Putting Whyte through the wringer

[Frankie]

With most media sources now suggesting the takeover of Rangers is likely to be announced to the Stock Exchange later this week, it seems the question is no longer if this deal will happen but when.

On the surface the price and stipulations agreed by Whyte look to be a good for the club and supporters alike. The vast majority of the long term bank loan will be eradicated and other existing debt removed while 'new' money made available to invest into the club - around £30million over 5 years if the 'sources' are to be believed.

Given our existing owner (and his directors) have struggled to provide anything similar without selling players or relying on Champions League money it will be fascinating to see how Whyte et al intend supplying their investment. Will we be exchanging old debt for new debt and one nosey bank for another? After all, surely Whyte won't be putting in £30million of his own money - if indeed he does have the net-worth as to afford such a sum?

It is obvious then that at this stage we have more questions than answers. So much so, that we're reliant on Sir David Murray, Lloyds Bank and the 'independent bid oversight sub-committee' to conduct due-diligence on the buyer on our behalf. We can only hope they do so without prejudice given all these parties will have their own self-interest to look after. Will Rangers FC and its loyal support really be high on their list of priorities though? The very fact we're basing our concerns on hope rather than expectation is perhaps as damning as any in-depth post-mortem on the Murray era.

Much better then to look to the future and while our questions to Craig Whyte may occur after the fact they're still worth asking. It is probable that he'll be eager to meet with the Rangers Assembly quickly after buying so I'm sure they'll be ready to represent us all in asking the difficult questions that need to be answered. A bland interview with a salivating Chic Young just won't do.

As a shareholder and season-ticket holder (though not yet renewed) I'll be expecting the Assembly to concentrate on the following few key areas - though I'm sure we'll all have our own equally important questions and concerns as well.

- Who is Craig Whyte?

Simplistic Google searches notwithstanding the lack of information on Whyte really is quite incredible. Other than a few failed UK businesses and questions about just how long his visas in Monaco lasted, we know next to nothing about this 'successful businessman'.

Obviously he must have some sort of proof of what he offers - both strategically and financially. We need to know more about his past, his future and who his partners are. This should be the easiest question for him to answer.

- Where is the investment coming from?

£5million of 'new' money for 5 seasons irrespective of player sales and European participation is a fair sum given the club struggles to make a profit otherwise in the stagnant SPL market.

To that end, where is this money coming from, who is providing it and what guarantees are placed on the club as a result? This question is less easy to answer and the new regime may not want to reveal vital tactical information but given the club's current situation our concerns are valid so need to be addressed.

- Where do you see the club in 5 years time?

It may seem daft to ask questions about 2016 before the guy has sat behind his new desk in 2011 but despite the initial successes of the Murray era, Rangers have struggled with anything other than short-term fixes in the last 10 years especially.

Furthermore Whyte is promising investment for 5 years but what happens after that? Do he and/or his backers pull out? Will the club be for sale again? What position will it be in? A long-term vision is something we all need and want to buy into. That may be literal if rumours are to be believed about share issues.

Of course we could go on all day with a variety of specific questions. I'm sure transfer policy, supporters representation, board make-up, media/PR work, asset protection and youth systems are equally important dependent on our own personal bug-bears. But without answers to the big questions above, any promises on the individual elements have no foundation. To that end, we must concentrate on the wider issues initially.

Now, common sense tells us we may not obtain all the answers we want and, of those we do get, we may not like them all. That's fair enough but, at the very least, any welcome for Craig Whyte and his backers should also mean putting him through the wringer as soon as we shake his hand.

With £20million of season ticket money still in reserve he should be equally as keen to answer. Will the grip match the smile?

[sillybilly]

It will certainly be intresting to hear what whyte has to say

[Frankie]

It will certainly be intresting to hear what whyte has to say

Whyte's initial words will be grasped upon by hundreds of thousands of people - bears or not.

It is imperative that he begins his Rangers tenure in a manner that shows us our future is safe in his hands.

[BRITNEY IS NOT FEELING IT]

If this does eventually go through Mr Whyte better do extremely more than talk a good game , he will need to provide answers to all questions asked and I don't meen questions asked by a selected bunch of journos where Mr Whyte will already know what the questions will be .

Still Waiting ......................................................

[gunslinger]

good questions frankie.

and a very good point about whos making the decision.

we have sdm/lloyds who just want out. they theres aj who boss tells us would happily scupper the deal to keep his club tie.

its not inspiring.

he does eeem like a good negotiator nad pretty media savy which is a start.

[reddrock]

With most media sources now suggesting the takeover of Rangers is likely to be announced to the Stock Exchange later this week, it seems the question is no longer if this deal will happen but when.

On the surface the price and stipulations agreed by Whyte look to be a good for the club and supporters alike. The vast majority of the long term bank loan will be eradicated and other existing debt removed while 'new' money made available to invest into the club - around £30million over 5 years if the 'sources' are to be believed.

Given our existing owner (and his directors) have struggled to provide anything similar without selling players or relying on Champions League money it will be fascinating to see how Whyte et al intend supplying their investment. Will we be exchanging old debt for new debt and one nosey bank for another? After all, surely Whyte won't be putting in £30million of his own money - if indeed he does have the net-worth as to afford such a sum?

It is obvious then that at this stage we have more questions than answers. So much so, that we're reliant on Sir David Murray, Lloyds Bank and the 'independent bid oversight sub-committee' to conduct due-diligence on the buyer on our behalf. We can only hope they do so without prejudice given all these parties will have their own self-interest to look after. Will Rangers FC and its loyal support really be high on their list of priorities though? The very fact we're basing our concerns on hope rather than expectation is perhaps as damning as any in-depth post-mortem on the Murray era.

Much better then to look to the future and while our questions to Craig Whyte may occur after the fact they're still worth asking. It is probable that he'll be eager to meet with the Rangers Assembly quickly after buying so I'm sure they'll be ready to represent us all in asking the difficult questions that need to be answered. A bland interview with a salivating Chic Young just won't do.

As a shareholder and season-ticket holder (though not yet renewed) I'll be expecting the Assembly to concentrate on the following few key areas - though I'm sure we'll all have our own equally important questions and concerns as well.

- Who is Craig Whyte?

Simplistic Google searches notwithstanding the lack of information on Whyte really is quite incredible. Other than a few failed UK businesses and questions about just how long his visas in Monaco lasted, we know next to nothing about this 'successful businessman'.

Obviously he must have some sort of proof of what he offers - both strategically and financially. We need to know more about his past, his future and who his partners are. This should be the easiest question for him to answer.

- Where is the investment coming from?

£5million of 'new' money for 5 seasons irrespective of player sales and European participation is a fair sum given the club struggles to make a profit otherwise in the stagnant SPL market.

To that end, where is this money coming from, who is providing it and what guarantees are placed on the club as a result? This question is less easy to answer and the new regime may not want to reveal vital tactical information but given the club's current situation our concerns are valid so need to be addressed.

- Where do you see the club in 5 years time?

It may seem daft to ask questions about 2016 before the guy has sat behind his new desk in 2011 but despite the initial successes of the Murray era, Rangers have struggled with anything other than short-term fixes in the last 10 years especially.

Furthermore Whyte is promising investment for 5 years but what happens after that? Do he and/or his backers pull out? Will the club be for sale again? What position will it be in? A long-term vision is something we all need and want to buy into. That may be literal if rumours are to be believed about share issues.

Of course we could go on all day with a variety of specific questions. I'm sure transfer policy, supporters representation, board make-up, media/PR work, asset protection and youth systems are equally important dependent on our own personal bug-bears. But without answers to the big questions above, any promises on the individual elements have no foundation. To that end, we must concentrate on the wider issues initially.

Now, common sense tells us we may not obtain all the answers we want and, of those we do get, we may not like them all. That's fair enough but, at the very least, any welcome for Craig Whyte and his backers should also mean putting him through the wringer as soon as we shake his hand.

With £20million of season ticket money still in reserve he should be equally as keen to answer. Will the grip match the smile?

All good points as I would expect frankie and i along with us all await the answers with interest.

However I still have a large doubt in my mind this is right and my worrying factors are the lack of info on whyte but also my first hand knowledge of ellis who had lets say an unsuccesful involvement with northampton Town.

[caseyjones]

When someone has full control, there is nothing stopping them from saying 'stick your questions up your arse'. Actions will speak louder than words, no matter who has the reins.

[Frankie]

When someone has full control, there is nothing stopping them from saying 'stick your questions up your arse'. Actions will speak louder than words, no matter who has the reins.

Well that goes without saying. I'd hope though that any new owner would want to be as open and frank with the fans from the off.

Like I say, we may not be happy with the answers we get but actions will indeed speak louder than words.

[krissg910]

i hope someone will ask him if-

WILL YOU STAND UP AND FIGHT ALL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE BERATING THE CLUB AND BRANDING ITS FANS SECTERIAN AT EVERY OPPERTUNITY AND WILL YOU MR WHYTE FIGHT FOR OUR CLUBS FANS AND THERE BELIEFS AND TRADITIONS AND NOT LET US BE DICTATED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY OBVIOUSLY ANTI-BRITISH.

MR WHYTE, WILL YOU STAND???????

[gunslinger]

When someone has full control, there is nothing stopping them from saying 'stick your questions up your arse'. Actions will speak louder than words, no matter who has the reins.

true. but more years of silence will just further alienate the rangers fans.

[Frankie]

true. but more years of silence will just further alienate the rangers fans.

It is reasonably clear that Whyte et al must have something original/different/controversial in mind with regard to improving the way the club operates financially.

Whatever his plans are, then it would make sense to improve relations with the support to ensure they understand and back any proposals he may have.

[Turnberry18]

Something interesting is happening in all of this- the Rangers fans scepticism about Whyte is either growing or becoming more apparent; I think it is perhaps both. I know venture capitalists can be quite discrete in regards a money-trail, but there really is nothing of great substance that attaches itself to Craig Whyte; and yet, he has convinced a lot of people who know their way around a balance sheet

[Jimfanciesthedude]

if we clear the debt to Lloyds, that saves us 2.5 million a year does it not (repayment of loan and interest on debt). So there's half your 5million right away. The other 2.5 could come from anywhere, reduced bonus payments to the players over a season etc. Or perhaps he plans on putting say 30 million in an account and giving the interest to the club etc

[Thermopylae]

One thing I find really strange is that Whyte and Murray both think the next manager should be the same man. Surely if Whyte is providing the funds for him to spend he would want his own man in there?

[caseyjones]

Well that goes without saying. I'd hope though that any new owner would want to be as open and frank with the fans from the off.

Like I say, we may not be happy with the answers we get but actions will indeed speak louder than words.

Going by the gutless performance of the Assembly when faced with Murray, we may not be happy with the questions, nevermind the answers!

I also hope to see more openness towards the fans, but if Whyte does take over, he will be breaking old habits, if his financial details sre anything to go by.

[Frankie]

Going by the gutless performance of the Assembly when faced with Murray, we may not be happy with the questions, nevermind the answers!

I also hope to see more openness towards the fans, but if Whyte does take over, he will be breaking old habits, if his financial details sre anything to go by.

Supporters representation is definitely something that should be revisited and improved by any new regime.

If Whyte indicates that is something he will sanction then hopefully that will ensure we have a more effective voice then ever before.

Of course, the supporters themselves also have to show we're capable of acting like big boys when appropriate...

[nvager]

That's the trouble - far too many questions require an answer. It has been all smoke and mirrors so far. The fans are so far in the dark about Whyte and Ellis and their plans it is a tad troubling to say the least. On top of that the present Board at Ibrox and SDM don't exactly emanate trust either.

The simple fact is that the fans in general trust no-one. That may change, but Whyte will have to earn the fans trust. That is important.

We are now assuming that the Whyte deal will take place very soon. That too is still conjecture. Given AJ and his cronies are still vetting it anything may happen. P Murray who attempted a rival bid recently is still on the vetting committee and may yet attempt something new or delay the Whyte deal further.

Nothing to do with this deal will surprise me, so I for one am not counting it as a done deal just yet.

[Turnberry18]

That's the trouble - far too many questions require an answer. It has been all smoke and mirrors so far. The fans are so far in the dark about Whyte and Ellis and their plans it is a tad troubling to say the least. On top of that the present Board at Ibrox and SDM don't exactly emanate trust either.

The simple fact is that the fans in general trust no-one. That may change, but Whyte will have to earn the fans trust. That is important.

We are now assuming that the Whyte deal will take place very soon. That too is still conjecture. Given AJ and his cronies are still vetting it anything may happen. P Murray who attempted a rival bid recently is still on the vetting committee and may yet attempt something new or delay the Whyte deal further.

Nothing to do with this deal will surprise me, so I for one am not counting it as a done deal just yet.

Excellent point, trust should be conditional with this. The fans, the Club, the players have been let down by our present major shareholder(never will I call anyone Rangers Owner) and therefore we are right to be sceptical about everything that could be attached to this deal

[caseyjones]

That's the trouble - far too many questions require an answer. It has been all smoke and mirrors so far. The fans are so far in the dark about Whyte and Ellis and their plans it is a tad troubling to say the least. On top of that the present Board at Ibrox and SDM don't exactly emanate trust either.

The simple fact is that the fans in general trust no-one. That may change, but Whyte will have to earn the fans trust. That is important.

We are now assuming that the Whyte deal will take place very soon. That too is still conjecture. Given AJ and his cronies are still vetting it anything may happen. P Murray who attempted a rival bid recently is still on the vetting committee and may yet attempt something new or delay the Whyte deal further.

Nothing to do with this deal will surprise me, so I for one am not counting it as a done deal just yet.

I'm with you, mate, but just one thing, is Paul Murray on the vetting commitee?

[nemisis]

Who are this RSA you speak off, as a shareholder and supporter for over forty years, they have never sought my vote or views on anything?

[Frankie]

Who are this RSA you speak off, as a shareholder and supporter for over forty years, they have never sought my vote or views on anything?

Fair point.

Exactly why I suggested the whole representative process needs to be overhauled.