Mark Hateley Blaming Our Fans

[minstral]

Another one blaming our fans without any proof. He should keep his big mouth shut until the person is caught.

Decent Rangers fans must help root out the halfwits

By Mark Hateley on Apr 22, 11 07:14 AM in rangers

I CAN hardly believe what I'm about to write. I mean, Sunday's Old Firm game is one of the most important matches in the recent history of Rangers.

But right now I couldn't give a stuff about the result. Truth be told, I've hardly got the stomach for it.

Now that might change as kick-off time comes around. I'll give you that.

But the crap we've all had to endure over the past few days has turned me right off this whole fixture. And I've reached the point where the outcome of the biggest game of the season is now immaterial to me.

All that matters is that my club gets through this 90 minutes without bringing further shame on itself in front of the watching world. Rangers simply cannot take any more self-inflicted scandal.

The club will not fall down on the back of one result. Even if it means losing a grip on the SPL crown, as hard as that might be to swallow.

But it absolutely could be brought down for good by a minority of morons who seem hellbent on destroying the institution they claim to love.

The events of the past few days - and let's be blunt here, the attempted murder of Celtic manager Neil Lennon - have sickened me like never before. This madness, this utter chaos needs to stop now.

Let's get one thing straight. This has nothing to do with football. It was an act of criminality and terrorism by an individual or individuals who should not be walking our streets never mind attending football matches.

They are certainly not acting for or representative of the true Rangers support. And it would be utterly ridiculous to tar many thousands of good honest football fans with the same brush as you would use for these homicidal scumbags.

But that is why the time has come for the good guys to make themselves heard.

It is time for the true supporters to stand up and be counted and start to regain the respect their great club deserves. Because right now all across the globe the reputation of Rangers is in the gutter.

That's why Sunday is no longer about the result. It's all about the supporters now.

Whether Walter Smith's side win or lose is just a side issue. The whole world will be watching this game for all the wrong reasons and their eyes will be fixed firmly on the Rangers fans.

They will be placed under intense scrutiny because some of them have proved incapable of adapting to modern life in the 21st century.

The recent furore over sectarian chanting was damaging enough to the image of the club.

But when UEFA president Michel Platini is forced to break off from his ceremonial duties to express his horror over a nail bomb being sent through the post to the manager of Celtic? It simply does not get any worse than that.

The fundamentalists have taken over. They have blackened the name of my club on a global scale.

Well I say it's time for the overwhelming majority of fine, decent, upstanding Rangers supporters to prove how much they care.

They have to show the world what I already know - that they represent a quality football club, one of the greatest in the game.

Now no one needs to tell me about the real Rangers fans. They're the reason I fell in love with the club after signing from Monaco in 1990. To my mind they form one of the greatest supports anywhere in football.

They share a passion and deep sense of loyalty that separates them from all the rest. I am proud to count myself among them now that my boots have been packed away for good.

I would go as far as to say 99.9 per cent of them are genuine fans who simply love watching their team win football matches.

But they are the ones who have to prove that now. The spotlight is on them.

The club cannot take any more madness or embarrassment this Sunday. If they step out of line then Rangers might well be marked down as the black sheep of the entire football family for years to come.

And please spare me the old "no one likes us we don't care" attitude because if they have their own club's interests at heart then they MUST care.

Perhaps they should ask themselves - in these troubled financial times - what business in the world would want to associate with or invest in a football club that is regarded as a pariah because of a lunatic fringe of its supporters? So the good fans - and by that I mean the overwhelming majority - need to act in a way which shows the watching world what the Rangers support is really all about.

If the FTP brigade start to pipe up on Sunday then the decent majority must shout them down and point them out to the authorities.

If they are seen to be distancing themselves from the halfwits, having them rooted out inside the stadium, perhaps everyone else will see what I already know - that the ordinary Rangers fan does not deserve to be demonised in this manner. I hope the police help too by capturing the maniac or maniacs who have been behind the spate of recent explosive devices.

And I sincerely hope they get their man before he gets one of his targets.

Heaven only knows how Lennon is dealing with it all but I hope he's strong enough to get through it.

I'm not his biggest fan - and I have criticised him for some of his more provocative actions - but he doesn't deserve this. It is beyond ludicrous, worse than disgusting.

It strikes me that Neil is a single-minded and determined man. He came through a lot of difficult times as a player and I'd like to think those qualities will stop him walking away from the job now.

I can't say that with any certainty because I have never been sent a bomb through the post.

I had hate mail and all kinds of threats dropping through my door as a player but I laughed them all off.

I'm not sure even I could laugh off a bomb. So good luck to Neil and I hope the cretins who have done this to him rot in jail.

Just don't ask me to wish him well on Sunday though. The result may well be immaterial in the end - but I'd still much prefer to see my side win.

As told to Keith Jackson

[CanadianBacon]

They're all queuing up to stick the boot in.

Jim Bett (remember him?) is in one of the rags doing likewise.

It's a one-way street of condemnation at Rangers FC and its support - yet not one jot of evidence to suggest that there is a Rangers link.

Innuendo and supposition 24/7.

I'm getting heartily sick of it.

[caseyjones]

Fuck off, Hateley and take your thirty pieces of silver with you.

[Zulu]

Fucking rush to judgement.

[minstral]

Fuck off, Hateley and take your thirty pieces of silver with you.

Agree Casey as money is his god.

[Turnberry18]

Another one blaming our fans without any proof. He should keep his big mouth shut until the person is caught.

Decent Rangers fans must help root out the halfwits

By Mark Hateley on Apr 22, 11 07:14 AM in rangers

I CAN hardly believe what I'm about to write. I mean, Sunday's Old Firm game is one of the most important matches in the recent history of Rangers.

But right now I couldn't give a stuff about the result. Truth be told, I've hardly got the stomach for it.

Now that might change as kick-off time comes around. I'll give you that.

But the crap we've all had to endure over the past few days has turned me right off this whole fixture. And I've reached the point where the outcome of the biggest game of the season is now immaterial to me.

All that matters is that my club gets through this 90 minutes without bringing further shame on itself in front of the watching world. Rangers simply cannot take any more self-inflicted scandal.

The club will not fall down on the back of one result. Even if it means losing a grip on the SPL crown, as hard as that might be to swallow.

But it absolutely could be brought down for good by a minority of morons who seem hellbent on destroying the institution they claim to love.

The events of the past few days - and let's be blunt here, the attempted murder of Celtic manager Neil Lennon - have sickened me like never before. This madness, this utter chaos needs to stop now.

Let's get one thing straight. This has nothing to do with football. It was an act of criminality and terrorism by an individual or individuals who should not be walking our streets never mind attending football matches.

They are certainly not acting for or representative of the true Rangers support. And it would be utterly ridiculous to tar many thousands of good honest football fans with the same brush as you would use for these homicidal scumbags.

But that is why the time has come for the good guys to make themselves heard.

It is time for the true supporters to stand up and be counted and start to regain the respect their great club deserves. Because right now all across the globe the reputation of Rangers is in the gutter.

That's why Sunday is no longer about the result. It's all about the supporters now.

Whether Walter Smith's side win or lose is just a side issue. The whole world will be watching this game for all the wrong reasons and their eyes will be fixed firmly on the Rangers fans.

They will be placed under intense scrutiny because some of them have proved incapable of adapting to modern life in the 21st century.

The recent furore over sectarian chanting was damaging enough to the image of the club.

But when UEFA president Michel Platini is forced to break off from his ceremonial duties to express his horror over a nail bomb being sent through the post to the manager of Celtic? It simply does not get any worse than that.

The fundamentalists have taken over. They have blackened the name of my club on a global scale.

Well I say it's time for the overwhelming majority of fine, decent, upstanding Rangers supporters to prove how much they care.

They have to show the world what I already know - that they represent a quality football club, one of the greatest in the game.

Now no one needs to tell me about the real Rangers fans. They're the reason I fell in love with the club after signing from Monaco in 1990. To my mind they form one of the greatest supports anywhere in football.

They share a passion and deep sense of loyalty that separates them from all the rest. I am proud to count myself among them now that my boots have been packed away for good.

I would go as far as to say 99.9 per cent of them are genuine fans who simply love watching their team win football matches.

But they are the ones who have to prove that now. The spotlight is on them.

The club cannot take any more madness or embarrassment this Sunday. If they step out of line then Rangers might well be marked down as the black sheep of the entire football family for years to come.

And please spare me the old "no one likes us we don't care" attitude because if they have their own club's interests at heart then they MUST care.

Perhaps they should ask themselves - in these troubled financial times - what business in the world would want to associate with or invest in a football club that is regarded as a pariah because of a lunatic fringe of its supporters? So the good fans - and by that I mean the overwhelming majority - need to act in a way which shows the watching world what the Rangers support is really all about.

If the FTP brigade start to pipe up on Sunday then the decent majority must shout them down and point them out to the authorities.

If they are seen to be distancing themselves from the halfwits, having them rooted out inside the stadium, perhaps everyone else will see what I already know - that the ordinary Rangers fan does not deserve to be demonised in this manner. I hope the police help too by capturing the maniac or maniacs who have been behind the spate of recent explosive devices.

And I sincerely hope they get their man before he gets one of his targets.

Heaven only knows how Lennon is dealing with it all but I hope he's strong enough to get through it.

I'm not his biggest fan - and I have criticised him for some of his more provocative actions - but he doesn't deserve this. It is beyond ludicrous, worse than disgusting.

It strikes me that Neil is a single-minded and determined man. He came through a lot of difficult times as a player and I'd like to think those qualities will stop him walking away from the job now.

I can't say that with any certainty because I have never been sent a bomb through the post.I had hate mail and all kinds of threats dropping through my door as a player but I laughed them all off.

I'm not sure even I could laugh off a bomb. So good luck to Neil and I hope the cretins who have done this to him rot in jail.

Just don't ask me to wish him well on Sunday though. The result may well be immaterial in the end - but I'd still much prefer to see my side win.

As told to Keith Jackson

Ah well, kind of proves his intelligence there. Is there anyone working in the Celtic Media willing to defend our fans? I have no idea who he is talking about, what shame has 'the Club brought on itself'? I would rather hear from Alex Macdonald, who I am not old enough to have seen as a Rangers fan with great knowledge, than the words of this mercenary

[Chef]

he is right about the scum chants anyway, if we aint and they do the police must start to lift them

[bringonthbarca]

Stopped reading after paragraph two. He can go fuck himself.

Was thinking this earlier... how funny would it be if they caught the culprit of these bombs attacks and it was a celtic fan. Could you imagine? Would prob get passed off as a joke or something

[Turnberry18]

I do not really get angry with papers and stuff normally, but to hear about him and Bett is making me livid. This is persecution of Rangers, and I have no concern about being called paranoid or anything. I will say that I condemn the actions of anyone who sends threats through the post, by whatever means, but to lay the blame necessarily at the door of Rangers fans is incredible. Let us this person(s) caught, and then find out why they have done this, but we are having a media show-trial of our club and it is not on

[minstral]

I do not really get angry with papers and stuff normally, but to hear about him and Bett is making me livid. This is persecution of Rangers, and I have no concern about being called paranoid or anything. I will say that I condemn the actions of anyone who sends threats through the post, by whatever means, but to lay the blame necessarily at the door of Rangers fans is incredible. Let us this person(s) caught, and then find out why they have done this, but we are having a media show-trial of our club and it is not on

It seems every ex player is happy to have a go at our fans.

[TartanTeddy]

The facts remain that a large proportion of our support still see singing songs about Ulster, the IRA, the pope etc as more important than Rangers FC. While that still stands, then it's no surprise to see people who are passionate about the club rage at the actions of the stupid and the lame brained.

It's funny (in a sad way) to see folk attack Hateley, a fantastic servant to the club, but yet don't get the irony that it's their desire to sing about the IRA and the pope that's truly damaging our club.

So when it comes down to it, the people sticking the 'boot in' are the kiddy on supporters who are more concerned about 'timmy' than they are about our club. But I guess slavishly responding to celtic and their fans is how they get their kicks. Personally I couldn't give a shit about anything they do, like Hateley, I've always put Rangers first (unlike a lot of people who put Ulster and the pope well before the club).

Sad that people on here can't see why he's so angry at the damage that's being caused!

[saintbob1969]

Did you read that? I read an article that takes great pains to point out Rangers fans as being 99% the best kinds of football fans. If people cannot take it when someone points out that sending bombs is a cowardly act of spineless madness then we really are in the same foul sewer as the Pro IRA mhob. Mind you anyone reading the silly papers needs their head examined.

I do not imagine this is a Celtic supporter's warped mindgame trick, come on, really? It seems like a one off sectarian gutless less than 1% of 1% loner dragging our team's name through the mire. I think it is horrific and we need to send a clear message out that decent Rangers people do not support this. Rangers have always done their talking on the pitch.

I don't want a love-in. I want us to play competitive football and be respected the world over as a fine football club. How can I be wrong for wanting that?

[TheNuts]

dont have the time to listen to someone who knows as much as i do.

[caseyjones]

I do not really get angry with papers and stuff normally, but to hear about him and Bett is making me livid. This is persecution of Rangers, and I have no concern about being called paranoid or anything. I will say that I condemn the actions of anyone who sends threats through the post, by whatever means, but to lay the blame necessarily at the door of Rangers fans is incredible. Let us this person(s) caught, and then find out why they have done this, but we are having a media show-trial of our club and it is not on

You expect this sort of stuff from our enemies, but when one of your own, according to him anyway, puts his name to pish like that, you know that the demonisation of the club is really having an effect. Will Bain be coming out to defend the fans? Will Hateley be told to stay away from Ibrox?

Nope.

[SteveJ]

The facts remain that a large proportion of our support still see singing songs about Ulster, the IRA, the pope etc as more important than Rangers FC. While that still stands, then it's no surprise to see people who are passionate about the club rage at the actions of the stupid and the lame brained.

It's funny (in a sad way) to see folk attack Hateley, a fantastic servant to the club, but yet don't get the irony that it's their desire to sing about the IRA and the pope that's truly damaging our club.

So when it comes down to it, the people sticking the 'boot in' are the kiddy on supporters who are more concerned about 'timmy' than they are about our club. But I guess slavishly responding to celtic and their fans is how they get their kicks. Personally I couldn't give a shit about anything they do, like Hateley, I've always put Rangers first (unlike a lot of people who put Ulster and the pope well before the club).

Sad that people on here can't see why he's so angry at the damage that's being caused!

[caseyjones]

Did you read that? I read an article that takes great pains to point out Rangers fans as being 99% the best kinds of football fans. If people cannot take it when someone points out that sending bombs is a cowardly act of spineless madness then we really are in the same foul sewer as the Pro IRA mhob. Mind you anyone reading the silly papers needs their head examined.

I do not imagine this is a Celtic supporter's warped mindgame trick, come on, really? It seems like a one off sectarian gutless less than 1% of 1% loner dragging our team's name through the mire. I think it is horrific and we need to send a clear message out that decent Rangers people do not support this. Rangers have always done their talking on the pitch.

I don't want a love-in. I want us to play competitive football and be respected the world over as a fine football club. How can I be wrong for wanting that?

I want factual evidence. How can I be wrong for wanting that?

[saintbob1969]

I want factual evidence. How can I be wrong for wanting that?

You don't believe that bombs have been sent? Oh right you think some mhanky loon is sending bombs to their own people?

Many respected posters on here used to rip the Celtic for their paranoia and ridiculousness. Ok. it might be a non Rangers aligned individual. It might be Martians. But the rest of the world and the sh*tty media will be placing the blame right on our doorstep whether you like it or not. If we want respect we have to earn it. Rangers fans can earn respect by disassociating themselves with this just as we have seen McCoist, Hateley and various other Rangers men do, just as I am doing. We don't need to be given evidence or blame. We just need to earn the world's respect by saying NO, this is nothing to do with me or my team.

That's it, quite painless. Quite simple. But rather than man-up and say no that is wrong, you'd rather make yourself look even more ridiculous by arguing the semantics of whether it is legally a nut job or Empirically a nut job. All you need to do is say, aye, this is a nut job.

[Chef]

You expect this sort of stuff from our enemies, but when one of your own, according to him anyway, puts his name to pish like that, you know that the demonisation of the club is really having an effect. Will Bain be coming out to defend the fans? Will Hateley be told to stay away from Ibrox?

Nope.

you want bain to come out and what about the article?

[Jordo]

Stopped reading after he said after a few paragraphs. What a prick, no evidence to support claims like that. What chance do we have with a shower of shite like that is written day in day out ?

[Turnberry18]

It seems every ex player is happy to have a go at our fans.

You spoke about your grandfather and father yesterday; I cannot listen to the Paisley Roda West song with a dry eye- a few weeks ago I was listening to it with my 14 year old on Youtube and tears welled up because I remembered some of my elders no longer here. We had Rangers odds and ends around the house and for some reason a tea-towel was on my bedroom wall and I would waken up looking in the morning and that memory has always remained in my mind when I think of Rangers- from an early age the Club was there. In my childhood, sometimes my older cousin would take me on the bus into town, from Crookston, and we would inevitably pass Ibrox. I was a young boy, but the grass slopes and the main stand made me excited. As you turn up back to Paisley Road West you pass tenements, and Rangers F C can be seen a second time. That is my earliest memories. Sorry, but I do not know the bigots they talk about, I grew up thinking we were a special Club and it never left me, with tales of Willie Henderson and so on. I was fortunate, it was a big house we had, with gardens big enough for me to dream of playing for Rangers in, we lived near Paisley Road West/Crookston Road, and Ibrox was a nearly a straight road away, and I used to pretend to be playing in front of Ibrox, I pretended the house was the Main Stand(not as big!) and it was not long before Souness, it did not matter we were 4th in the Table, Rangers were Rangers, end of story - I could be called a romantic about the Club, but to me we are the best. I love this Club, as I feel you do, and to see it tarnished by a player like Bett and now this mercenary is not on. I hope someone can defend the honour of The Rangers- the Rangers I was taught about,and you appear to talk about, which is a proud Club with a great history. Where are the ex players who know how special the Club is and who will cut through thsi stuff? I am uncomfortable about getting personal in what I have written, but Rangers to me is so far removed from the media that it hurts to hear the Club spoken about in the way is done by the Celtic Minded Media

[caseyjones]

You don't believe that bombs have been sent? Oh right you think some mhanky loon is sending bombs to their own people?

Many respected posters on here used to rip the Celtic for their paranoia and ridiculousness. Ok. it might be a non Rangers aligned individual. It might be Martians. But the rest of the world and the sh*tty media will be placing the blame right on our doorstep whether you like it or not. If we want respect we have to earn it. Rangers fans can earn respect by disassociating themselves with this just as we have seen McCoist, Hately and various other Rangers men do, just as I am doing. We don't need to be given evidence or blame. We just need to earn the world's respect by saying NO, this is nothing to do with me or my team.

That's it, quite painless. Quite simple. But rather than man-up and say no that is wrong, you'd rather make yourself look even more ridiculous by arguing the semantics of whether it is legally a nut job or Empirically a nut job. All you need to do is say, aye, this is a nut job.

Where did I discuss the rights and wrongs of what has been going on?

My gripe is that a)Hateley has laid the blame at our door without any proof and b)he has equated singing songs as us giving support for it.

Absolute nonsense.

[minstral]

You spoke about your grandfather and father yesterday; I cannot listen to the Paisley Roda West song with a dry eye- a few weeks ago I was listening to it with my 14 year old on Youtube and tears welled up because I remembered some of my elders no longer here. We had Rangers odds and ends around the house and for some reason a tea-towel was on my bedroom wall and I would waken up looking in the morning and that memory has always remained in my mind when I think of Rangers- from an early age the Club was there. In my childhood, sometimes my older cousin would take me on the bus into town, from Crookston, and we would inevitably pass Ibrox. I was a young boy, but the grass slopes and the main stand made me excited. As you turn up back to Paisley Road West you pass tenements, and Rangers F C can be seen a second time. That is my earliest memories. Sorry, but I do not know the bigots they talk about, I grew up thinking we were a special Club and it never left me, with tales of Willie Henderson and so on. I was fortunate, it was a big house we had, with gardens big enough for me to dream of playing for Rangers in, we lived near Paisley Road West/Crookston Road, and Ibrox was a nearly a straight road away, and I used to pretend to be playing in front of Ibrox, I pretended the house was the Main Stand(not as big!) and it was not long before Souness, it did not matter we were 4th in the Table, Rangers were Rangers, end of story - I could be called a romantic about the Club, but to me we are the best. I love this Club, as I feel you do, and to see it tarnished by a player like Bett and now this mercenary is not on. I hope someone can defend the honour of The Rangers- the Rangers I was taught about,and you appear to talk about, which is a proud Club with a great history. Where are the ex players who know how special the Club is and who will cut through thsi stuff? I am uncomfortable about getting personal in what I have written, but Rangers to me is so far removed from the media that it hurts to hear the Club spoken about in the way is done by the Celtic Minded Media

Great post mate.

[pcbear]

Guilty before proven innocent is a bit of a cock eyed way to go about trial, what a pussy Hateley appears in that article, i'm a pretty easy going guy but this anti Rangers bandwagons is gathering strength and even the mild mannered ones are getting pretty much fucked off the blindingly obvious one sidesness of it all.

Candlelit vigil ffs how cringeworthy is that, this has reached absolute idiocy.

[Chef]

id imagine the unwashed were not too impressed with mcghees comments yesteday

[minstral]

Did you read that? I read an article that takes great pains to point out Rangers fans as being 99% the best kinds of football fans. If people cannot take it when someone points out that sending bombs is a cowardly act of spineless madness then we really are in the same foul sewer as the Pro IRA mhob. Mind you anyone reading the silly papers needs their head examined.

I do not imagine this is a Celtic supporter's warped mindgame trick, come on, really? It seems like a one off sectarian gutless less than 1% of 1% loner dragging our team's name through the mire. I think it is horrific and we need to send a clear message out that decent Rangers people do not support this. Rangers have always done their talking on the pitch.

I don't want a love-in. I want us to play competitive football and be respected the world over as a fine football club. How can I be wrong for wanting that?

How can you say it was a Rangers fan without proof.