Its the fans fault we werent bought and are struggling to find a buyer

[MisterC 11,806]

I have read Ewan Murrays pish in the Grauniad as his spin on things but this surely takes the biscuit. Ok its AJ who made a comment about how some investors were put off by fans hostility to Murray but to say this is the fans fault is beyond belief. Anyway heres the article, make of it what you will

Alastair Johnston, the Rangers chairman, has warned that the loss of direct entry for Scottish clubs into the Champions League will have an impact on the champions' transfer plans.

The correlation between Champions League involvement and profit and loss for the Old Firm was highlighted again today. Rangers reported a profit of £4.2m for the financial year ending 30 June, an improvement of £16.9m on the previous 12 months. Last season, unlike during the campaign before, Rangers took part in the Champions League.

From next season, though, Scotland's champions will need to progress through qualifying rounds to compete in European football's premier club competition. "That doesn't inhibit the ambition our club has to participate in the Champions League," Johnston said. "And if we have to qualify, we will energise all of our resources to do that.

"But it does give us an element of caution with regards the commitment we can make until two or three years from now, with regards to the desirability of player contracts. The impact of what will happen [with the Champions League] is a difference we have to understand."

The effect could be felt by players at Ibrox whose contracts expire next summer, such as Kenny Miller.

Rangers have been effectively run by Lloyds Banking Group for more than a year. Sir David Murray announced this summer that he had removed his majority stake in the club from the open market but Johnston is still in talks aimed at finding a new owner. That task, he said, is made more difficult by the attitudes of supporters.

"New investment in Rangers is still the way in which we can become masters of our own destiny," the chairman said. Johnston addressed the proposed buy-out of Murray's shares by Andrew Ellis, which collapsed this year. "There has been a worldwide recession, a situation which has had a big impact on people looking to gather together money and loans," said Johnston.

"We saw that with the one candidate who did come forward. There was no doubting his passion – the problem was funding the transaction. There is a high barrier in place.

"There is also an increased resistance towards owning football and sports clubs generally because the expectancy is that people will open their wallets. That situation is primed by the actions of two or three people, such as at Chelsea and Manchester City, but there is not many people on the planet with the desire to do that.

"We have seen how a fan base can turn against you, including in David Murray's case, and that challenge has arisen in the private, off-the-record conversations I have had with potential new investors."

Rangers' overall debt now stands at £27.1m, with £22.3m of that due to Lloyds. Johnston said that he believed the Scottish champions are "close" to a scenario where the bank steps back from week-to-week affairs at Ibrox. "The next few months will tell us that."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/sep/22/rangers-annual-profit-champions-league

[jimgers 565]

I don't see us the supporters as the problem to any potential buyer(s) yes we do defend our club vociferously, but what supporters don't? I liken us to a family with the father estranged from it, now if a suitor comes calling on our mother we want him to be of good character and have her welfare paramount. The added complication here is the mother has 100,00 sons and daughters, mess with her and you have us to answer too, treat her well and love her and you will have our best wishes for the future. Not a problem here for anyone with best intention for our club imho.

[caseyjones 3,009]

As far as I'm concerned, Murray got off lightly. The £25m-£30m debt will have been more of a hurdle than a few fans moaning.

[1872 3]

I hate that word

DEBT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Thermopylae 15,286]

I have read Ewan Murrays pish in the Grauniad as his spin on things but this surely takes the biscuit. Ok its AJ who made a comment about how some investors were put off by fans hostility to Murray but to say this is the fans fault is beyond belief. Anyway heres the article, make of it what you will

Alastair Johnston, the Rangers chairman, has warned that the loss of direct entry for Scottish clubs into the Champions League will have an impact on the champions' transfer plans.

The correlation between Champions League involvement and profit and loss for the Old Firm was highlighted again today. Rangers reported a profit of £4.2m for the financial year ending 30 June, an improvement of £16.9m on the previous 12 months. Last season, unlike during the campaign before, Rangers took part in the Champions League.

From next season, though, Scotland's champions will need to progress through qualifying rounds to compete in European football's premier club competition. "That doesn't inhibit the ambition our club has to participate in the Champions League," Johnston said. "And if we have to qualify, we will energise all of our resources to do that.

"But it does give us an element of caution with regards the commitment we can make until two or three years from now, with regards to the desirability of player contracts. The impact of what will happen [with the Champions League] is a difference we have to understand."

The effect could be felt by players at Ibrox whose contracts expire next summer, such as Kenny Miller.

Rangers have been effectively run by Lloyds Banking Group for more than a year. Sir David Murray announced this summer that he had removed his majority stake in the club from the open market but Johnston is still in talks aimed at finding a new owner. That task, he said, is made more difficult by the attitudes of supporters.

"New investment in Rangers is still the way in which we can become masters of our own destiny," the chairman said. Johnston addressed the proposed buy-out of Murray's shares by Andrew Ellis, which collapsed this year. "There has been a worldwide recession, a situation which has had a big impact on people looking to gather together money and loans," said Johnston.

"We saw that with the one candidate who did come forward. There was no doubting his passion – the problem was funding the transaction. There is a high barrier in place.

"There is also an increased resistance towards owning football and sports clubs generally because the expectancy is that people will open their wallets. That situation is primed by the actions of two or three people, such as at Chelsea and Manchester City, but there is not many people on the planet with the desire to do that.

"We have seen how a fan base can turn against you, including in David Murray's case, and that challenge has arisen in the private, off-the-record conversations I have had with potential new investors."

Rangers' overall debt now stands at £27.1m, with £22.3m of that due to Lloyds. Johnston said that he believed the Scottish champions are "close" to a scenario where the bank steps back from week-to-week affairs at Ibrox. "The next few months will tell us that."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/sep/22/rangers-annual-profit-champions-league

Would he prefer a hostile free empty stadium?

At the end of the day you only buy a club like Rangers if you believe that you can do better than the guy that's there just now so how we treat or don't treat Murray is completely irrelevant