a long time ago but, in the end, Murray did the decent thing and proposed that Smith take on his role.

Then Smith, who has been wanting to step down from his directorial duties for months, agreed to take one for the team. By accepting this position he places himself in the firing line not for personal satisfaction but for the good of his club.

So one man who was desperate to remain as chairman gave up the position, handing it over to another who would rather not have touched it with a bargepole. All done in the name of Rangers. And, after all the damage of the last two years of self-serving, that is at least a start.

It is Smith’s plan to take control of this carnage, clean it up quickly and place people who can be trusted in charge. If he is still chairman next year, something will have gone badly wrong. But Smith will not go until he is sure his club is being run by others whose intentions are as honourable as his.

It’s why, back in April when the board convened a crisis meeting to consider the damage being done by Green and Ahmad, Smith entered Murray Park armed with a grainy, dog-eared, 60-year-old photograph from his own family album. It was taken at Ibrox and showed a five-year-old Smith accompanied by his grandfather amongst others from their local supporters’ club in Carmyle. Smith produced this picture and delivered an emotional and powerful speech in a bid to demonstrate to fellow directors why this club means so much to so many.

And why it must no longer be treated as a hostage to fortune or endangered by the selfishness of opportunists with pound signs flashing in their eyes and grasping hands. They don’t always have to be from Yorkshire but it helps.

Green has gone now, his mitts stuffed full of Rangers money. He will also soon be able to cash in his chips and collect around £3million worth of shares.

That’s not bad going for a man who arrived with one suit and an endless supply of moonbeams for sale just a year ago. He should take his money and run. And perhaps those who bankrolled him can also then be encouraged to back off and allow Smith to steer his ship back towards safer waters.

Either way, the direction Rangers take in the next two or three days could save this club ... or sink it.

[scarkev 3,540]

Great article? Really? More assumption based innuendo from the same man who told us that should Malcolm Murray step down Walter would walk!

[simplythebest 11,453]

I beg to differ.

[CalvinC 1,414]

Keith Jackson is a knob

[JCDBigBear 10,804]

I certainly wouldn't call that a "great article". You must be easily pleased Mister C.

[MisterC 12,256]

Think its a cool and calm rational analysis of the current state of play. Superbly written with many a valid point, dont see the problem really....

[gogzy 31,195]

it's a total lot of shite IMO, nice attempt MisterC

[Edmiston Drive 3,846]

We know for sure who has been keeping jackson informed now.

[The Dude 20,026]

We know for sure who has been keeping jackson informed now.

and who would that be ED?

[bluepeter 5,627]

and who would that be ED?

MisterC

[Edmiston Drive 3,846]

and who would that be ED?

You should know Dude with all the guys you are in with at Ibrox. One name has been known for years the other only over the last year,

[thehost 11,061]

ahhhh the smith take on the world,

if i was the easdales id be wanting a seat on the board too

you chip your money in, you have a say

it will also be refreshing to get some diverse views, on the board, ones that may actually hold "young" alistair to account

[Bertent 2,081]

Im so emotional after reading that. Its truly prose at its finest and clearly conveys the journalists contacts message. I for one will never question or doubt again.

[The Dude 20,026]

You should know Dude with all the guys you are in with at Ibrox. One name has been known for years the other only over the last year,

There's only one guy I know at Ibrox and he's been in San Francisco recently.

Is it Jimmy Bell and Dean Shiels?

[The Dude 20,026]

ahhhh the smith take on the world,

if i was the easdales id be wanting a seat on the board too

you chip your money in, you have a say

it will also be refreshing to get some diverse views, on the board, ones that may actually hold "young" alistair to account

Were the guys on the board now or have recently left incapable? You know, guys like Green and Ahmad and Stockbridge?

[Edmiston Drive 3,846]

There's only one guy I know at Ibrox and he's been in San Francisco recently.

Is it Jimmy Bell and Dean Shiels?

There's only one guy I know at Ibrox and he's been in San Francisco recently.

Is it Jimmy Bell and Dean Shiels?

omg hope you can back this up

[cushynumber 25,178]

I actually thought this article sounded like a guy who was making it all up as he went along.

[bawsburst 1,381]

Green hasn' t gone at all.

[bawsburst 1,381]

Green hasn' t gone at all.

[californiadreamin52 339]

never though I would see Great Article and Keith Jackson in the same sentence mind you opinions are like arseholes everyone has got one

[thehost 11,061]

Were the guys on the board now or have recently left incapable? You know, guys like Green and Ahmad and Stockbridge?

Well they were stupid enough to bring smith on board if that helps.

[Redwhiteandblue 3,330]

Think its a cool and calm rational analysis of the current state of play. Superbly written with many a valid point, dont see the problem really....

Massive parts of it are wrong mate.

The 4 scenarios he points out for starters is a load of made up shite.

[The Dude 20,026]

Well they were stupid enough to bring smith on board if that helps.

Well, no. It was a fairly simple yes or no question.