Reformation Bear

BBC, Steve Clarke and Tom English...
Enough said. 

Clarke saying at the time that he never heard the orange bastard chants towards Boyd and/or that he didn't want to talk about that, he wanted to talk about the football, should've seen him absolutely slaughtered. Utter cunt.

It’s funny how Clarke has become the poster child for standing up to sectarian abuse but there has been next to nowhere near the same level of talk or widespread support for Derek McInnes after he reacted to celtic fans chanting sectarian abuse at him. It was briefly glossed over then quickly forgotten about.

This is one of those 2+2 makes 3976 posts ie I'm maybe reading far too much into what's not said.
If UEFA did not specify that BF1 was to close or that this wretched banner had to be displayed in the BF1 area ie it is the Club's decision to close that area then is the Chairman effectively taking the first steps in an eventual dismantling of UB being located in any specific part of Ibrox?  Or worse taking the first steps in an ultimatum to UB of 'its King's way or stop coming to Rangers games'...………..which in a way is the essence of his message a few days ago?
If its a Rangers choice to close BF1 then it amounts to a direct challenge.   And having done it once the precedent is set to do it again.   And maybe not confined to European games either.       Is it, I wonder, really then King's opening salvo to bring the Support to heel or force those who won't accept the party line to get out.
I'll put my wider conspiracy thoughts on this to one side now and see how all of this plays out at the game on Thursday......and then at the OF game......and then in the next European games if we qualify.

So the basic message is don't sing in a way that the Chairman of Rangers, the directors of Rangers, the execs of Rangers, the Manager of Rangers and now the voicepiece of SOS find offensive...... an offence is imported into their current way of thinking via UEFA.      Or else.
It'll be interesting to see how well this message is received and acted on by the Support at the game on Thursday...…...and at the OF game at the weekend...…...and at the next European games if we qualify...……..and at domestic games throughout the rest of the season.    
Its also worth noting that the author refers to hindsight (see extract from the statement in italics below - text in bold by me).    
Frankly the Chairman and his Board and his execs - or even Supporter groups -  should not just be looking at things in hindsight and reacting as though they've just been ambushed by some unexpected event.    IMO there is a fundamental failure by King and his Board to anticipate this sort of risk and grasp the seriousness of the matter far more thoroughly and proactively far earlier.   I think they just hoped that things would just muddle along and hope nothing serious would happen.   
Then when it does the only approach they seem to be willing to take is to issue a statement and then shelter behind the skirts of this type of SOS statement in the hope that some attempted leverage by fans groups will somehow do the trick.      So much for top quality pro-active leadership by the Chairman and his directors.    Why do some serious work with the Support to reach a long term definitive resolution when you can get fan groups to do a bit of lapdog type barking and see if that does the trick.
The Chairman and his directors appear to me right now to be prepared to go for a lucky throw of the dice and hoping that it lands double 6.  Meaning that with the King statement and the manager's words and fan group words they hope a double six wins them no more trouble from UEFA and no more trouble from domestic football authorities.     They are gambling when they should have been far more pro-active in leading before it came to this.      Maybe its all too difficult for them and all they are left with is dishing out 'don't be naughty' notices and hoping that fans groups will somehow magically do the heavy lifting on this for them. 
We'll see if it has any effect and if they can make their pleas stick on Thursday …...and then again at the OF game......and then again at future European games if we qualify...….and then again at the rest of the domestic games for this season.
 
"...............….Many fans suggested this would be the outcome as soon as we started qualifying for Europe again after a few barren seasons. With hindsight it was inevitable and no amount of blogs, posts or shouting in public will change where we are.   So what should we do? There’s only two choices, we carry on regardless or we change. If we carry on regardless then we will see larger ground closures. It’s that simple."

So the basic message is don't sing in a way that the Chairman of Rangers, the directors of Rangers, the execs of Rangers, the Manager of Rangers and now the voicepiece of SOS find offensive...... an offence is imported into their current way of thinking via UEFA.      Or else.
It'll be interesting to see how well this message is received and acted on by the Support at the game on Thursday...…...and at the OF game at the weekend...…...and at the next European games if we qualify...……..and at domestic games throughout the rest of the season.    
Its also worth noting that the author refers to hindsight (see extract from the statement in italics below - text in bold by me).    
Frankly the Chairman and his Board and his execs - or even Supporter groups -  should not just be looking at things in hindsight and reacting as though they've just been ambushed by some unexpected event.    IMO there is a fundamental failure by King and his Board to anticipate this sort of risk and grasp the seriousness of the matter far more thoroughly and proactively far earlier.   I think they just hoped that things would just muddle along and hope nothing serious would happen.   
Then when it does the only approach they seem to be willing to take is to issue a statement and then shelter behind the skirts of this type of SOS statement in the hope that some attempted leverage by fans groups will somehow do the trick.      So much for top quality pro-active leadership by the Chairman and his directors.    Why do some serious work with the Support to reach a long term definitive resolution when you can get fan groups to do a bit of lapdog type barking and see if that does the trick.
The Chairman and his directors appear to me right now to be prepared to go for a lucky throw of the dice and hoping that it lands double 6.  Meaning that with the King statement and the manager's words and fan group words they hope a double six wins them no more trouble from UEFA and no more trouble from domestic football authorities.     They are gambling when they should have been far more pro-active in leading before it came to this.      Maybe its all too difficult for them and all they are left with is dishing out 'don't be naughty' notices and hoping that fans groups will somehow magically do the heavy lifting on this for them. 
We'll see if it has any effect and if they can make their pleas stick on Thursday …...and then again at the OF game......and then again at future European games if we qualify...….and then again at the rest of the domestic games for this season.
 
"...............….Many fans suggested this would be the outcome as soon as we started qualifying for Europe again after a few barren seasons. With hindsight it was inevitable and no amount of blogs, posts or shouting in public will change where we are.   So what should we do? There’s only two choices, we carry on regardless or we change. If we carry on regardless then we will see larger ground closures. It’s that simple."

If he remains fit....and dare I say it is still with the Club since I think some transfer windows are still open......I'd be surprised if Morelos did not start both games with Defoe replacing him as some point in each game.   The very way Morelos plays, and now his reputation as a goal scorer, seems to me to create more of an opportunity to rattle opposing defences that the skillsets that Defoe  has.             

Mind the days of going to the games without all these groups and social media , gid times 👍🏻👌🏻

This statement is the reason so many fans are rightly annoyed at the board over this UEFA carry on, do they really think releasing statements by such a divisive group is going to help fan unity, when we need it so much ?    
Why to fuck can the board not start speaking to the fans in a proper way ie speak to leaders of RSC's, etc, and the UB as well, are they really that stupid that they think this does nothing but breed resentment at how the majority of fans are being ignored.
Why are we so, so bad at this kind of thing? It makes me despair that we have no PR of any worth at out Club or any common sense in how to try and bring us together. 

Oh the irony 

Great post Reform Bear. Maybe part of the Chairman's strength is the alleged 14k waiting list for STs? They seem happy to throw loyal supporters under the bus by their directive.As CB said earlier,why not offer the fans in BF1 seats elsewhere? I agree,they've been targeted.I'm guessing this closure will cost the Club about £150k,how much has King cost the Club in the never ending rows wi Ashley,that seem impossible to win but hey,don't sing a naughty work or we'll kick you out of the Club you've supported long before King thought he could make money out of it.

So the basic message is don't sing in a way that the Chairman of Rangers, the directors of Rangers, the execs of Rangers, the Manager of Rangers and now the voicepiece of SOS find offensive...... an offence is imported into their current way of thinking via UEFA.      Or else.
It'll be interesting to see how well this message is received and acted on by the Support at the game on Thursday...…...and at the OF game at the weekend...…...and at the next European games if we qualify...……..and at domestic games throughout the rest of the season.    
Its also worth noting that the author refers to hindsight (see extract from the statement in italics below - text in bold by me).    
Frankly the Chairman and his Board and his execs - or even Supporter groups -  should not just be looking at things in hindsight and reacting as though they've just been ambushed by some unexpected event.    IMO there is a fundamental failure by King and his Board to anticipate this sort of risk and grasp the seriousness of the matter far more thoroughly and proactively far earlier.   I think they just hoped that things would just muddle along and hope nothing serious would happen.   
Then when it does the only approach they seem to be willing to take is to issue a statement and then shelter behind the skirts of this type of SOS statement in the hope that some attempted leverage by fans groups will somehow do the trick.      So much for top quality pro-active leadership by the Chairman and his directors.    Why do some serious work with the Support to reach a long term definitive resolution when you can get fan groups to do a bit of lapdog type barking and see if that does the trick.
The Chairman and his directors appear to me right now to be prepared to go for a lucky throw of the dice and hoping that it lands double 6.  Meaning that with the King statement and the manager's words and fan group words they hope a double six wins them no more trouble from UEFA and no more trouble from domestic football authorities.     They are gambling when they should have been far more pro-active in leading before it came to this.      Maybe its all too difficult for them and all they are left with is dishing out 'don't be naughty' notices and hoping that fans groups will somehow magically do the heavy lifting on this for them. 
We'll see if it has any effect and if they can make their pleas stick on Thursday …...and then again at the OF game......and then again at future European games if we qualify...….and then again at the rest of the domestic games for this season.
 
"...............….Many fans suggested this would be the outcome as soon as we started qualifying for Europe again after a few barren seasons. With hindsight it was inevitable and no amount of blogs, posts or shouting in public will change where we are.   So what should we do? There’s only two choices, we carry on regardless or we change. If we carry on regardless then we will see larger ground closures. It’s that simple."

So the basic message is don't sing in a way that the Chairman of Rangers, the directors of Rangers, the execs of Rangers, the Manager of Rangers and now the voicepiece of SOS find offensive...... an offence is imported into their current way of thinking via UEFA.      Or else.
It'll be interesting to see how well this message is received and acted on by the Support at the game on Thursday...…...and at the OF game at the weekend...…...and at the next European games if we qualify...……..and at domestic games throughout the rest of the season.    
Its also worth noting that the author refers to hindsight (see extract from the statement in italics below - text in bold by me).    
Frankly the Chairman and his Board and his execs - or even Supporter groups -  should not just be looking at things in hindsight and reacting as though they've just been ambushed by some unexpected event.    IMO there is a fundamental failure by King and his Board to anticipate this sort of risk and grasp the seriousness of the matter far more thoroughly and proactively far earlier.   I think they just hoped that things would just muddle along and hope nothing serious would happen.   
Then when it does the only approach they seem to be willing to take is to issue a statement and then shelter behind the skirts of this type of SOS statement in the hope that some attempted leverage by fans groups will somehow do the trick.      So much for top quality pro-active leadership by the Chairman and his directors.    Why do some serious work with the Support to reach a long term definitive resolution when you can get fan groups to do a bit of lapdog type barking and see if that does the trick.
The Chairman and his directors appear to me right now to be prepared to go for a lucky throw of the dice and hoping that it lands double 6.  Meaning that with the King statement and the manager's words and fan group words they hope a double six wins them no more trouble from UEFA and no more trouble from domestic football authorities.     They are gambling when they should have been far more pro-active in leading before it came to this.      Maybe its all too difficult for them and all they are left with is dishing out 'don't be naughty' notices and hoping that fans groups will somehow magically do the heavy lifting on this for them. 
We'll see if it has any effect and if they can make their pleas stick on Thursday …...and then again at the OF game......and then again at future European games if we qualify...….and then again at the rest of the domestic games for this season.
 
"...............….Many fans suggested this would be the outcome as soon as we started qualifying for Europe again after a few barren seasons. With hindsight it was inevitable and no amount of blogs, posts or shouting in public will change where we are.   So what should we do? There’s only two choices, we carry on regardless or we change. If we carry on regardless then we will see larger ground closures. It’s that simple."

So the basic message is don't sing in a way that the Chairman of Rangers, the directors of Rangers, the execs of Rangers, the Manager of Rangers and now the voicepiece of SOS find offensive...... an offence is imported into their current way of thinking via UEFA.      Or else.
It'll be interesting to see how well this message is received and acted on by the Support at the game on Thursday...…...and at the OF game at the weekend...…...and at the next European games if we qualify...……..and at domestic games throughout the rest of the season.    
Its also worth noting that the author refers to hindsight (see extract from the statement in italics below - text in bold by me).    
Frankly the Chairman and his Board and his execs - or even Supporter groups -  should not just be looking at things in hindsight and reacting as though they've just been ambushed by some unexpected event.    IMO there is a fundamental failure by King and his Board to anticipate this sort of risk and grasp the seriousness of the matter far more thoroughly and proactively far earlier.   I think they just hoped that things would just muddle along and hope nothing serious would happen.   
Then when it does the only approach they seem to be willing to take is to issue a statement and then shelter behind the skirts of this type of SOS statement in the hope that some attempted leverage by fans groups will somehow do the trick.      So much for top quality pro-active leadership by the Chairman and his directors.    Why do some serious work with the Support to reach a long term definitive resolution when you can get fan groups to do a bit of lapdog type barking and see if that does the trick.
The Chairman and his directors appear to me right now to be prepared to go for a lucky throw of the dice and hoping that it lands double 6.  Meaning that with the King statement and the manager's words and fan group words they hope a double six wins them no more trouble from UEFA and no more trouble from domestic football authorities.     They are gambling when they should have been far more pro-active in leading before it came to this.      Maybe its all too difficult for them and all they are left with is dishing out 'don't be naughty' notices and hoping that fans groups will somehow magically do the heavy lifting on this for them. 
We'll see if it has any effect and if they can make their pleas stick on Thursday …...and then again at the OF game......and then again at future European games if we qualify...….and then again at the rest of the domestic games for this season.
 
"...............….Many fans suggested this would be the outcome as soon as we started qualifying for Europe again after a few barren seasons. With hindsight it was inevitable and no amount of blogs, posts or shouting in public will change where we are.   So what should we do? There’s only two choices, we carry on regardless or we change. If we carry on regardless then we will see larger ground closures. It’s that simple."

This is one of those 2+2 makes 3976 posts ie I'm maybe reading far too much into what's not said.
If UEFA did not specify that BF1 was to close or that this wretched banner had to be displayed in the BF1 area ie it is the Club's decision to close that area then is the Chairman effectively taking the first steps in an eventual dismantling of UB being located in any specific part of Ibrox?  Or worse taking the first steps in an ultimatum to UB of 'its King's way or stop coming to Rangers games'...………..which in a way is the essence of his message a few days ago?
If its a Rangers choice to close BF1 then it amounts to a direct challenge.   And having done it once the precedent is set to do it again.   And maybe not confined to European games either.       Is it, I wonder, really then King's opening salvo to bring the Support to heel or force those who won't accept the party line to get out.
I'll put my wider conspiracy thoughts on this to one side now and see how all of this plays out at the game on Thursday......and then at the OF game......and then in the next European games if we qualify.

This is one of those 2+2 makes 3976 posts ie I'm maybe reading far too much into what's not said.
If UEFA did not specify that BF1 was to close or that this wretched banner had to be displayed in the BF1 area ie it is the Club's decision to close that area then is the Chairman effectively taking the first steps in an eventual dismantling of UB being located in any specific part of Ibrox?  Or worse taking the first steps in an ultimatum to UB of 'its King's way or stop coming to Rangers games'...………..which in a way is the essence of his message a few days ago?
If its a Rangers choice to close BF1 then it amounts to a direct challenge.   And having done it once the precedent is set to do it again.   And maybe not confined to European games either.       Is it, I wonder, really then King's opening salvo to bring the Support to heel or force those who won't accept the party line to get out.
I'll put my wider conspiracy thoughts on this to one side now and see how all of this plays out at the game on Thursday......and then at the OF game......and then in the next European games if we qualify.

Cue the "that's not a huddle it's a paedophile ring" chant to be sang
 

It's entirely understandable why it was felt the statement had to be issued.   The message from King was, imo, laced with blame with a board deliberately distancing itself from Supporters.   Not just distancing themselves but actually saying (it seemed me) that they needn't bother coming back to Rangers games.    
There are a couple of things that are not clear to me either from the Club's Chairman and his board or from the UB statement.   1- so what happens next?    Salvos have been exchanged but no decisive conclusion as yet.    Support is digging in on a number of fronts with strong views flying about all over social media.   Which leads to the 2nd point.   Where is the strong effective leadership in Rangers that is prepared to grasp this and get the parties together and get some definitive clarity - one way or the other - on how this is to be resolved?     Dialogue and accusation by notices and email are not likely to be the vehicles to use to broker a solution.  
On the one hand the strength of the King statement could understandably be interpreted that hanging UB out to dry as unwanted scapegoats really is what he means.    If that is the name of the game coming out of the Board then its best if they muster whatever courage they have and call a meeting with ST supporters invited - and shareholders invited as they too have a stake in this.   The purpose being to thrash it out until some sort of mutually agreed course of action is decided.  Or if King is set on sole blame resting on UB if they don't conform to what he wants then best he says it direct on a face to face basis.    Would he have that courage?   I can't see him leading from the front like that.    He'd send Robertson and the discredited company secretary to do his dirty work. 

It's entirely understandable why it was felt the statement had to be issued.   The message from King was, imo, laced with blame with a board deliberately distancing itself from Supporters.   Not just distancing themselves but actually saying (it seemed me) that they needn't bother coming back to Rangers games.    
There are a couple of things that are not clear to me either from the Club's Chairman and his board or from the UB statement.   1- so what happens next?    Salvos have been exchanged but no decisive conclusion as yet.    Support is digging in on a number of fronts with strong views flying about all over social media.   Which leads to the 2nd point.   Where is the strong effective leadership in Rangers that is prepared to grasp this and get the parties together and get some definitive clarity - one way or the other - on how this is to be resolved?     Dialogue and accusation by notices and email are not likely to be the vehicles to use to broker a solution.  
On the one hand the strength of the King statement could understandably be interpreted that hanging UB out to dry as unwanted scapegoats really is what he means.    If that is the name of the game coming out of the Board then its best if they muster whatever courage they have and call a meeting with ST supporters invited - and shareholders invited as they too have a stake in this.   The purpose being to thrash it out until some sort of mutually agreed course of action is decided.  Or if King is set on sole blame resting on UB if they don't conform to what he wants then best he says it direct on a face to face basis.    Would he have that courage?   I can't see him leading from the front like that.    He'd send Robertson and the discredited company secretary to do his dirty work. 

I wish you and your wife very best wishes in what must be a very very difficult time.     I hope you both find reserves of inner strength and the support of family and friends and healthcare professionals.    Take care and best wishes.

No matter what people think of the Union Bears (and I like what they do), they have been hung out to dry here. 
The accusation is that of racist singing and who better to point the finger at than the 'ultra's' (for want of a better word). It's a case of easiest and largest organised group to place the blame at the feet of.
Really poor behaviour from the club and it serves to place another divide in the support as we can see by this thread. 
We are all Rangers supporters and we all stand and fall together. I'm not a UB but I would gladly stand beside them and support them in this matter. 
What's next? ANY song that references history or heritage, even if the so called offensive words are edited out? (Which is ridiculous anyway, because when did words harm anyone?) We already have the jungle drums out complaining about the colour of a football strip we wear.
Well said Union Bears.

I said very much the same earlier RB, but my angle was for a new fans group to be set up, but I do think the board and fans need get together somehow and try and find a way to work with each other. 
It certainly would not be easy but in a season when we need to be united there seems a rift getting bigger between fans and board. 

Very understandably there is a significant amount of anger and tension throughout the Support.   Any reading of any forum topic on the subject of the UEFA punishment, and of King's message in response confirms this.    It's probably not about to cool down and recede into the background anytime soon.    A reminder of the Rangers / King message is extracted below at the foot of this post and in italics.  The bits in bold are made by me.
Some Supporters are being labelled as guilty; of resorting to unacceptable behaviour; of harming Rangers; and being told by the Chairman that Rangers is not the Club for them.      These are very strong accusations coming from the Chairman and his Board.       Resolving this is not going to be done by dishing out emails or notices or, as is the usual trick in the Ibrox boardroom, of hoping the whole thing will just fizzle out and life can go on as normal.
Maybe as an urgent follow up to the messaging given by King, and to the email issued today which was the subject of the OP, the Club need to move beyond paper messaging from safe distances and convene some town hall types of meetings where King an his Board  stand up and spell out in clear simple terms what they will accept from Supporters these days, and what they will not.    With an unconstrained Q&A as part of it.  
They need to start leading far more effectively from the front on this and not just dishing out emails from the comfort of their Ibrox offices.     Is it not time for some proper leadership so that - at the end of it all - there is unambiguous clarity on what they (the Chairman and Board) believe the Club is all about in this day and age, and of the ways of supporting they will accept and not accept from Supporters. 
Now some are going to say this is already sufficiently known.    That's as may be the case.  But it would be missing the point which is for matters as serious as this with the potential for far more serious sanctions then imo real leaders lead from the front in person and set out a credible way ahead that the majority can support, and those who cannot do so will at least have had the opportunity to put their view in person before they decide what their next step should be.    
"....................Unfortunately a significant number of supporters, innocent of any wrong doing, will be unable to attend next week’s match. This is deeply regrettable to all at the Club and we hope that the guilty parties, who attracted the attention of UEFA might reflect on the damage their unacceptable behaviour is causing Rangers and their fellow supporters.  If any individual supporter is unable to behave in a civilised manner then please stay away from Ibrox and our Club. You are harming Rangers and that is something a genuine supporter would never wish to do. Rangers chairman Dave King stated: “Rangers is a club open to all and we will continue to convey this message at every opportunity through our Everyone Anyone initiative. “Rangers has players and supporters from many religions, cultures and backgrounds but we are one and the same when we gather to support our club. If any supporter cannot accept that then Rangers is not the club for them”."

Very understandably there is a significant amount of anger and tension throughout the Support.   Any reading of any forum topic on the subject of the UEFA punishment, and of King's message in response confirms this.    It's probably not about to cool down and recede into the background anytime soon.    A reminder of the Rangers / King message is extracted below at the foot of this post and in italics.  The bits in bold are made by me.
Some Supporters are being labelled as guilty; of resorting to unacceptable behaviour; of harming Rangers; and being told by the Chairman that Rangers is not the Club for them.      These are very strong accusations coming from the Chairman and his Board.       Resolving this is not going to be done by dishing out emails or notices or, as is the usual trick in the Ibrox boardroom, of hoping the whole thing will just fizzle out and life can go on as normal.
Maybe as an urgent follow up to the messaging given by King, and to the email issued today which was the subject of the OP, the Club need to move beyond paper messaging from safe distances and convene some town hall types of meetings where King an his Board  stand up and spell out in clear simple terms what they will accept from Supporters these days, and what they will not.    With an unconstrained Q&A as part of it.  
They need to start leading far more effectively from the front on this and not just dishing out emails from the comfort of their Ibrox offices.     Is it not time for some proper leadership so that - at the end of it all - there is unambiguous clarity on what they (the Chairman and Board) believe the Club is all about in this day and age, and of the ways of supporting they will accept and not accept from Supporters. 
Now some are going to say this is already sufficiently known.    That's as may be the case.  But it would be missing the point which is for matters as serious as this with the potential for far more serious sanctions then imo real leaders lead from the front in person and set out a credible way ahead that the majority can support, and those who cannot do so will at least have had the opportunity to put their view in person before they decide what their next step should be.    
"....................Unfortunately a significant number of supporters, innocent of any wrong doing, will be unable to attend next week’s match. This is deeply regrettable to all at the Club and we hope that the guilty parties, who attracted the attention of UEFA might reflect on the damage their unacceptable behaviour is causing Rangers and their fellow supporters.  If any individual supporter is unable to behave in a civilised manner then please stay away from Ibrox and our Club. You are harming Rangers and that is something a genuine supporter would never wish to do. Rangers chairman Dave King stated: “Rangers is a club open to all and we will continue to convey this message at every opportunity through our Everyone Anyone initiative. “Rangers has players and supporters from many religions, cultures and backgrounds but we are one and the same when we gather to support our club. If any supporter cannot accept that then Rangers is not the club for them”."

I wish you and your wife very best wishes in what must be a very very difficult time.     I hope you both find reserves of inner strength and the support of family and friends and healthcare professionals.    Take care and best wishes.