Takeover bid

[jimgers 565]

The land around Ibrox was bought by Murray (MIH) or whatever arm of SDM's empire, he was doing then what he does best 'speculating' The land would be redeveloped by him i.e. hotel casino etc, or it would be used for housing and retail development. Someone will make money on the back of his speculations, if not Murray himself then some other investor. But to get their hands on the land investors must first buy Rangers FC. Hopefully the investors include Rangers men who view the land speculations as an added bonus to their initial outlay to buy us. I believe Ellis is just the face of these Rangers men, he (Ellis) will get his reward (bonus) when and if any redevelopment occurs, and if not, he will still get his reward from his 'sponsors' in the form of shares in Rangers. 'Jobs a good un' bonus if the land speculation comes off, shares in Rangers if the redevelopment goes belly up, it's a win win for Ellis and his Bluenose backers.

[TexasGers 96]

I'm not angling at anything. You stated "But, what if the development side of things IS in the best interests of the club? Thats the way I see it anyway." And I asked you has anyone done this successfully, you seem unable to provide an example of someone who has.

Man U make money by selling products and services directly linked to the footballing side of their business not the other way round, they are also £700 Million in debt and their owners are hated by their fans.

Chelsea are a financial basket-case totally supported by Abramovich who saved them from possible closure under Bates. Chelsea Village was a disaster so much so that the club dropped the name several years ago. It was solely responsible for nearly destroying their club.

I read people advocating this and using buzz terms like '"additional revenue streams" and 'redevelopment' yet no one seems to have a model to follow or an example of how this has worked elsewhere. I simply thought you might have some idea seeing as you seem to be promoting it that's all.

Olympique Lyonnais would be a good example of a club that uses additional revenue streams to its advantage

Didnt know about that matey, what do they do? French league isnt teaming with money, so, perhaps a very good comparison

They have everything from OL salons, OL bottled water, OL travel agencies, even OL taxis. Obviously not all of that would work with Rangers, but the point is they've created different revenue streams and use that money to buy good players.

[hutchy14 4]

double post

[outlaw69uk 123]

Lyon are an interesting example and a good one but I'm not sure you can compare Jean-Michel Aulas with Andrew Ellis though, he's much more like Murray is he not? In fact I'd suggest he's more like John Lawrence or one of the patrician club owners of old. I'd also suggest they are the exception rather than the rule.

Outlaw, you'll forgive me if I don't share your enthusiasm for us becoming some guinea pig test business model. Sheffield Utd are an appalling example. Didn't Trevor Birch himself admit only last month that every 'business' they had was losing them money currently except the football club? I admire your belief that a hotel would be a shrewd investment for the club, unfortunately it does rather overlook the need for the finance to build it and the fact it will be situated in Govan, and not even the gentrified part of Govan. You really think that'll make money?

And for the record Chelsea had a bad idea, full stop.

No forgiveness needed, you just obviously have very different views to me.

Lyon obviously seem to be doing something right, and, we dont really have an alternative that is realistic but to generate income in other ways, not if we want to be a "big" club again and, for you and I to see the kind of players and success we want to see.

How do you suggest we do this?

[polar bear 0]

Our current revenue streams, ie tickets, merchandise and tv money are not enough to sustain the club this has been painfully shown in the last couple of years.

ANY new owner would need to fully investigate possible new revenue streams before committing to buy.

The obvious source is the land around ibrox so it completely makes sense that this us the focus.

By the way I'm yet to see one even remotely creditable quote or source for doing anything with auchenhowie. Talk of building anything there is pure scaremongering fantasy and it will never happen so please stop throwing that up!

The fact that whoever comes in needs to raise money somehow is being distorted a bit as people are trying to make out it's all about the individual buyer making money when it's actually about Rangers making money. But that slant on it doesn't sell newspapers so take the negatives with a pinch of salt before telling ellis to gtf.

We are perfectly right to want to question a new owner and to be suspicious but let's wait and see what is said at the end of due diligence before either condemning or welcoming ellis.

[/quote

My way of thinking also.

[Zappa 358]

French league isnt teaming with money

Yes it is actually! Their revenue streams are massive in comparison to us. Sorry to seem pedantic, but French football is far from being 'hard done by'.... Have you not seen those Deloite (sp?) reports comparing the revenue streams of the top 5 leagues in Europe?

[outlaw69uk 123]

French league isnt teaming with money

Yes it is actually! Their revenue streams are massive in comparison to us. Sorry to seem pedantic, but French football is far from being 'hard done by'.... Have you not seen those Deloite (sp?) reports comparing the revenue streams of the top 5 leagues in Europe?

No, havent. Ah well. I was sure they didnt make fortunes over there, well, maybe they have money because they dont pay ridonculous wages

Be pedantic, your country NEEDS pedants!

[Zappa 358]

French league isnt teaming with money

Yes it is actually! Their revenue streams are massive in comparison to us. Sorry to seem pedantic, but French football is far from being 'hard done by'.... Have you not seen those Deloite (sp?) reports comparing the revenue streams of the top 5 leagues in Europe?

No, havent. Ah well. I was sure they didnt make fortunes over there, well, maybe they have money because they dont pay ridonculous wages

Be pedantic, your country NEEDS pedants!

I'll try to find the reports and post a link!

[outlaw69uk 123]

French league isnt teaming with money

Yes it is actually! Their revenue streams are massive in comparison to us. Sorry to seem pedantic, but French football is far from being 'hard done by'.... Have you not seen those Deloite (sp?) reports comparing the revenue streams of the top 5 leagues in Europe?

No, havent. Ah well. I was sure they didnt make fortunes over there, well, maybe they have money because they dont pay ridonculous wages

Be pedantic, your country NEEDS pedants!

I'll try to find the reports and post a link!

love you

[Zappa 358]

French league isnt teaming with money

Yes it is actually! Their revenue streams are massive in comparison to us. Sorry to seem pedantic, but French football is far from being 'hard done by'.... Have you not seen those Deloite (sp?) reports comparing the revenue streams of the top 5 leagues in Europe?

No, havent. Ah well. I was sure they didnt make fortunes over there, well, maybe they have money because they dont pay ridonculous wages

Be pedantic, your country NEEDS pedants!

I'll try to find the reports and post a link!

love you

Not the full, detailed reports, but an article about them - Europe's football finances 2007/08

This bar chart shows just how well French football was doing in that season -

You can see from the chart that in the 07/08 season football in France was making as much money from Broadcasting as Spain and more than Germany. This may have changed slightly by now, but it won't be too drastic.

[AMMS 27]

No forgiveness needed, you just obviously have very different views to me.

Lyon obviously seem to be doing something right, and, we dont really have an alternative that is realistic but to generate income in other ways, not if we want to be a "big" club again and, for you and I to see the kind of players and success we want to see.

How do you suggest we do this?

I'd caution going too far down the Lyon route as I said above it is the exception rather than the rule. A number of clubs have tried it including notably Spurs with disastrous consequences.

I don't have a solution to our problems and I'm cautious of those who say they do. As I see it we either need to be bought by a very rich individual who will bankroll the club and clear the debt like happened with Hibs or we need to accept our level of debt and run our club accordingly. Our problems just now are exacerbated by Murry's problems, if we weren't part of his empire but an independent business with the same debt we would still be able to function and operate. As long as the debt is being serviced everyone will remain happy(ish). It isn't a great position to be in but we are where we are and we need to work with that.

In my opinion the best way out of it is to focus our resources on producing the best players and teams we can rather than thinking about hotels, shops or any other distractions. History has shown that small and medium sized clubs (which is in reality what we are on a European basis) can compete if they produce and cultivate good players. These players will leave though for richer clubs and the money we receive for them will be used to run our club. I don't see any other way to run a football club that is based and plays in Scotland.

There are many parallels between Austria and Scotland in a football sense. Both have larger neighbours who are culturally and linguistically identical and whose football leagues are more popular and much richer and are able to attract players from far and wide. Austrian and Belgian football used to compete at a good level, their clubs made the later stages of Europe on a regular basis but they have suffered the same slide as Scottish clubs. If we could look at their leagues and bigger clubs, see what they have done right and wrong and learn accordingly we might start getting somewhere. I believe our salvation lies in focussing more on football not less. If Rangers players could become known for their technical and tactical excellence as well as their winning mentality they would become more valuable. It will require wholesale changes to our league, our scouting and our youth set ups but it is possible and I believe much more likely to provide a short, medium and long term future for the club than property speculation.

Nothing in business appreciates more than a footballer, if we can unearth another 2 Alan Huttons our club will face a very different future.

Talk is cheap I know but it is just my view.

[jimgers 565]

No forgiveness needed, you just obviously have very different views to me.

Lyon obviously seem to be doing something right, and, we dont really have an alternative that is realistic but to generate income in other ways, not if we want to be a "big" club again and, for you and I to see the kind of players and success we want to see.

How do you suggest we do this?

I'd caution going too far down the Lyon route as I said above it is the exception rather than the rule. A number of clubs have tried it including notably Spurs with disastrous consequences.

I don't have a solution to our problems and I'm cautious of those who say they do. As I see it we either need to be bought by a very rich individual who will bankroll the club and clear the debt like happened with Hibs or we need to accept our level of debt and run our club accordingly. Our problems just now are exacerbated by Murry's problems, if we weren't part of his empire but an independent business with the same debt we would still be able to function and operate. As long as the debt is being serviced everyone will remain happy(ish). It isn't a great position to be in but we are where we are and we need to work with that.

In my opinion the best way out of it is to focus our resources on producing the best players and teams we can rather than thinking about hotels, shops or any other distractions. History has shown that small and medium sized clubs (which is in reality what we are on a European basis) can compete if they produce and cultivate good players. These players will leave though for richer clubs and the money we receive for them will be used to run our club. I don't see any other way to run a football club that is based and plays in Scotland.

There are many parallels between Austria and Scotland in a football sense. Both have larger neighbours who are culturally and linguistically identical and whose football leagues are more popular and much richer and are able to attract players from far and wide. Austrian and Belgian football used to compete at a good level, their clubs made the later stages of Europe on a regular basis but they have suffered the same slide as Scottish clubs. If we could look at their leagues and bigger clubs, see what they have done right and wrong and learn accordingly we might start getting somewhere. I believe our salvation lies in focussing more on football not less. If Rangers players could become known for their technical and tactical excellence as well as their winning mentality they would become more valuable. It will require wholesale changes to our league, our scouting and our youth set ups but it is possible and I believe much more likely to provide a short, medium and long term future for the club than property speculation.

Nothing in business appreciates more than a footballer, if we can unearth another 2 Alan Huttons our club will face a very different future.

Talk is cheap I know but it is just my view.

Bloody good post! this is what we need more of? in-depth thinking. Unfortunately football clubs are run by entrepreneurial types who will always have one eye on the next financial deal, unlike the manager or the supporters who have both eyes firmly fixed on the team/game. I understand the different positions between owner and fan, how else can the owners finance our club without the deals being concluded to keep us in the luxury we have become accustomed to. But we are a football club first and foremost this is were we need to bulk our income out, not in hotels, casinos, land deals or any other speculative interest. As our recent history shows once we start to confuse the two interests the lines between football and financial speculation blur.

[nvager 498]

Yes nothing appreciates more than a good young footballer, but we dont seem to have many and WS wont play many too. After last night I dont blame him so much.

Is Murray Park really working? I have my doubts. The star youngsters - Wilson apart - do not seem to be progressing. Fleck a superstar in the making once, has disappointed big time. Unfair - perhaps, but I really do not see him succeeding based upon what he has done to date.

The new owner(s) must create new or better income streams and money must be spent to improve the squad as our reserves generally are a good step down from the 1st team level. Only in central midfield do we have adequate reserves. (Edu, Davis, McCulloch and Thomson cover 2 positions.) Any other position is a struggle except maybe at CH.

I can see McGregor and Boogie being sold and Boyd leaving this Summer. Webster will return and Alexander can take over in goal. Weir? There is a lot to be sorted out and if no-one takes us over will Walter remain?

A new owner with some money and new ideas is a necessity, but is Ellis and Co. the answer - time will tell.

[outlaw69uk 123]

No forgiveness needed, you just obviously have very different views to me.

Lyon obviously seem to be doing something right, and, we dont really have an alternative that is realistic but to generate income in other ways, not if we want to be a "big" club again and, for you and I to see the kind of players and success we want to see.

How do you suggest we do this?

I'd caution going too far down the Lyon route as I said above it is the exception rather than the rule. A number of clubs have tried it including notably Spurs with disastrous consequences.

I don't have a solution to our problems and I'm cautious of those who say they do. As I see it we either need to be bought by a very rich individual who will bankroll the club and clear the debt like happened with Hibs or we need to accept our level of debt and run our club accordingly. Our problems just now are exacerbated by Murry's problems, if we weren't part of his empire but an independent business with the same debt we would still be able to function and operate. As long as the debt is being serviced everyone will remain happy(ish). It isn't a great position to be in but we are where we are and we need to work with that.

In my opinion the best way out of it is to focus our resources on producing the best players and teams we can rather than thinking about hotels, shops or any other distractions. History has shown that small and medium sized clubs (which is in reality what we are on a European basis) can compete if they produce and cultivate good players. These players will leave though for richer clubs and the money we receive for them will be used to run our club. I don't see any other way to run a football club that is based and plays in Scotland.

There are many parallels between Austria and Scotland in a football sense. Both have larger neighbours who are culturally and linguistically identical and whose football leagues are more popular and much richer and are able to attract players from far and wide. Austrian and Belgian football used to compete at a good level, their clubs made the later stages of Europe on a regular basis but they have suffered the same slide as Scottish clubs. If we could look at their leagues and bigger clubs, see what they have done right and wrong and learn accordingly we might start getting somewhere. I believe our salvation lies in focussing more on football not less. If Rangers players could become known for their technical and tactical excellence as well as their winning mentality they would become more valuable. It will require wholesale changes to our league, our scouting and our youth set ups but it is possible and I believe much more likely to provide a short, medium and long term future for the club than property speculation.

Nothing in business appreciates more than a footballer, if we can unearth another 2 Alan Huttons our club will face a very different future.

Talk is cheap I know but it is just my view.

Some good stuff in there mate. For me, half and half. Agree totally about how the team side of things should be run, and, the development and profit on youth. Huge bug bear of mine has always been the amounts we get (or dont get!) for outgoing players.

The way I was looking at it, was Rangers are the "holding company" in regard to the other finances. We wouldnt need to get as bloated as Murrays other interests, but, at the same time, if we could look (even tentatively) at other incomes, which, perhaps could cover the clubs running costs (ideally), at the same time putting the effort into the footballing side as you say, then we have the opportunity to use income from player sales and competitions to enhance the squad ongoing, which in itself secures that revenue. I dont have any grand ideas about it, just looking at potential to cover our cost base from another angle other than the success on the pitch. Even going back to making our own kits would be a good start. If the day in day out costs are always covered, then, we have more options on the pitch side of it I feel

[globespanscott 32]

No forgiveness needed, you just obviously have very different views to me.

Lyon obviously seem to be doing something right, and, we dont really have an alternative that is realistic but to generate income in other ways, not if we want to be a "big" club again and, for you and I to see the kind of players and success we want to see.

How do you suggest we do this?

I'd caution going too far down the Lyon route as I said above it is the exception rather than the rule. A number of clubs have tried it including notably Spurs with disastrous consequences.

I don't have a solution to our problems and I'm cautious of those who say they do. As I see it we either need to be bought by a very rich individual who will bankroll the club and clear the debt like happened with Hibs or we need to accept our level of debt and run our club accordingly. Our problems just now are exacerbated by Murry's problems, if we weren't part of his empire but an independent business with the same debt we would still be able to function and operate. As long as the debt is being serviced everyone will remain happy(ish). It isn't a great position to be in but we are where we are and we need to work with that.

In my opinion the best way out of it is to focus our resources on producing the best players and teams we can rather than thinking about hotels, shops or any other distractions. History has shown that small and medium sized clubs (which is in reality what we are on a European basis) can compete if they produce and cultivate good players. These players will leave though for richer clubs and the money we receive for them will be used to run our club. I don't see any other way to run a football club that is based and plays in Scotland.

There are many parallels between Austria and Scotland in a football sense. Both have larger neighbours who are culturally and linguistically identical and whose football leagues are more popular and much richer and are able to attract players from far and wide. Austrian and Belgian football used to compete at a good level, their clubs made the later stages of Europe on a regular basis but they have suffered the same slide as Scottish clubs. If we could look at their leagues and bigger clubs, see what they have done right and wrong and learn accordingly we might start getting somewhere. I believe our salvation lies in focussing more on football not less. If Rangers players could become known for their technical and tactical excellence as well as their winning mentality they would become more valuable. It will require wholesale changes to our league, our scouting and our youth set ups but it is possible and I believe much more likely to provide a short, medium and long term future for the club than property speculation.

Nothing in business appreciates more than a footballer, if we can unearth another 2 Alan Huttons our club will face a very different future.

Talk is cheap I know but it is just my view.

Some good stuff in there mate. For me, half and half. Agree totally about how the team side of things should be run, and, the development and profit on youth. Huge bug bear of mine has always been the amounts we get (or dont get!) for outgoing players.

The way I was looking at it, was Rangers are the "holding company" in regard to the other finances. We wouldnt need to get as bloated as Murrays other interests, but, at the same time, if we could look (even tentatively) at other incomes, which, perhaps could cover the clubs running costs (ideally), at the same time putting the effort into the footballing side as you say, then we have the opportunity to use income from player sales and competitions to enhance the squad ongoing, which in itself secures that revenue. I dont have any grand ideas about it, just looking at potential to cover our cost base from another angle other than the success on the pitch. Even going back to making our own kits would be a good start. If the day in day out costs are always covered, then, we have more options on the pitch side of it I feel

Just to add my two tuppence worth, if we look a little more closely at home for instance at Kilmarnock FC. They heavily rely on revenue from outwith footballing activities. last year there turn over was £6865242 of this just over £4.2 million came from footballing activities yet the other £2.6 million came from there Fitness salon, Sports bar and Hotel. Basically almost 40% of their revenue was from outwith footballing activities. I am quite sure if Rangers/Ellis were to be able to do this then it would almostcertainly bring in decent added revenue for the club.

[Blue Stars Bearette 1]

No forgiveness needed, you just obviously have very different views to me.

Lyon obviously seem to be doing something right, and, we dont really have an alternative that is realistic but to generate income in other ways, not if we want to be a "big" club again and, for you and I to see the kind of players and success we want to see.

How do you suggest we do this?

I'd caution going too far down the Lyon route as I said above it is the exception rather than the rule. A number of clubs have tried it including notably Spurs with disastrous consequences.

I don't have a solution to our problems and I'm cautious of those who say they do. As I see it we either need to be bought by a very rich individual who will bankroll the club and clear the debt like happened with Hibs or we need to accept our level of debt and run our club accordingly. Our problems just now are exacerbated by Murry's problems, if we weren't part of his empire but an independent business with the same debt we would still be able to function and operate. As long as the debt is being serviced everyone will remain happy(ish). It isn't a great position to be in but we are where we are and we need to work with that.

In my opinion the best way out of it is to focus our resources on producing the best players and teams we can rather than thinking about hotels, shops or any other distractions. History has shown that small and medium sized clubs (which is in reality what we are on a European basis) can compete if they produce and cultivate good players. These players will leave though for richer clubs and the money we receive for them will be used to run our club. I don't see any other way to run a football club that is based and plays in Scotland.

There are many parallels between Austria and Scotland in a football sense. Both have larger neighbours who are culturally and linguistically identical and whose football leagues are more popular and much richer and are able to attract players from far and wide. Austrian and Belgian football used to compete at a good level, their clubs made the later stages of Europe on a regular basis but they have suffered the same slide as Scottish clubs. If we could look at their leagues and bigger clubs, see what they have done right and wrong and learn accordingly we might start getting somewhere. I believe our salvation lies in focussing more on football not less. If Rangers players could become known for their technical and tactical excellence as well as their winning mentality they would become more valuable. It will require wholesale changes to our league, our scouting and our youth set ups but it is possible and I believe much more likely to provide a short, medium and long term future for the club than property speculation.

Nothing in business appreciates more than a footballer, if we can unearth another 2 Alan Huttons our club will face a very different future.

Talk is cheap I know but it is just my view.

Some good stuff in there mate. For me, half and half. Agree totally about how the team side of things should be run, and, the development and profit on youth. Huge bug bear of mine has always been the amounts we get (or dont get!) for outgoing players.

The way I was looking at it, was Rangers are the "holding company" in regard to the other finances. We wouldnt need to get as bloated as Murrays other interests, but, at the same time, if we could look (even tentatively) at other incomes, which, perhaps could cover the clubs running costs (ideally), at the same time putting the effort into the footballing side as you say, then we have the opportunity to use income from player sales and competitions to enhance the squad ongoing, which in itself secures that revenue. I dont have any grand ideas about it, just looking at potential to cover our cost base from another angle other than the success on the pitch. Even going back to making our own kits would be a good start. If the day in day out costs are always covered, then, we have more options on the pitch side of it I feel

Just to add my two tuppence worth, if we look a little more closely at home for instance at Kilmarnock FC. They heavily rely on revenue from outwith footballing activities. last year there turn over was £6865242 of this just over £4.2 million came from footballing activities yet the other £2.6 million came from there Fitness salon, Sports bar and Hotel. Basically almost 40% of their revenue was from outwith footballing activities. I am quite sure if Rangers/Ellis were to be able to do this then it would almostcertainly bring in decent added revenue for the club.

very good point...we need several revenue streams especially as CL money could dry up when the SPL lose their automatic place after next year. We could do with some creativity in that area for sure.

[globespanscott 32]

No forgiveness needed, you just obviously have very different views to me.

Lyon obviously seem to be doing something right, and, we dont really have an alternative that is realistic but to generate income in other ways, not if we want to be a "big" club again and, for you and I to see the kind of players and success we want to see.

How do you suggest we do this?

I'd caution going too far down the Lyon route as I said above it is the exception rather than the rule. A number of clubs have tried it including notably Spurs with disastrous consequences.

I don't have a solution to our problems and I'm cautious of those who say they do. As I see it we either need to be bought by a very rich individual who will bankroll the club and clear the debt like happened with Hibs or we need to accept our level of debt and run our club accordingly. Our problems just now are exacerbated by Murry's problems, if we weren't part of his empire but an independent business with the same debt we would still be able to function and operate. As long as the debt is being serviced everyone will remain happy(ish). It isn't a great position to be in but we are where we are and we need to work with that.

In my opinion the best way out of it is to focus our resources on producing the best players and teams we can rather than thinking about hotels, shops or any other distractions. History has shown that small and medium sized clubs (which is in reality what we are on a European basis) can compete if they produce and cultivate good players. These players will leave though for richer clubs and the money we receive for them will be used to run our club. I don't see any other way to run a football club that is based and plays in Scotland.

There are many parallels between Austria and Scotland in a football sense. Both have larger neighbours who are culturally and linguistically identical and whose football leagues are more popular and much richer and are able to attract players from far and wide. Austrian and Belgian football used to compete at a good level, their clubs made the later stages of Europe on a regular basis but they have suffered the same slide as Scottish clubs. If we could look at their leagues and bigger clubs, see what they have done right and wrong and learn accordingly we might start getting somewhere. I believe our salvation lies in focussing more on football not less. If Rangers players could become known for their technical and tactical excellence as well as their winning mentality they would become more valuable. It will require wholesale changes to our league, our scouting and our youth set ups but it is possible and I believe much more likely to provide a short, medium and long term future for the club than property speculation.

Nothing in business appreciates more than a footballer, if we can unearth another 2 Alan Huttons our club will face a very different future.

Talk is cheap I know but it is just my view.

Some good stuff in there mate. For me, half and half. Agree totally about how the team side of things should be run, and, the development and profit on youth. Huge bug bear of mine has always been the amounts we get (or dont get!) for outgoing players.

The way I was looking at it, was Rangers are the "holding company" in regard to the other finances. We wouldnt need to get as bloated as Murrays other interests, but, at the same time, if we could look (even tentatively) at other incomes, which, perhaps could cover the clubs running costs (ideally), at the same time putting the effort into the footballing side as you say, then we have the opportunity to use income from player sales and competitions to enhance the squad ongoing, which in itself secures that revenue. I dont have any grand ideas about it, just looking at potential to cover our cost base from another angle other than the success on the pitch. Even going back to making our own kits would be a good start. If the day in day out costs are always covered, then, we have more options on the pitch side of it I feel

Just to add my two tuppence worth, if we look a little more closely at home for instance at Kilmarnock FC. They heavily rely on revenue from outwith footballing activities. last year there turn over was £6865242 of this just over £4.2 million came from footballing activities yet the other £2.6 million came from there Fitness salon, Sports bar and Hotel. Basically almost 40% of their revenue was from outwith footballing activities. I am quite sure if Rangers/Ellis were to be able to do this then it would almostcertainly bring in decent added revenue for the club.

very good point...we need several revenue streams especially as CL money could dry up when the SPL lose their automatic place after next year. We could do with some creativity in that area for sure.

Definitely think it is the way to go. What's more and not being disrespectful to Kilmarnock but I dare say that Rangers would certainly be able to draw more money than Kilmarnock with regards to the Sports bar and Hotel.

[costablancabear 0]

I am not convinced Ellis is doing anything wrong.

Many posters on here (myself included) have long shouted about how Rangers need to work harder to find new revenue streams to sustain our club and our ambitions in the stagnant Scottish game.

There ARE NO options within the football operation. Scottish football is what it is. We can change sponsiors, bring merchandising back inhouse etc but that is that

Ellis is doing what we have always wanted. He is using Rangers and the clout that brings to force through changes that will BENEFIT the club. Of course he will make some dosh. Why not. But SO WILL WE.

He has sized up the options, seen the silver lined one and is pushing it to full effect.

Nothing wrong with that.

If he makes us a well run, viable and successful operation we will get the investors we all pray for but let's be honest - these guys ain't gonna throw there hard earned at Murrays current black hole are they?

People are too quick to assume he's an asset stripper and in it for a quick buck. Because the mhedia says itdoesn't make it so.

That's my ten bobs worth!

Good article mate,

I am going to put this out there and probably get slated but it is a what if ok !!!! We are a footballing Nation and most countries know this - but we are in a blip at the present moment - this would take cash - but the revenue that came back IMO would make us a richer league than ever before - If Hibs with the new stand were to make it a double tier and maybe a 30,000 all seater or Hearts with their plans for there 30,000 - also the plans that Aberdeen and Dundee united have (to share and make a commonwealth state of the art stadia with roof etc) and get the ground a 5* UEFA approval we would then have the 3 Glasgow - Murrayfield - then a toss between the other 4 mentioned - a rail link to Ibrox from Glasgow airport and to Edinburgh Murrayfield and maybe 1 or 2 or even both Edinburgh teams and then up North - in a bid for the Euro championships in a few years - we could be back on the map - the top teams with respectable stadiums that they would not always fill but Hearst when going well can fill 30,000 Hibs anything from 15-25,000 - Dundee and Dunee United both 10,000 + and Aberdeen 12-15,000 if doing well - with a rail link would also encourage fans to jump on the train and go to games and all this IMO could be done by a business man from a start off point at Ibrox ?

Of course this is just pie in the sky BUT I think if clubs would gamble, get the SKY TV back on our side - we could rise again !

A drunk Costablancabear lol

[AMMS 27]

No I'm sorry Kilmarnock are another example of why football clubs should steer well clear of 'other business'. Their sports bar, hotel and health club made a loss last year, they are nearly £9 million in debt and were only kept alive because the Moffat family, former owners of the club, agreed not to call in loans they were owed. If Kilmarnock get relegated they will almost certainly go into administration. Kilmarnock is a one club town with a reasonable sized population, in a footballing heartland who were owned by a family who understood the travel and hospitality industry arguably better than anyone in this country. Yet they can't make this work. Kilmarnock will be forced to further cut their wage bill next season or else Lloyds will refuse to renew their banking facilities. This isn't speculation this is a matter of public record.

[thebooler 4,509]

No forgiveness needed, you just obviously have very different views to me.

Lyon obviously seem to be doing something right, and, we dont really have an alternative that is realistic but to generate income in other ways, not if we want to be a "big" club again and, for you and I to see the kind of players and success we want to see.

How do you suggest we do this?

I'd caution going too far down the Lyon route as I said above it is the exception rather than the rule. A number of clubs have tried it including notably Spurs with disastrous consequences.

I don't have a solution to our problems and I'm cautious of those who say they do. As I see it we either need to be bought by a very rich individual who will bankroll the club and clear the debt like happened with Hibs or we need to accept our level of debt and run our club accordingly. Our problems just now are exacerbated by Murry's problems, if we weren't part of his empire but an independent business with the same debt we would still be able to function and operate. As long as the debt is being serviced everyone will remain happy(ish). It isn't a great position to be in but we are where we are and we need to work with that.

In my opinion the best way out of it is to focus our resources on producing the best players and teams we can rather than thinking about hotels, shops or any other distractions. History has shown that small and medium sized clubs (which is in reality what we are on a European basis) can compete if they produce and cultivate good players. These players will leave though for richer clubs and the money we receive for them will be used to run our club. I don't see any other way to run a football club that is based and plays in Scotland.

There are many parallels between Austria and Scotland in a football sense. Both have larger neighbours who are culturally and linguistically identical and whose football leagues are more popular and much richer and are able to attract players from far and wide. Austrian and Belgian football used to compete at a good level, their clubs made the later stages of Europe on a regular basis but they have suffered the same slide as Scottish clubs. If we could look at their leagues and bigger clubs, see what they have done right and wrong and learn accordingly we might start getting somewhere. I believe our salvation lies in focussing more on football not less. If Rangers players could become known for their technical and tactical excellence as well as their winning mentality they would become more valuable. It will require wholesale changes to our league, our scouting and our youth set ups but it is possible and I believe much more likely to provide a short, medium and long term future for the club than property speculation.

Nothing in business appreciates more than a footballer, if we can unearth another 2 Alan Huttons our club will face a very different future.

Talk is cheap I know but it is just my view.

Some good stuff in there mate. For me, half and half. Agree totally about how the team side of things should be run, and, the development and profit on youth. Huge bug bear of mine has always been the amounts we get (or dont get!) for outgoing players.

The way I was looking at it, was Rangers are the "holding company" in regard to the other finances. We wouldnt need to get as bloated as Murrays other interests, but, at the same time, if we could look (even tentatively) at other incomes, which, perhaps could cover the clubs running costs (ideally), at the same time putting the effort into the footballing side as you say, then we have the opportunity to use income from player sales and competitions to enhance the squad ongoing, which in itself secures that revenue. I dont have any grand ideas about it, just looking at potential to cover our cost base from another angle other than the success on the pitch. Even going back to making our own kits would be a good start. If the day in day out costs are always covered, then, we have more options on the pitch side of it I feel

Just to add my two tuppence worth, if we look a little more closely at home for instance at Kilmarnock FC. They heavily rely on revenue from outwith footballing activities. last year there turn over was £6865242 of this just over £4.2 million came from footballing activities yet the other £2.6 million came from there Fitness salon, Sports bar and Hotel. Basically almost 40% of their revenue was from outwith footballing activities. I am quite sure if Rangers/Ellis were to be able to do this then it would almostcertainly bring in decent added revenue for the club.

They are also around 13 million smackers in debt, mainly due to the fact they spent around 5/6 million building the hotel, and are very close to going out of business.

Infact, if they get relegated this season, the bank will pull the plug on them.

As for their Sports Bar, it has run at a loss every single year since it was opened.

Maybe not such good ideas after all.

Edited to say: Sorry, never read the above post before posting similar.

[costablancabear 0]

No I'm sorry Kilmarnock are another example of why football clubs should steer well clear of 'other business'. Their sports bar, hotel and health club made a loss last year, they are nearly £9 million in debt and were only kept alive because the Moffat family, former owners of the club, agreed not to call in loans they were owed. If Kilmarnock get relegated they will almost certainly go into administration. Kilmarnock is a one club town with a reasonable sized population, in a footballing heartland who were owned by a family who understood the travel and hospitality industry arguably better than anyone in this country. Yet they can't make this work. Kilmarnock will be forced to further cut their wage bill next season or else Lloyds will refuse to renew their banking facilities. This isn't speculation this is a matter of public record.

it is a shame in a way as you say a 1 ctown club with a decent population and can only pull 7-8,000 - the reason I feel for them is they have made it their business to make a nice decent ground and stadium for the locals with a decent capacity - yet they cant even fill it when the old firm come now ?

I am again st the likes of Caley and Hamilton getting in with the small 2 stands and thats it - it is an embarressment to our SPL considering Falkirk were deprived of promotion years back for not having a 10,000 all seater - so teams like Partick, Morton, Livingston, Dundee all made sure they were up to standards and more then they let Caley in playin g at Pittodrie ?????? Then they still never built a fekking stadium - I admire Falkirk for building the 3 big stands and they said the other one will be built if they stay up and they want a home ground so the noise stays in and they can have a stadium some clubs may fear coming to - which shows ambition - justlike St Johnstone years back - and that paid off big style the business brains in Perth ! It is also good to see Hibs making a new stand in the old casuals West Stand and upping the capacity - Hearts also said thney are going to knock the old stand down and also make a new Gorgie end - and Dundee are still arguing about a commonwealth shared stadium - which makes sense - if Milan can share surely Dundee can LOL - i JUST THINK THE spl OUTWITH THE TOP 6/7 are becoming a joke - the 1st dividion with Partick - Dundee - Dunfermline etc all decent grounds and pull 3,4,000 would be better off in the SPL and they would double the attendances - SO I SAY YES TO A 16 OR 18 TEAM SPL ! for those reasons alone !

[markybear 136]

Everthings gone quiet on the takeover front, any1 think they know wen we'll hear more?

[dezrfc1 26]

Everthings gone quiet on the takeover front, any1 think they know wen we'll hear more?

itl take time

[costablancabear 0]

Everthings gone quiet on the takeover front, any1 think they know wen we'll hear more?

itl take time

I am afraid that the longer it takes, the more the fans and more importantly the players will think it's a no go

and start looking at there future - and the bigger stars Bougherra , Boyd etc will be thinking another season

at Rangers with no cash to splash - they are going to crumble and maybe want to move elsewhere - whereas

if the club knew and the fans etc knew we were getting a new owner and WS getting cash players would stay

and it would also attract players for the Euro campaign(that we will be in) Thing is would you want to be the

manager for a 4th consecutive transfer window with no cash to bolster ?

Walter & co. should be admired by every Bear out there - and I am a very nervous Bear at present until I hear more !!!

I pray we get a new owner with cash and the team his first and foremost priority - it has to be - I am warming a bit

to our chairman - he says the right things at the right times instead of Murray using his wee puppett Bain to fill us

with BS for the past 2-3 seasons ! Follow on !

[Edin-Bear-ugh 1]

The two week period ends on Monday at noon. An announcement WILL be made by wednesday at 12pm.

As before. Ellis is the front of the deal. His position in the deal is For the land and development side.

A rumour going around is someone from Glasgow called Singh who is a rangers man is involved in the deal.