Auchenhowie downsizing?

[OlegKuznetsov 10,816]

It was said by the IamRangers account that Smith and McCoist are/were resisting attempts to drive down the facilities annual running costs from £10m to £5m.

I find it hard to quantify its annual value, but surely £10m is a hell of a lot for what we get out of it.

Is the speculation and the assumption behind it correct?

Does it require serious cost-cutting?

[SwallowsHisOwnSpunk 7,926]

I always thought some company paid for the running costs and in return we pay a small fee everytime a youth player graduates to the first team.

[StublueKPL 524]

One area I would not like to see downsizing tbh

[jimgers 565]

Cut out the expensive healthy foods, give them Pizza, Sausage rolls and fish fingers. Never done me any harm i'm fifty plus and only had two heart attacks and a mini stroke.

[Redwhiteandblue 3,330]

£10m to run?

Anyone who has been there will tell you that is absolute bollocks.

[SteveJ 743]

I always thought some company paid for the running costs and in return we pay a small fee everytime a youth player graduates to the first team.

I am sure that was in the first five years or so, and part of a private investment for the creation of MP. I am also sure SDM got rid of that agreement years ago.

[subcrawl 43]

Who has actually come through that we have made money from apart from Danny Wilson and Adam?

[MasterD 7,447]

I always thought some company paid for the running costs and in return we pay a small fee everytime a youth player graduates to the first team.

That changed years ago. Doubt it worked very well for the investors considering very few youth players ever made it to the first team.

[mason boyne 40]

Cany see it being £10 mil pa surely and if it is can we sustain it, suppose proof is in the pudding if these youngsters get sold on for good money further down the line, but does any one really know the running costs?

[haudthebus 49]

Apologies if already posted.

Murray Park: The Verdict - Where are they now?

by

TibbsyBear

Published on 20-12-2011 15:17

24 Comments

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Over the past two to three years vast improvements have been seen in the quality of player emerging from the now 10 year old Murray Park. Or, could it be argued that it’s only now that young players are getting the opportunity to shine at Ibrox due to the financial restrictions in place at Rangers Football Club? Let’s find out…

The BBC delved briefly into the success of the Auchenhowie training facility in their May 2011 follow-up programme but I think it would be beneficial to have a more detailed look back at Murray Park since it’s inception in 2001 as only a select few were featured in the original “Blue Heaven” programme. It will also be interesting to find out if the facility has been value for money. Has it been worth the £14Million investment and continued running costs?

Murray Park will be judged on the quality of its products and it’s difficult to say what merits a pass or a fail in the modern game. Is it money, success or simply just playing the game at a reasonable level professionally? I suppose it’s a matter of personal opinion.

I think for any football player to be considered a reasonable success they have to have plied their trade at a decent level for the majority of their career, basically from the SPL and the English Championship upwards. Personal / team achievements and international caps are an added bonus.

The following is a review of 60 players that began their footballing careers at Rangers. All are products of the Murray Park training facility. Let’s see how they’re getting on:

Andy Dowie: Centre Back - Time at Rangers: 1999-2004

Current Club: Dunfermline Athletic - League: Scottish Premier League

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: Dunfermline – Scottish First Division Champions (1)

Transfer fee received by club: None

Robert Malcolm: Defensive Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 1997-2006

Current Club: Unattached - League: N/A

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: Rangers - Scottish Premier League (2), Scottish Cup (1), League Cup (1)

Transfer fee received by club: None

Jimmy Gibson: Centre Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 1996-2003

Current Club: Retired - League: N/A

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Tom Brighton: Striker - Time at Rangers: 2001-2005

Current Club: Queen of the South - League: Scottish First Division

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Chris Burke: Winger - Time at Rangers: 2000-2009

Current Club: Birmingham City - League: English Championship

Full International Caps: 2

Major Honours: Rangers – Scottish Premier League (1), League Cup (1), Scotland – Kirin Cup (1)

Transfer fee received by club: None

Mark Brown: Defensive Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 2000-2003

Current Club: Alloa Athletic - League: Scottish Third Division

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Allan McGregor: Goalkeeper - Time at Rangers: 2001-Present

Current Club: Rangers - League: Scottish Premier League

Full International Caps: 18

Major Honours: Rangers – Scottish Premier League (3), Scottish Cup (3), League Cup (5)

Transfer fee received by club: N/A

Steven MacLean: Striker - Time at Rangers: 2002-2004

Current Club: Yeovil Town - League: English League One

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: Rangers – Scottish Cup (1), Sheffield Wednesday – League One Play Off Winners (1), Cardiff City – FA Cup Runners Up (1)

Transfer fee received by club: £125,000

Alan Hutton: Right Back - Time at Rangers: 2002-2008

Current Club: Aston Villa - League: English Premier League

Full International Caps: 21

Major Honours: Rangers – Scottish Premier League (1), Tottenham Hotspur – Carling Cup (1), Barclay’s Asia Trophy (1), Vodacom Challenge (1)

Transfer fee received by club: £9,000,000

Stephen Dobbie: Striker - Time at Rangers: 2000-2003

Current Club: Swansea City / Blackpool (loan) - League: English Premier League / English Championship

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: Hibernian – League Cup Runners Up (1), QOTS – Scottish Cup Runners Up (1), Blackpool – Football League Championship Play Off Final Winners (1), Swansea City - Football League Championship Play Off Final Winners (1)

Transfer fee received by club: None

Marc Twaddle: Defender - Time at Rangers: 2001-2003

Current Club: Rochdale - League: English League One

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Darryl Duffy: Striker - Time at Rangers: 2001-2004

Current Club: Cheltenham Town - League: English League Two

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Alex Walker: Defensive Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 2001-2005

Current Club: Unattached - League: N/A

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: Greenock Morton - Scottish Second Division (1)

Transfer fee received by club: None

Charlie Adam: Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 2000-2009

Current Club: Liverpool - League: English Premier League

Full International Caps: 15

Major Honours: St Mirren - Scottish First Division (1), Scottish Challenge Cup (1), Blackpool – Play off Promotion Place (1)

Transfer fee received by club: £500,000 (£1,000,000 after sell on fee)

Gary MacKenzie - Time at Rangers: 2002-2006

Current Club: Milton Keynes Dons - League: English League One

Full International Caps: 0 (Called up to Scotland squad for Cyprus match)

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Robert Davidson: Striker - Time at Rangers: 2002-2007

Current Club: Unattached - League: N/A

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Ross McCormack: Striker - Time at Rangers: 2002-2006

Current Club: Leeds Utd - League: English Championship

Full International Caps: 7

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Bajram Fetai: Striker - Time at Rangers: 2004-2006

Current Club: Lyngby - League: Danish Superliga

Full International Caps: 2

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Billy Gibson: Defensive Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 1999-2004

Current Club: Alloa Athletic - League: Scottish Third Division

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Peter Leven: Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 2000-2004

Current Club: Oxford United - League: English League Two

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Paul McHale: Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 1998-2004

Current Club: Stenhousemuir - League: Scottish Second Division

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Steven Smith: Left Back - Time at Rangers: 2002-2010

Current Club: Preston North End - League: English League One

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: Rangers – Scottish Premier League (1), League Cup (1)

Transfer fee received by club: None

Graeme Smith: Goalkeeper - Time at Rangers: 1999-2005

Current Club: Gabala - League: Azerbaijan Premier League

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: Rangers – League Cup (1)

Transfer fee received by club: None

Brian McLean: Defender - Time at Rangers: 2000-2006

Current Club: Preston North End - League: English League One

Full International Caps: 1

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Alan Lowing: Right Back - Time at Rangers: 2004-2010

Current Club: Fram Reykjavik - League: Icelandic Premier League

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Steven Lennon: Striker - Time at Rangers: 2005-2010

Current Club: Fram Reykjavik - League: Icelandic Premier League

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Andrew Shinnie: Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 2005-2011

Current Club: Inverness Caledonian Thistle - League: Scottish Premier League

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Craig Frizzel: Midfielder - Time at Rangers: Exact period unknown

Current Club: Elgin City - League: Scottish Third Division

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Jason Crooks: Striker - Time at Rangers: Exact period unknown

Current Club: Elgin City - League: Scottish Third Division

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Brian Gilmour: Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 2003-2007

Current Club: Knattspyrnnufelag Akureyrar - League: Icelandic Second Division

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Paul Emslie: Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 2005-2010

Current Club: Cove Rangers - League: Highland Football League

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

John Fleck: Attacking Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 2006-Present

Current Club: Rangers - League: Scottish Premier League

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: Rangers – Scottish Premier League (2), Scottish Cup (1)

Transfer fee received by club: N/A

Scott Hadden: Midfielder - Time at Rangers: Exact period unknown

Current Club: Whitehills AFC - League: Paisley & District AFL

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Steven Campbell: Centre Back - Time at Rangers: 2004-2007

Current Club: East Fife - League: Scottish Second Division

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Joe Sagar: Defender - Time at Rangers: 2003-2007

Current Club: Unknown (last seen in the Welsh lower leagues) - League: N/A

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Lee Robinson: Goalkeeper - Time at Rangers: 2004-2009

Current Club: Queen of the South - League: Scottish First Division

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Lacine Cherif: Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 2007-2008

Current Club: Unknown (last seen at Kilmarnock) - League: N/A

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Michael Donald: Centre Back - Time at Rangers: Exact period unknown

Current Club: Unknown - League: N/A

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Calum Reidford: Goalkeeper - Time at Rangers: 2005-2008

Current Club: Stirling Albion - League: Scottish Second Division

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Chris Smith: Defender - Time at Rangers: 2006-2008

Current Club: Ayr United - League: Scottish First Division

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Steven Kinniburgh: Defender - Time at Rangers: 2006-2010

Current Club: Oxford Utd (Cambridge Utd Loan) - League: English League Two (Conference National)

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

William McLachlan: Defensive Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 2007-2009Current Club: On trial at Ayr United - League: Scottish First Division

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Jordan McMillan: Defender - Time at Rangers: 2005-Present

Current Club: Rangers - League: Scottish Premier League

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: Rangers – Scottish Cup (1)

Transfer fee received by club: N/A

Ross Harvey: Centre Back - Time at Rangers: 2006-2009

Current Club: Unattached (last see on trial with St Mirren) - League: N/A

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Andy Little: Defender / Striker - Time at Rangers: 2006-Present

Current Club: Rangers (Port Vale loan) - League: Scottish Premier League (English League Two)

Full International Caps: 7

Major Honours: Rangers – Scottish Premier League (1)

Transfer fee received by club: N/A

Danny Wilson: Centre Back - Time at Rangers: 2006-2010

Current Club: Liverpool - League: English Premiership

Full International Caps: 5

Major Honours: Rangers – Scottish Premier League (1), Scottish Cup (1), League Cup (1), SPFA Young POTY (1), SFWA Young POTY (1)

Transfer fee received by club: £2,000,000 (potentially rising to £5,000,000)

Gregg Wylde: Winger - Time at Rangers: 2005-Present

Current Club: Rangers - League: Scottish Premier League

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: Rangers – Scottish Premier League (1), League Cup (1)

Transfer fee received by club: N/A

Chris Craig: Attacking Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 2006-2009

Current Club: Drumchapel Amateurs - League: Scottish Amateur League

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Ross Perry: Centre Back - Time at Rangers: 2006-Present

Current Club: Rangers - League: Scottish Premier League

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: N/A

Thomas Miller: Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 2008-2010

Current Club: Newport County - League: Conference National

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Jamie Ness: Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 2007-Present

Current Club: Rangers - League: Scottish Premier League

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: Rangers – Scottish Premier League (1)

Transfer fee received by club: N/A

Kyle Hutton: Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 2007-Present

Current Club: Rangers (Partick Thistle loan) - League: Scottish Premier League (Scottish First Division)

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: Rangers – Scottish Premier League (1), League Cup (1)

Transfer fee received by club: N/A

Darren Cole: Right Back - Time at Rangers: 2008-Present

Current Club: Rangers - League: Scottish Premier League

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: N/A

Scott Durie: Defender - Time at Rangers: 2008-2010

Current Club: East Fife - League: Scottish Second Division

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Archie Campbell: Striker - Time at Rangers: 2004-2011

Current Club: Greenock Morton - League: Scottish First Division

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Kane Hemmings: Striker - Time at Rangers: 2008-Present

Current Club: Rangers - League: Scottish Premier League

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: N/A

Stephen Stirling: Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 2007-2011

Current Club: Stranraer - League: Scottish Third Division

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: None

Dylan McGeough: Midfielder - Time at Rangers: 2008-2011

Current Club: Celtic - League: Scottish Premier League

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: Potential compensation

Grant Adam: Goalkeeper - Time at Rangers: 2008-Present

Current Club: Rangers - League: Scottish Premier League

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: N/A

Kal Naismith: Striker - Time at Rangers: 2007-Present

Current Club: Rangers (Cowdenbeath loan) - League: Scottish Premier League (Scottish Second Division)

Full International Caps: 0

Major Honours: None

Transfer fee received by club: N/A

It’s may be a little unfair to group the current younger players in with the rest but I thought it would be best to have a look at the full list rather than picking out individuals. So let’s have a look at the facts; from the list of 60 players we have the following:

Full International Caps: 78

Honours: 48 (let it be said that Allan McGregor holds 11 of these alone)

Players by league:

Scottish Premier League – 15

Scottish First Division – 5

Scottish Second Division – 4

Scottish Third Division – 5

Highland Football League – 1

English Premier League – 4

English Championship – 2

English League One – 5

English League Two – 3

English Conference National - 1

Icelandic Premier League – 2

Icelandic Second Division – 1

Danish Superliga – 1

Azerbaijan Premier League – 1

Unknown / Unattached – 7

Amateur / Junior – 2

Retired – 1

Now, let’s not kid ourselves on, these statistics are far from amazing but there does seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Collectively these players have brought in £12M in transfer fees, potentially rising to £15M. That just about covers us for the initial investment but doesn’t account for the money that the club has paid out in day to day running costs. The encouraging thing is, most of that cash has been received in the past 3-4 years so that would suggest that the future is looking bright.

Another positive is the fact that there are so many young players close to the first team at Ibrox at the moment. This can only be good in terms of the exposure these guys will receive. In order for us to make a profit we need to have our produce in the shop window.

The majority of the players in that list playing top level football are guys that have came through the system in the past few years so things are looking better for the future. This could be down to a number of things but I think the most significant is the financial situation at Rangers.

Plain and simple – younger players are getting their chance at Ibrox at the moment. It’s up to them to step up and play.

[mason boyne 40]

was hutton not a youth player through mp, we bagged £9mil for him

[subcrawl 43]

was hutton not a youth player through mp, we bagged £9mil for him

You're right I'd forgotten about him. In fact his transfer forms the vast bulk of the money we've made. We also should have made good money from MacGregor but he phucked off into the sunset.

[mason boyne 40]

Also SDM got back his £14-15mil initial investment in 2010?

[Beaujolais 1,371]

It was said by the IamRangers account that Smith and McCoist are/were resisting attempts to drive down the facilities annual running costs from £10m to £5m.

I too find it hard to believe that Murray Park costs £10 million per year to operate.

[Turnberry18 3,204]

Those stats are not great.

[skins 20]

If you look at the players who were in and around the first team in the last few years - Fleck, Ness, McCabe, Wylde and Mcgregor - these are players we should have had a decent return on transfer fees if things hadn't gone tits up or they could still be in the current team.

Add to that the current first teamers - Little, Hutton, Perry, Hemmings, Naismith - there is definitely signs that something is working.

Is that enough for 12 years?

Around 1 player for each year?

Maybe not for running costs of £10 million

[SteveJ 743]

If you look at the last set of financials to be reported by Rangers, before Whyte took over, we see the club spent £28.1M on staff costs in 2010 (£30.6M in 2009) and we spent £13.6M in 'other operating costs' (£14.6M in 2009).

I would suspect that you would find other operating costs including MP, Ibrox and travel. I simply cannot believe that MP alone would take £10M from that £13.6M figure, so I would love to know how we have come to this reported figure?

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

lol ivwas just typing this when i saw this thread!

In recent interviews. it was said that by IA that Walter resisted plans by Green to cut the Auchenhowie budget from £10 to £5m and that is worrying if we are to build a fiture with youth. top class modern training facility that supports and , more important attracts , the best youth needs to have the best to compete - and it's not just about the facility, it's the support: the physios, doctors, nutritionists,scouts, fitness coaches,, etc that make all the difference - now I realise that we have to work within our budget but it is an economy that may hinder our ability to build a new economic model.

[scarkev 3,540]

lol ivwas just typing this when i saw this thread!

In recent interviews. it was said that by IA that Walter resisted plans by Green to cut the Auchenhowie budget from £10 to £5m and that is worrying if we are to build a fiture with youth. top class modern training facility that supports and , more important attracts , the best youth needs to have the best to compete - and it's not just about the facility, it's the support: the physios, doctors, nutritionists,scouts, fitness coaches,, etc that make all the difference - now I realise that we have to work within our budget but it is an economy that may hinder our ability to build a new economic model.

If we were getting value for money and seeing the benefits of fitness coaches, nutritionists, sports scientists etc fair enough but we are probably the least technical, least mobile and least fit looking squad we have ever had! So if we are spending 10 million should we not expect more and is there a way to reduce costs but get more capable people in on less wages....

[ronniemca 479]

Murray is about as relevant as a soft cock in a porno.

If auchenhowie costs 10m a year to run it should be sold. We are not getting any value from what is a fuckin holiday camp . I've been told by people who have had our young players on loan that their physical condition when they arrived was a disgrace.plenty training facilities around that would cost a fraction of that place.

[CanadianBacon 2,088]

Cut out the expensive healthy foods, give them Pizza, Sausage rolls and fish fingers. Never done me any harm i'm fifty plus and only had two heart attacks and a mini stroke.

They're way ahead of you jimgers - back in the day when 'Mr Rangers' ruled the roost before he fell foul of PLG, the staple diet was Monster Munch and bacon rolls.

Healthy food up there is considered gay.

[SteveJ 743]

If we were getting value for money and seeing the benefits of fitness coaches, nutritionists, sports scientists etc fair enough but we are probably the least technical, least mobile and least fit looking squad we have ever had! So if we are spending 10 million should we not expect more and is there a way to reduce costs but get more capable people in on less wages....

If we get the right people who have no connection with Rangers, the wage reduces by up to 25% almost instantly. We have, in the past, been jobs for the boys and the pay awarded was for services rendered, rather than future service.

[MasterD 7,447]

Don't think it is near £10m tbh. It would be interesting to see a breakdown of costs and how such a high number is achieved.

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

If we were getting value for money and seeing the benefits of fitness coaches, nutritionists, sports scientists etc fair enough but we are probably the least technical, least mobile and least fit looking squad we have ever had! So if we are spending 10 million should we not expect more and is there a way to reduce costs but get more capable people in on less wages....

I don't see how we can build for the future , attract the best young player, and do it on the cheap - that's planning for failure not success!

[scarkev 3,540]

I don't see how we can build for the future , attract the best young player, and do it on the cheap - that's planning for failure not success!

I'm not saying on the cheap, I'm talking value for money! The money we pay players and staff is somewhat inflated would you agree? I believe there is better value for money out there who would have more hunger and enthusiasm with hopefully new approaches and ideas....both on and off the park!