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Rangers To Newco

10 Jul

It’s a sad, sad day for any set of fans to witness their beloved club to be dragged through the footballing oblivion of administration. And that is exactly what Glasgow Rangers fans are experiencing.

Rangers, a household name both domestically and internationally, look to have been forced into starting their footballing life afresh in the third tier of Scottish football.

Ally McCoist – Manager of Rangers

Due to the negligence of previous ownership, Rangers finances have plummeted to the point that they were liquidated last month. Subsequently, under administrators heralded by Charles Green, Rangers were effectively transformed into Rangers Newco, a name that pleaded to defend its stay in the Scottish Premierleague. However, after only gaining two votes from the fellow clubs, the third division awaits.

However what effect will this have on Rangers Football Club (Newco) and the rest of the Scottish Football League? I’m no accountant but I can imagine that the interest in the Scottish Premier League will have diminished, markedly due to the absence of the Old Firm derby. Added to this, gate receipts will probably decline simply due to the fact that there isn’t much of a pull in Scotland. Other than Celtic, many fans abroad probably haven’t heard of half of the teams plying their trade in the supposedly elite Scottish division – this said with all due respect to those teams.

A lot of people have questioned why so many clubs have decided to cull against Rangers Newco in preventing them to remain in the Scottish Premierleague. Their argument is that in the long run, it is those teams who voted against who will suffer, simply due to the points mentioned above. But the common consensus is that, if it weren’t Rangers who went into administration, not many would defend their fight – besides it was their fault that they were in that mess and subsequently should accept the consequences.

A lot of questions have been asked as to what would become of Rangers themselves. With the likes of Whittaker, Ness and Davis having abandoned the sinking ship, it will take a lot for the prestigious Glaswegian club to return to the top, added to the likely possibility of more players departing. Not many will stick around – and if they do, those players deserve utmost respect for staying loyal to the club. Many fans will argue that the likes of Gino Buffon stayed with Juventus a few years back as they were relegated due to the match-fixing scandal. However, they had the finances to pay wages – as well as a very distinct possibility of returning to the top flight within a year, all culminating with the Old Lady winning the Serie A this season. Conversely, Rangers Newco will take at least three years to get back to where they were, probably a lot more.

Either way, it’s a sad state of affairs for Rangers Football Club. Probably speaking on behalf of most football fans, I’d love to see Rangers back in the top division.

Comments welcome.

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The Future of Football

21 May

With Manchester City winning the league in an enthralling game at the end of the season, and Chelsea’s ‘backs-to-the-wall’ job at the Allianz Arena this weekend, it goes to prove an aged footballing belief. Money does bring success.

Chelsea have had relative success domestically in the Abramovich era, yielding three League Titles and three FA Cup trophies since the Russian took over. But not until Saturday’s penalty shootout had Chelsea claimed Europe’s top prize – the Champions League, the one trophy that Roman Abramovich had long-craved. This, coinciding with Man City having their name on the Premierleague trophy illustrates how these money-men can flex their financial muscle and claim whatever they want. The question is, what will this do to football as we know it?

Chelsea – Champions of Europe 2012

One must remember that it wasn’t too long ago that Manchester City were plying their trade in the lower divisions of the British leagues – a far cry from lifting the trophy on Saturday. I’m not one of those fans that despises a club just because of their financial clout – I understand that having a uber-wealthy ownership could happen to any club. For example, in the 90′s under the Hall family riches, Newcastle essentially tried to bring home success to no avail. Manchester United successfully achieved this, with their extended period of dominance. And I’m sure that another club will feature in the limelight soon enough – despite the introduction of the Fair-Play rules.

My understanding is that these rules would probably hinder the clubs who don’t produce enough revenue to go out in the transfer market and upgrade their squads without selling their best assets. The likes of Chelsea and Man City will forever have the global income from advertising and public-profile to generate cash, thus probably not needing to prune their outlays.

I just wonder what will happen when these sugar-daddies get bored with football and move onto other things. Where does that leave the fans? Many of these clubs are amassing enormous debt to their owners, so in any case of a pull-out, the club’s will be put into a financial vacuum – and the people who suffer most will be the true die-hard fans that have witnessed their club in a much poorer position than they are now.

Unfortunately football has become a rich-man’s toy. Look across the globe – Qatari ownership at both Malaga and Paris Saint-Germain,  Kerimov’s ownership at Anzhi Makhachkala, not to mention Manchester City and Chelsea.

It’s my belief that these sugar daddies look to invest in football for one of two reasons. One – due to investment. Just like the Venky’s at Blackburn, or the previous Hicks and Gillett era at Liverpool – it is an opportunity to advertise and generate money. Or two, more profoundly as a vanity project to showcase their wealth across a global audience. The problem is, the heart and soul is being ripped out football, being replaced by massive cash injections.

Nevertheless, I must congratulate Chelsea and Manchester City on their respective success’. The player’s on the pitch still have to deliver the goods regardless of who paid their wages, and the men representing both of these clubs did so on their respective platforms.

Again I must state I’m not envious in the slightest of another teams wealth – I’m more than happy being in love with my club just the way it is (despite its roller coaster rides). Football has succumbed to being a playground for the rich. Sadly, the truest fans probably cannot afford to see their team play.

Heart and soul? That is long gone.

Comments welcome.

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Magic Moyes Keeps Marching On

5 Apr

Everton. Ever the underdog. David Moyes recently celebrated 10 years in charge of the historic Merseyside club. That in itself is feat worthy of a standing ovation. Only Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson have maintained longer tenures in England’s top league in recent memory.

But there’s more to it. Everton have consistently finished in a position battling for the top 6, with a net spend that would make every club in the world jealous. Up until the singing of Darron Gibson, all of Everton’s singings in the last 30 months were frees, loans or nominal payments. There was even a website dedicated to the club’s failure to purchase a new player, such was the frustration of the fans towards the ownership. http://evertontime.com/

Yet Moyes’s boys have finished in the upper echelons of the league on a regular basis, which leads me to think, how is he doing it?

Well firstly, he plays a system so that everyone on the pitch knows what to do. Whether that’s a variation of a 4-5-1 or a 4-4-1-1, each individual on that pitch plays with a fluency and efficacy that yields success. For example, Tim Cahill has proven to be one of the most lethal attacking midfielder’s in the last 10 years due to his ability to arrive late in the box, all due to tactical prowess.

David Moyes - working wonders.

Secondly, Moyes has manipulated the transfer market to a great success. Whether that’s bringing in young foreign talent for a nominal fee, or utilising the loan and free transfer markets, he is doing it without spending a penny. Beyond Moyes is a stringent scouting network that has a particular interest in the lower leagues. Signings of Phil Jagielka, Tim Cahill and Joleon Lescott etc. have proven wonders, with the latter being sold for £22 million to Manchester City in 2009. Not bad, particularly as he only cost £950k in 2007.

Why some managers do not look to the Championship for quality players is beyond me. Norwich and Swansea have stabilised themselves in the Premier League using ‘championship players’ – Surely they have proven themselves to be established Premier League players? Put it this way, how much were the likes of Joe Allen, Leon Britton and Grant Holt worth this time last year. Simple knowledge would indicate their market value would’ve increased three-fold at least since.

Cup finals, European places, and also the odd much coveted Champions League finish was all achieved with minimal spend – hats off to Mr. Moyes.

Moyes never had the financial backing to provide success for the Evertonian public; he has used transfer-market initiative and tactical nous to do just that.

Just goes to show money isn’t everything in football.

Comments welcome.

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Financial Issues ?

24 Mar

As I’m sure all of you are full aware, the global financial crisis is affecting everyone from large international businesses to small households. But of recent times, we’ve seen a few football clubs flirt with the dreaded ‘A’ word – and some even being sucked into the downward spiral it brings.

The latest club to go into administration were Rangers a few weeks ago. This is the same Rangers Football Club that have battled with Glaswegian rivals Celtic for the mantlepiece of Scottish Football, whilst being a large European pull all round. Yet they seemingly ran out of cash.

I’m no economist, but how difficult can it be to spend within your means? Teams like Leeds United followed this route about ten years ago, and have suffered since. Pompey bit the bullet a few seasons back, by spending recklessly and paying wages to the average Joe (mainly down to Redknapp – he did the same at Southampton. Watch out Yiddo’s!). Surely to buy a football club you need to have some form of financial acumen, and it goes without saying there must be some intellect to have fathomed that sort of money in the first place! Yet, Rangers were on the brink of liquidation. That means no more Rangers. Ever.

Mike Ashley - Finally doing some good.

I’m bringing this up, because Newcastle United recently released their financial accounts for the previous year, and managed a healthy profit of £32.6 million post player-trading. Its unique in that a club can register a profit in any sense, but a significant one is even more commendable.

Now I don’t particularly take to Mike Ashley but he has my club on a firm financial footing. But surely if some of the teams continue to do as they please, the inevitable will occur? Take Liverpool for example – Large payments for supposed big name players. Yet, unless I’m missing something, this has yielded very little success (No, not the Carling Cup). Of course, I may be sitting here eating my words in 12 months, with Liverpool finishing in a healthy position coupled with European glory – but unless that does indeed happen, then the accounts sheet will always remain red. And that doesn’t bode well for the longevity of the club.

I know that the ‘Fair Play’ rules are to be implemented soon, which are supposed to even out the odds and ensure all clubs spend within their means. But what does this mean? If it is what it says on the tin, then the clubs who record an end of year financial loss, wouldn’t be able to add to the squad without selling, essentially spending their profits. That includes the likes of Man City, Man United and Chelsea. But what is stopping them from going out and spending £20 million on some random European centre forward, because no one will stop them, or they have enough deadwood in reserve that still will collect a bit of dosh. Further still, they will find loopholes in the fair-play rules, such as Man City using their sponsor Etihad Airways to inflate their input into the club. But a little research finds out that the owner of the middle-eastern airline company is the half-brother of the Man City owner. So in effect, Man City’s spending will always be in a league of its own. But the likes of West Bromwich Albion etc who record a profit on their own merit, would only be able to spend the little profit they may have gained plus any incomings from player departures. No Sheikh. No sugar-daddy. Just pure turnover.

Level playing ground? Quite frankly, no.

What are your views on the financial running of football clubs?

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