It was the best of times it was the worst of times, those could be the words that they carve on Rangers FC's tombstone, because over the last 20 years or so that is exactly what Rangers and their fans have seen. The dizzying highs of 9 in a row, seemingly unlimited cash to spend on high calibre players, sympathetic press coverage, an apparently unstoppable force which would only get stronger with each passing season. It was doom and gloom for the other Scottish teams, Rangers boasted a squad which could field 3 full teams, and all of them capable of winning the title we were told. One team for Europe, one team for the SPL. This I know, because the press and media told me so. At every other club in Scotland, It was time to run up the white flag of surrender (sic), because Sir David, connoisseur of the most succulent lamb, had proclaimed from his ivory pulpit that we should all shudder in fear at this juggernaut which was gathering huge momentum, unstoppable so it was. I can't actually recall if I believed this guff at the time, not that I was a slave to the chip wrappers you understand, it was just that with the best will in the world, and the most optimistic of outlooks, I could not see how Celtic - let alone one of the diddy clubs - were going to derail Murray's express locomotive which was en route to complete and utter domination of Scottish football for decades to come. It was lashings of woe, washed down with sour grapes at every club outside the Grade B listed facade of fortress Ibrox, the day of judgement had come, repent thee sinners, Sir David has seen the promised land and it is good. Massive redevelopment of Govan, a Casino, a grand expansion of the stadium, "The biggest in Glasgow by the way", billionaire investors were apparently falling over themselves in the rush to throw money the way of Rangers. It was all flannel and gammon of course and none but the truly deluded ever actually believed that one day soon they would be strolling from their Ibrox penthouse apartment complex, past the 80,000 all seater stadium to sit sipping martinis in the Casino, frittering away their cash at chemin de fer. The press bought it though, they love a good story with a positive spin but the truly worrying part is how easily they bought into this fantasy. We know that Traynor and others are easily bribed, a glass of decent wine, a bit of lamb and an interview with the grand overlord himself were ample payment for bumlickery of the highest order. The genie is out of the bottle now, and if ever there were any doubt that hacks are not to be listened to - let alone feted for laughable exclusives - such doubts have been washed away like the finest red wine down a stank. And now we come full circle to the new owner, "Billionaire" Craig Whyte. I think once again it is patently clear that the hacks bought into this myth of the superstar businessman with the midas touch, a story no doubt perpetrated by Whyte himself and abetted by some string pulling by Sir David to fool the world into believing that their Whyte Knight had arrived, a safe pair of hands and with money to burn. I don't blame some Rangers fans for believing the hype, a part of me thought it true too, but as events unfolded it became abundantly clear that this was a man who was less than the sum of his parts. He seems to be a sort of "Bizarro" Murray, where Murray did actually have businesses, successful and well known ones, Whyte's portfolio was all smoke and mirrors, where Murray was brashness and bluster and a undue fondness for appearances in the press, Whyte kept his distance and seemed to be overly secretive. If Rangers do fold I don't think anyone need look further than Sir David when the finger pointing begins, natuarally Whyte will take a lot of flak too, deservedly so, but Murray must have been aware that Whyte was no more the saviour of Rangers than I am. I for one don't think Rangers will vanish off the face of the earth, nor would I wish it, because when all is said and done, Scottish football -for all it's faults - is all that really interests me and the only thing "nearly" as good as seeing Celtic win is watching Rangers lose, do away with Rangers and a what do we have? Celtic domination for years to come? Maybe not, and hopefully not because you really can have too much of a good thing. Where would be the joy be in winning the title for the next 10 years, oh yes, on the surface it sounds great but would it really be that much fun seeing the very marrow sucked out of the SPL? I do hope that Rangers do survive in some form, in fact i'm certain they will, although if everything (or even half) that has been reported so far is accurate, then they will have to go through some massive changes to their operation. A "newco" looks a distinct possibilty, and with it a new start in the 3rd division, where Rangers would begin from square one. I could live with that because i'm pretty confident they would be back in the SPL in 3 years, and that to me would be a fitting punishment for Rangers misplaced hubris, embodied by Sir David Murray and his ego gone out of control, it may not be fair on the real Rangers fans, but life seldom is fair is it?
I read it. I'm disappointed that, after going with the Dickens intro, you didn't end with the "'tis a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done" ending. Still, 7/10 - better than my threads
You guilt tripped me into reading it. Good points Dev. For all the piss-taking, the boy Whyte is taking some pelters when he inherited a shambles with a tax case hanging over them. He probably could have handled it better in terms of public relations but for me Whyte was always onto a hiding buying Rangers when he did.
I bet you wont be selling that when they go tits up and he walks away with £14,999,999 profit on his £1 investment.
Good read, interesting points. Although, I disagree on the whole "let's weep for their demise" feeling at the end. **** that. Hope they fold and **** off, never to be seen or heard from again. Everyone's lives will be better for it.
