Chairman’s Update

[ForeverAndEver 74,098]

It is great to be back in our Ibrox home, where domestically we have taken maximum points and no goals conceded. Of course, there are some finishing works to be undertaken in the Copland. We continue to thank supporters there, who have been disrupted more than most, for their ongoing patience.

At its core, the Copland project was designed to create a new, first-class facility for our disabled supporters. It has been heartening to hear their extremely positive feedback thus far on the new disabled sections, with an enormous difference to the matchday experience for the supporters now housed there.

After a fantastic result in Malmo, we were all disappointed with the Europa League result against Lyon, but I was proud to see the supporters staying with Philippe and the team until the final whistle. 

The biggest disappointment of that evening, however, was the actions of a small minority of supporters, whose use of pyrotechnics at the match has seen the club fined €13,750 by UEFA. This is in addition to a €19,000 fine for a similar incident in the match with Malmo.

My message is the use of pyrotechnics must stop and stop now at all of our matches home and away! Not only could the repercussions become ever-larger for the club, many supporters have difficulty coping with the effects of pyrotechnics, whether that be the smoke or loud bangs they produce. It is desperately unfair for any Rangers supporter to come to a match and be affected in such a manner. 

Away from matches, and I can confirm Director of Football Operations Creag Robertson will leave in the coming weeks to pursue new opportunities. We must thank Creag for his contribution in several roles since he joined the club in 2016 and we wish him well in his future endeavours. 

With Creag moving on, I have seen some reports of the club being without leadership. I can assure you that is not the case with George Letham and myself, who have deep knowledge of business and our great club, working tirelessly alongside our executive management team to continue to drive the club forward.

Nils Koppen, our Director of Football Recruitment, highlighted in an interview last week that planning for the January transfer window is well underway. 

On the commercial front, Karim Virani and his team have delivered an outstanding new front of shirt sponsorship deal with the Kindred group, while we have been really pleased with the work done in such a short space of time, by Elior on the catering front. 

The financial uplift in both deals, together with the strong financial oversight and controls actioned by CFO, James Taylor will positively benefit the club going forward.

Of course, we are determined to fill the Chairman and CEO roles as quickly as possible, and our recruitment consultants have already produced short lists of very strong and experienced candidates for both roles.

While that is ongoing, our absolute priority is to support Philippe in any way we can to ensure the men’s first-team can continue to build upon the progress we have seen from them in recent weeks.

We must thank Philippe for standing tall during these difficult months and for dealing with non-football matters on the club's behalf.

Finally, my thanks to you all, our fantastic supporters - you are truly the most loyal support in world football. You deserve the best and we will do everything in our power to help deliver success in the months and years ahead.

[ranopano 18]

this is the type of comms the chair or ceo should be putting their name to every 4 months or so. don't think the club realise how big a difference small things like this make to help set the narrative & create a sense of progress and trajectory rather than chaos

[McEwan's Lager 32,151]

It's refreshing to have someone in the role who is proactive in speaking to fans as well as actually being visible on match days.

I know its only temporary and he probably won't want to do it long term but I'd be perfectly happy to see him continue in the role. 

The longer John Gilligan and George Letham are about the place on a regular basis having input the better.

[Blue Nosed Babe 21,537]

Makes a change from dignified silence. I agree that this should be done every 3-4 months, that way we improve communication and are transparent.

[STEPPS BOY 77,858]

I like John Gilligan and George Letham but to say the club isn’t without leadership because him and Letham are working tirelessly is mental.

Neither are board members nor are they employees.

Still, good news about winning those two league games against Hibs and St Johstone without conceding.

[esquire8 45,482]

So he is saying the Chairman will be someone hired by the club through recruitment consultants and not a shareholder? Very strange that. What is that role going to be going forward now? Who's vision is the one driving the club forward?

I get it with Gilligan that he is trying his best with Letham in getting to grips with the club but it's horrendous optics that the club are so reliant on these two to run the place. 

Good to see some sort of constant communication for a change but it's during a time when we are all over the shop. See if it happens when roles are filled.

[The Archer 1,449]

over 30k in fines and people greeting about Hagi costing another 6k.If the supporters cant follow the rules and its getting us shafted then ban them.Enough issues without UEFA breathing down our necks on top of the current problems

[ForeverAndEver 74,098]

24 minutes ago, The Archer said:

over 30k in fines and people greeting about Hagi costing another 6k.If the supporters cant follow the rules and its getting us shafted then ban them.Enough issues without UEFA breathing down our necks on top of the current problems

 

[bluenoz 32,718]

The club is not well run. An institution the size of Rangers needs more than Gilligan & Letham at the helm.

Six months is a long time without a CEO never mind the numerous other vacant positions.

What's the hold up?

Ibrox was more than half empty before 90 minutes were up against Lyon, so I'm not sure where he is going with that.

[STEPPS BOY 77,858]

27 minutes ago, The Archer said:

over 30k in fines and people greeting about Hagi costing another 6k.If the supporters cant follow the rules and its getting us shafted then ban them.Enough issues without UEFA breathing down our necks on top of the current problems

 

[Essandoh 21,906]

Those fireworks were so fucking daft. It looked absolutely shite.

Genuine idiocy.

[Essandoh 21,906]

2 minutes ago, bluenoz said:

The club is not well run. An institution the size of Rangers needs more than Gilligan & Letham at the helm.

Six months is a long time without a CEO never mind the numerous other vacant positions.

What's the hold up?

Ibrox was more than half empty before 90 minutes were up against Lyon, so I'm not sure where he is going with that.

I was there, people left, but it wasn’t <50% capacity that’s nonsense.

[KingKirk 26,548]

This can't be a short term thing whoever comes in must continue to communicate with the support. 

The only thing I don't agree with is him saying we aren't lacking leadership because he and George Letham are going balls to the walls whilst everyone else just sits about that's part of the problem John. 

On the manager we may as well delete the thread on here he is absolutely bomb proof at the moment. 

[Bears r us 31,407]

Some communication from John Gilligan is welcome, we just need to see some action on the CEO front and Chairman position soon. 

[the goal machine 7,998]

Been nearly 5 months since Bisgrove left but that’s class that we’ve now got a short list  

[B1872 22,010]

5 minutes ago, the goal machine said:

Been nearly 5 months since Bisgrove left but that’s class that we’ve now got a short list  

Just shows you how much of a fuck up Bennet was as Chairman. It’s sound but as he’s a Rangers fan. Club is a fucking shambles, it’s early 90s tarrier levels.

[Loyal72 14,122]

Honestly, I think this is puff piece shite, and even then, it's not very good puff piece. 

Still no further forward with anything and oh we had a good couple league games.

I'd rather less talk tbh.

[RM Monitor And Standards Officer 112,901]

Just now, Loyal72 said:

Honestly, I think this is puff piece shite, and even then, it's not very good puff piece. 

Still no further forward with anything and oh we had a good couple league games.

I'd rather less talk tbh.

The Hibs and st Johnstone performances were laboured as fuck.

Don't think we win Sunday or at pittodrie 

[Jimfanciesthedude 25,687]

Wonder if the likes of legia etc have their chairman, club owners whatever coming out and asking fans to patch the pyro

Some of our displays arent a notch on some of europes loony teams

[Loyal72 14,122]

8 minutes ago, RM Monitor And Standards Officer said:

The Hibs and st Johnstone performances were laboured as fuck.

Don't think we win Sunday or at pittodrie 

Exactly. It freaks me out so much that people aren't more concerned or pissed off.

This genuinely doesn't tell us anything other than we're still no further forward in actually getting a CEO/Chairman.

Two guys can't run this club, and Gilligan wants to point to League results that should be normal for us.

[esquire8 45,482]

Also the cunts have cost us multiple millions with their decisions over the years. Where's the shout for accountability with that? 

£80m+ turnover business having a go about £30k in fines. 

We are ran like a fucking really shite local bowling club.

[bluenoz 32,718]

Actions speak louder than words, John. Still waiting...

But fans love a statement even if there is no progress.