Gazzas_Flute 11 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Rangers must downsize ...unless we find a rich buyer, says Sir David Murray Nov 23 2008 By Gordon Waddell SIR DAVID MURRAY has warned Rangers fans their club will have to be downsized dramatically unless his successor has even deeper pockets than him. The Ibrox owner celebrates 20 years at the helm today and has already acknowledged he's ready to sell up if the right buyer comes along. But Murray insists anyone who thinks they can run the club as a stand-alone business in its current state, without bankrolling it themselves, is in for a shock. However, he believes Rangers should be attractive to overseas investors, with a Champions League crack as good as guaranteed every year. But Sir David admitted no prospective buyers were queuing along Edmiston Drive and claimed only a rich benefactor like Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich (below) could prevent cutbacks. Murray said: "If you ran Rangers as a business without a benefactor you would have to downsize by up to 25 per cent. "If somebody wants to use it as a tool for different means they'd probably spend a bit more. "The fact England only has four Champions League places is an advantage for us but a football club is risky. "It needs somebody with a plan. Abramovich got western acceptance when he bought Chelsea, he became a known business face. "Joe Lewis was a business recluse until the day he bought a share in Rangers. "That afternoon helicopters were flying over his house in the Caribbean so if somebody wants a profile, buy a football club. "But it has to be someone I believe has the right intentions. "Preferably a Scottish group of investors but I don't think that's possible. "It would have to be somebody who could maintain the level at Rangers and have deep pockets when needed. This has not been a good financial year for Rangers and the Murray Group will underwrite it." Murray came within a single signature of selling up a year ago but fears over the club's assets being stripped stopped him. He said: "It was a British investor and we were close. The legal documentation was done, the deal agreed and all I had to do was sign. "But I just saw a bit of asset division getting made. "It wasn't that I couldn't walk away - it just wasn't right. There might have been flats here at Murray Park now. "I didn't feel the way they were going to run the club was the Rangers way. Murray Park is 45 acres - more money could be made on that than the club - so that tells you a little bit about why we didn't do the deal. "It would've been easier to take the money but it wasn't right. "If I'd known the credit crunch was coming I might have thought slightly differently, mind you. I'm not being dishonest." Murray also insists chasing the glory of one last title won't be the thing that keeps him in the seat longer than necessary. But that doesn't mean he's happy playing second fiddle to Celtic. He said: "I don't think I'm going to hang on for another title before I do the right deal. I'm not important, the club is. "We've won 30 trophies so one more isn't going to make a big difference. "Would I have been happy to leave Celtic behind during nine in a row? Of course. "I've won 65 per cent of the titles in 20 years so I'm still ahead of the game. Maybe not today because Celtic have won the league the last couple of years and you have to give them credit. "But circumstances went beyond it last season with Europe. "It's good for the game that Celtic have improved. It would be even better if everyone else was competing but Rangers and Celtic have the resources. "I've left a semi-successful, could-have-done-better era. I think we've done quite well." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdzKyle 7,895 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Any deal that he does make with an investor must include a clause that says Murray Park will not be sold Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
McBoyd 355 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 I'm glad he isn't selling to an Abramovic type person Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommy2212 151 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 "It's good for the game that Celtic have improved. It would be even better if everyone else was competing but Rangers and Celtic have the resources. they have not improved - if tommy burn's celtic team played todays celtic they would pump them silly - its not that they have improved which is the reason we have lost so many league titles recently its the fact we have become so much worse - we are a shadow of the 9inarow team. i dont think he is waiting on the right buyer , i think he is waiting for the right price. to tell you the truth i hope to fcuk we dont get a russian billionaire - i dont want to see the club i love turned into some cants hobby. the perfect buyer is out there :unionflag: tom hunter *cough* stop all this charity pish and get the gers bought Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluedell 14 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Any deal that he does make with an investor must include a clause that says Murray Park will not be sold So if he sells and the new owner receives a bid for £100 million for Murray park, he needs to turn it down? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCLACHLAN1 49 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 I'm glad he isn't selling to an Abramovic type person Of course not, we dont want a guy that will give hundreds of millions to spend on players do we? For goodness sake, people have to realise when we are sold , It will be to foreigners. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff 245 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Don't give a shit who we sell the club to as long as they back and stick up for the club in the best way possible. If it means selling to an Abramovic type person then so be it! An even richer Randy Lerner type person would be perfect. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
McBoyd 355 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Don't give a shit who we sell the club to as long as they back and stick up for the club in the best way possible. If it means selling to an Abramovic type person then so be it! An even richer Randy Lerner type person would be perfect. You'd happily turn into Chelsea Mark II? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff 245 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Don't give a shit who we sell the club to as long as they back and stick up for the club in the best way possible. If it means selling to an Abramovic type person then so be it! An even richer Randy Lerner type person would be perfect. You'd happily turn into Chelsea Mark II? Yes - successful with quality players. Who wouldn't? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
McBoyd 355 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Don't give a shit who we sell the club to as long as they back and stick up for the club in the best way possible. If it means selling to an Abramovic type person then so be it! An even richer Randy Lerner type person would be perfect. You'd happily turn into Chelsea Mark II? Yes - successful with quality players. Who wouldn't? Take a guess Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam 0 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Complete mixed messages again from Murray a few months ago we have planning permission granted to rennovate the surrounding area of Ibrox on a huge scale with a figure of £300,000,000 being reported on what would be spent, and how much that would benefit Rangers financially.....yet this club has to downsize. hmmmm I don't mind Murray but I hate vague statements, I wish he'd just come out and say what the bottom line is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
disgruntled_bear 157 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Any more downsizing and we'll no be competing for 2nd place in the league :angry2: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadaready 9,437 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Maybe we shouldn't pay people that aren't effective so often. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
outlaw69uk 123 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Complete mixed messages again from Murray a few months ago we have planning permission granted to rennovate the surrounding area of Ibrox on a huge scale with a figure of £300,000,000 being reported on what would be spent, and how much that would benefit Rangers financially.....yet this club has to downsize. hmmmm I don't mind Murray but I hate vague statements, I wish he'd just come out and say what the bottom line is. Its fairly straightforward, and, the answers are in the article. Purely from business perspective, we cant have, say, 40 players in a squad, and, spend excessively in the current climate. like him or not, the fact his other business will underwrite our debts in the instance of a season like this current one (ie no Euro revenues) means the club, as a whole will not make a loss, however, he will. I read the full article elsewhere as well today, and, the gist is, unless we are bought by someone willing to do the above (ie take a personal hit/loss at times), we would have to downsize Its nothing dramatic, nor should it be surprising. A club like Rangers will always factor things like TV revenue and Euro money into an annual budget Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hammer 11 2,582 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Don't give a shit who we sell the club to as long as they back and stick up for the club in the best way possible. If it means selling to an Abramovic type person then so be it! An even richer Randy Lerner type person would be perfect. You'd happily turn into Chelsea Mark II? id happily see rangers sign the likes of Deco and get to a champions league final wouldnt you? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bringonthbarca 25 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 imo i'd like to see rangers as sucsessful as possible and in this day and age money talks so i wouldn't mind at all if an abramovich type figure came in to be honest! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueSuedeSambas 53,875 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 You'd happily turn into Chelsea Mark II? SDM gave Souness, then Walter and then Advocaat shed loads of money for players and allowed those players to be paid obscene amounts of money to ensure that we were Scotlands Premier team and, even though it didn't work out, a force in Europe as well. Until the money dried up we were effectively Chelsea Mark I, never mind Chelsea Mark II Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
outlaw69uk 123 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 You'd happily turn into Chelsea Mark II? SDM gave Souness, then Walter and then Advocaat shed loads of money for players and allowed those players to be paid obscene amounts of money to ensure that we were Scotlands Premier team and, even though it didn't work out, a force in Europe as well. Until the money dried up we were effectively Chelsea Mark I, never mind Chelsea Mark II Actually, since it was Murray that did that, its called "financial mismanagement" I believe, and, something that a vast number on here seem to get a bee in their bonnets about, yet, all the same people seem to want this to happen? Intriguing Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
broxi51 48 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Murray's missing the point altogether. It's not how much money we have as we know behind the big premiership clubs and even celtic now in the money stakes. For years now the club has been mismanaged financially and player buys and contracts and miscoached. All i want to see is a networking system looking for the best young talent and players that improve the first 11. A clear plan in the the coaching of the youths and reducing the overuse of the long ball at youth level. Get the technical part of the game nailed down first and foremost. Buy players for specific positions and not odd job players which actually enhance the starting 11 and promote the promosing youths earlier to the first team squad. More attention to fitness levels Club run financially better without debt. Should run the club based on no Europe, so when a player we want to sign comes up we dont have to sell one first ie last 3 spending sprees occurred only after sale of boumsong, hutton and cuellar. Pick our buys more carefully and for right positions. Everyone knew we needed a creative player . Why sign Lafferty and Velicka before Mendes, absolutely crazy. Thats the things that drive me mad Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
outlaw69uk 123 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Murray's missing the point altogether. It's not how much money we have as we know behind the big premiership clubs and even celtic now in the money stakes. For years now the club has been mismanaged financially and player buys and contracts and miscoached. All i want to see is a networking system looking for the best young talent and players that improve the first 11. A clear plan in the the coaching of the youths and reducing the overuse of the long ball at youth level. Get the technical part of the game nailed down first and foremost. Buy players for specific positions and not odd job players which actually enhance the starting 11 and promote the promosing youths earlier to the first team squad. More attention to fitness levels Club run financially better without debt. Should run the club based on no Europe, so when a player we want to sign comes up we dont have to sell one first ie last 3 spending sprees occurred only after sale of boumsong, hutton and cuellar. Pick our buys more carefully and for right positions. Everyone knew we needed a creative player . Why sign Lafferty and Velicka before Mendes, absolutely crazy. Thats the things that drive me mad He isnt the only one The highlighted part is the only aspect Murray should really be involved in, the rest is down to the footballing side of the club, Murray should deal with the business. and, running a club without debt? Are there any? ALL businesses have debts, the important point is, is it sustainable, and, the level of debt we have is, as it stands Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rfc_no1fan 13 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Instead of us having 8-9 good players, 2-3 special players, 5-6 squad players and 3-4 youth players, The way a club should be run. We have no special players, 3-4 good players, 25 average players and the youth dont even get a look in We waste money every year, bring in a barrel load of players and never improve the team or squad. I'd be much happier with a strong 20-22 man squad, with depth. Rather that 30 + players with 18-19 simply not good enough, but adding to the wage bill and increasing the debt. We have to downsize because of the way the club is being run and has been run over the last 10 years Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemisis 358 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 How can we further downsize when he has already stripped all the assets are we going to sell ibrox and share with clyde? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CF5LOYAL 0 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 I hate how people keep going on about "how Murray should come out and defend the club". Murray gave you the reason why he bites his tongue, there is an "unwritten rule" between Rangers and Celtic that they try to keep as much stuff out of the press for obvious reasons. All you need is our Chairmen coming out and intensifying the hatred which will just result in more violence and bitterness between the clubs Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
minstral 5,375 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 funny how the unwritten rule does not stop the scum having a go at our club. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluepeter9 5,167 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Instead of us having 8-9 good players, 2-3 special players, 5-6 squad players and 3-4 youth players, The way a club should be run. We have no special players, 3-4 good players, 25 average players and the youth dont even get a look in We waste money every year, bring in a barrel load of players and never improve the team or squad. I'd be much happier with a strong 20-22 man squad, with depth. Rather that 30 + players with 18-19 simply not good enough, but adding to the wage bill and increasing the debt. We have to downsize because of the way the club is being run and has been run over the last 10 years We have no special players, except Mendes, Fergie and McGregor 3-4 good players, agreed Boyd, Miller, Thomson, Davis, Youth doesnt get a chance except Laferty, Broadfoot and Naismith (when fit) Still - I am glad Smith and SDM are in charge and not you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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