They came in fewer numbers than in recent years, most
probably due to it being a Holiday Monday, but the
interest in the Rangers AGM was as lively as ever.
Normally held in December, this year’s meeting was
brought forward three months in a clever sleight of
hand by the Board to deflect any potential criticism
should this week’s two crucial games go badly.
The AGM was packaged in a manner that master-of-spin
Tony Blair would have been proud, with video
presentations at both beginning and end of the
meeting.
Notable by their absence were David Murray, Dick
Advocaat, Dave King and Daniel Levy, although Chairman
John McLelland found it necessary to pay tribute to
Murray – acknowledging “what he has done for and meant
to the club.”
Presumably this includes taking the club to the brink
of bankruptcy…
With a Balance Sheet that resembles a disaster area,
many anticipated some searching questions on the
accounts. There was one – a pertinent one too – on the
matter of the creative accounting that took both the
Rangers Bond and Premium TV out of the equation as far
as Balance Sheet Liabilities are concerned. Financial
director Douglas Odam’s reply was less than
satisfactory – “it had been unfair to include them in
the first place as they were repayable only in extreme
circumstances.”
It’s called Accountancy, Douglas…and one is left
pondering what auditors Grant Thornton thought of this
sleight of hand.
With the formal business concluded inside 25 minutes,
it was left to the main body of the meeting to raise
matters of concern.
Former Manager Dick Advocaat was the subject of some
debate, in particular over his recent articles in the
‘Daily Record’ – described by one shareholder as an
“enemy of the club.” Nevertheless the meeting
reflected favourably on the Advocaat era, and extended
its’ best wishes to the ‘Little General’ for his
future career.
Alex McLeish was warmly received at his first AGM,
admitting candidly when asked that he did not know
whether Hakan Suker was on his way to Glasgow. On the
question of transfer budgets: “I’ll take what the club
gives me.”
‘Big Eck’ also defended Lorenzo’s Amoruso’s injury
treatment in Italy, describing the defender as a
“fantastic professional.” On the subject of Advocaat,
McLeish stressed that recent comments had motivated
his players, whilst emphasising that his predecessor
had offered advice but never interfered. On the
subject of Michael Mols, the Manager stressed that the
player has to earn the right for inclusion in the team
just like everyone else.
One shareholder complained that his line of sight had
been blocked by the moving (by all of one metre) of
the dug-outs, whilst another demanded the removal of
the jumbotron screens and their replacement by
additional seating. The impracticalities of such
reconstruction were explained by the Chairman, the
cost and logistics being prohibitive.
Murray Group representative Donald Wilson was called
upon to defend David Murray’ absence when one
shareholder demanded to know why the major shareholder
was not here “to face the music.” Wilson claimed that
Murray’s commitment to the club cannot be faulted, but
the time had come for a “fiscally-prudent approach.”
“Follow Follow’s” old friend Martin Bain was under
attack from the selfsame shareholder for his
well-publicised quote that “Rangers fans should not
hold jobs at the club.” This of course was published
in an interview Bain gave some time ago to ‘The
Herald,” yet the Rangers’ Director shamefully denied
any recollection of the quote.
Bain also underlined his lifelong love of Rangers when
he referred to the club as ‘Ibrox Football Club.’
John McLelland revealed that he has every confidence
in a resolution of the current SPL dispute.
One shareholder was shouted down when he raised the
subject of sectarianism. “The club is not sectarian.
We work quietly but effectively with many
organisations,” stressed McLelland. The new change
strip was defended by Director Nick Peel, who pointed
out that “an effective change kit needs to be one that
does not clash with the home kit. To avoid orange
would be to pander to misplaced prejudice.”
One female shareholder who fancies herself as a bit of
a comedian but who in fact is a pain in the neck
raised the subject of forgotten player Dariusz
Adamczuk, reportedly suffering from depression as he
“hands in his panel line and picks up a weekly wage of
£10,000.” Finance Director Douglas Odam denied the
reported salary, and underlined that the club had a
duty of care with all its’ employees.
Both the Ticket Office and Travel Club came in for
predictable criticism, and the meeting ended in
rancour when shareholder Jim Christie demanded to know
why ‘FOLLOW FOLLOW’ was banned from the Press Box
whilst the likes of Gerry McNee were granted access.
Martin Bain predictably replied that ‘FF’ was banned
because of its’ sectarian content, whilst stressing
that the club recognised “the freedom of the Press.”
He was shouted down, leaving Chairman John McLelland
to close the meeting with a plea that “we must rise
above all of this.”
SAMUEL PEPYS