WaltersGotStyle 160 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 THE Chairman of the Club has written the following open letter to all Rangers supporters:To all Rangers supporters,I write to you today to address a number of key issues facing the Club.First, I would like to address specifically the latest attempt to undermine Rangers in today's Daily Record which devotes five pages to trashing our efforts to get this Club back on a sensible financial footing.In the most lurid terms, the Record accuses the Club's management and, specifically me, of using supporters' money to help fund the buy-out of Rangers. Not true.The Club is accused of not paying £5million in VAT. Not true.I can categorically assure supporters that when I launched a takeover bid for the Club it was funded entirely from one of my companies and that was demonstrated clearly to the satisfaction of the previous owner, Lloyds Banking Group and professional advisers.What is true is that Rangers, like many other clubs, has a financing arrangement in place with a company called Ticketus which enables the Club to receive revenue from a portion of season ticket sales in advance.There is nothing unusual or untoward in this arrangement which was put in place at the Club long before my takeover last year and was used by the previous management. For members of that regime to criticise the use of a scheme they put in place is, frankly, outrageous.This is a perfectly straightforward way of raising working capital for the Club. Money from season ticket sales goes directly to the Club and is used for the Club's operations and that remains the case. In effect, all this financing arrangement does is release the revenue to the Club earlier.The Daily Record's approach to this story sought to distort and dramatise the matter. I for one will not be reading or buying the Daily Record again and I'm sure many other Rangers fans will share my disgust at yet another smear on this football club.It was, predictably, fuelled by accusations of former board members of the Club. I simply ask Rangers fans what these men did for Rangers in the Club's hour of need? They were all talk and no action and presided over the Club as it careered to the brink of financial collapse.The overarching issue that affects Rangers financially is the HMRC tax tribunal, which has been hanging over the Club for many years and long before I became chairman. As I have said many times before, the sooner that is resolved the better.In terms of the playing squad, you may know the Club has agreed a fee with Everton for the transfer of Nikica Jelavic. We wish the player well and thank him for his contribution to Rangers.The reality of Jelavic's departure is two-fold. One, the player wanted to leave and there is no point in trying to keep a player who no longer wants to be at Ibrox. Two, the Club is simply not in a financial position to turn down offers for players which give the Club a good return on its original investment.Investment in the playing squad has been a thorny issue since I took over the Club in May and is the source of endless debate, much of it ill-informed. I want to set the record straight.In the summer transfer window last year we conducted 14 different pieces of transfer business, more than any other club in Scotland. This included new signings and improvement to existing contracts with key players, increasing the players' wage bill significantly. We now have a first team squad of 30 which includes 18 full internationalists.Admittedly, there were transfer targets we did not secure but that is not uncommon. As chairman, I have supported Ally McCoist in his choice of targets and will continue to do so. The timing of Jelavic's departure so late in this window is far from ideal and efforts to improve the squad will continue until the transfer window closes.That said, we must be realistic. Media coverage of the transfer window has bordered on the hysterical. As it stands at the moment Rangers has operating costs of approximately £45 million a year and revenues of around £35million - not including revenue from possible Champions' League and Europa League participation.As we know, European money cannot be taken for granted and it doesn't take much to work out that without it there is a big financial hole to fill every year - regardless of who owns the Club.I've said many times that in Scottish football we have to move on from this mindset that you have to keep spending more and more money - that's what got this Club into financial trouble before. We have to live within our means, continue to develop talent and spend wisely.These are challenging financial times for Rangers - as they are for many other businesses. What I can say to you as a Rangers fan is that everything I will do as chairman will be in the interests of the Club and I thank you for your continued support.Craig Whyte, Chairmanhttp://www.rangers.co.uk/news/football-news/article/2594589 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CottonRunt 978 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Well done to Mr Whyte for coming out and clarifying the matter.As we thought this is more mischief making from the scumbags at the Daily Rebel.I for one agree with Mr Whyte's statements about Rangers fans not buying that rag, i haven't done for many years. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClintonGrey 365 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Aye maybe so, but we now only have one striker. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRITNEY IS NOT FEELING IT 8,293 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Don't be fooled troops by the mhedia , follow follow Mr Whyte's example and DO NOT BUY THE RHECORD . Really hope CW and the Club take that two bit rhag the whole way , , IT'S WAR , NO SURRENDER Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottBF2 3,540 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Ok, so from that I'll take that no permanent replacement for Jelavic will be in place in this Transfer Window unless it's a free transfer.We may investigate the loan-route, but even that seems unlikely.Any annoyance I have isn't directed at Craig Whyte, but at the former owners who once again attempt to smear the club and warn us about events they caused. The whole lot of them can crawl to the Stade de Gadd and stay there, scum. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrangemouthRSC 832 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Agree with what he is saying but getting a bit worried that we may not get another striker in. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef 436 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Craigwhyteloyal Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
McBoyd 355 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Great effort from him to come out with this now.Right place, right time.Totally agree regarding the media, they stir up so much shite in Scotland it's unreal. Fair enough, it's their business, they want sales, but it's got to the point where it's either unbelievable or just downright embarrassing now. I stopped reading The Record, Sun etc ages ago. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottBF2 3,540 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Agree with what he is saying but getting a bit worried that we may not get another striker in.Admittedly, there were transfer targets we did not secure but that is not uncommon. As chairman, I have supported Ally McCoist in his choice of targets and will continue to do so. The timing of Jelavic's departure so late in this window is far from ideal and efforts to improve the squad will continue until the transfer window closes.That said, we must be realistic.I'm not going to rule anything out but that segment of the statement kind of suggests that we'll look to get in someone who won't cost a fraction of what Jelavic goes for, not something I'll blame the current regime for. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiscoDavie 5 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 What I said earlier chaps, there are very dark forces afoot who are trying anything they can to bring our Fantastic Club to its knees.We have to be together and repel any of their under hand tactics. Listening to RC and Buying that Rag of a Rhebel paper only assists.Have faith!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
disgruntled_bear 157 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 I've already prepared myself for the worse. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perth_Campsie_Ger 18,072 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 im glad he has come out with this statement, hopfully he will manage to give us a nice surprise transfer to get out spirits up again!I guess thats the daily rebel on the banned list with the bbc lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy500 463 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Excellent statement. Good to see a chairman with a bit of a backbone. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
beattie72 170 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Cant argue with that. Well said Mr WhyteNo surrender and fuck the Daily Rebel. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOAT 30,449 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 That statement totally contradicts what Whyte has said in the past! Whyte's a liar, the sooner some of our support realise that the better. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.E.C. 19,077 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 No one fucks with Whyte. He needs a gun. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarcheVinny 1,003 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 This statement is a good example of why I voted 'yes', in the poll this morning, asking users if they trusted Craig Whyte. I do. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redmond7 1,204 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Decent enough statement, my only issues are, yes most of us with any common sense know we have to work within budgets but on the other hand, the title always has to be priority and to win that we need players on the pitch and right now, more importantly we NEED two more strikers. Also, We have to live within our means, continue to develop talent and spend wisely.The lets actually see that talent being given more of a chance eh, rather than being loaned out or sitting on the bench twiddling their thumbs and if they arent good enough for the 1st team at 21 or so, why are they still here.Anyway, I never read or buy the rhetard and haven't for over 20 years . Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
milleniummanp7 24 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 The timing of Jelavic's departure so late in this window is far from ideal and efforts to improve the squad will continue until the transfer window closes.That said, we must be realistic. Media coverage of the transfer window has bordered on the hysterical. As it stands at the moment Rangers has operating costs of approximately £45 million a year and revenues of around £35million - not including revenue from possible Champions' League and Europa League participation.As we know, European money cannot be taken for granted and it doesn't take much to work out that without it there is a big financial hole to fill every year - regardless of who owns the Club.I've said many times that in Scottish football we have to move on from this mindset that you have to keep spending more and more money - that's what got this Club into financial trouble before. We have to live within our means, continue to develop talent and spend wisely.Maybe it's just me...but that reads a lot like "we won't be spending any money" Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DietofWorms 2,067 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 We need to stand shoulder to shoulder through this. Fuck the Record,Fuck Radio Clyde. Let's fight our enemies and not each other. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCLACHLAN1 49 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 His comments about Transfers are an Absolute Joke. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davie2909 21 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Time to prove them wrong Craigie boy get your cheque book out and sign a top top striker none of this £500,000 pish Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CottonRunt 978 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 I dont think the statement says we wont be spending money, it just says we need to invest wisely.Dont think there is anything wrong with that, for example buying Templeton for 500k is a wise investment IMO. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrangemouthRSC 832 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Can't we ban the Daily Rebel from Ibrox? then the fans wouldn't buy it if it didn't have match reports/pics etc?P.s to the 99 guests Still the champions timmy Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Godfather 72,687 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 That statement totally contradicts what Whyte has said in the past! Whyte's a liar, the sooner some of our support realise that the better.How does it? What did he say in the past which is so different from this statement? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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