http://blogs.dailyrecord.co.uk/tamcowan/2012/04/at-least-david-healy-will-get.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheDailyRecord%2FTamCowan+%28The+Daily+Record+-+Tam+Cowan%29 COME on, Rangers, make your mind up. For more years than I care to remember, both halves of the Old Firm have been desperate to quit the SPL and play in a different league. Well, the Ibrox club now have the perfect opportunity to break away to the Scottish Third Division. So what the hell are they greetin' about? Liquidation now seems the most likely option for Rangers (just last night a bluenose pal was trying to convince me that the BIG Glasgow derby is actually Rangers v Queen's Park) but I don't know how the administrators can accuse the SPL of undermining their efforts to keep the club in business. One quick glance at the Ibrox charge sheet tells you the prospect of docking Rangers 10 points for a couple couple of seasons is hardly Draconian. What do they want exactly? Sent to their bed with no supper? Fifty lines? Sir Dave and wee Whytey to stand on the naughty step? Let's just forget about punishing Rangers. To help this Scottish institution bounce back next season, I say we give them a 10-point start in the SPL and 100 per cent of the TV money. I also think we should nominate one player from every SPL club to sell a kidney with every penny of the proceeds going to the Rangers Fans' Fighting Fund. For the record, I don't actually want to see Rangers sent down to Division Three - that only punishes the diehard Rangers fans and they weren't the ones at the hey-didddle-diddle. But I appear to be part of a very small minority. According to an online survey of supporters in the SPL, 93 percent say a Rangers newco shouldn't be re-admitted to the SPL. And, if that's what happens, 55 per cent of fans say they would turn away from Scottish football and refuse to attend another SPL fixture. Have you got that, Mr Doncaster? But listen, the Third Division wouldn't be so bad for Rangers. For a start, they could finally give David Healy a proper run-out in the team. And they'd probably be back in the SPL within three seasons. Unless, of course, their old League Cup foes Falkirk get the better of them yet again. Seriously, though, Scottish football is now in grave danger of sending out the clear message that cheating will be tolerated. If proper sanctions are not taken against Rangers, sporting integrity goes straight out the window. Every club with debts (and there are quite a few in the SPL) could just go to the wall and then look to copy the Ibrox model by bouncing straight back. If Rangers are given special treatment, the baw is well and truly burst. My fellow columnist Mark Hateley says the SPL and SFA have done little to support one of its biggest members. Well, apart from turning a blind eye for the past 20 years to all their dodgy shenanigans behind the scenes. But it's not the SPL or the SFA to blame for the current state of Rangers. It's all down to Sir David Murray and, to a lesser extent, Craig Whyte. Meanwhile, Andy Goram insists there should be more support shown to those clubs that are toiling badly. What? Like the way Sir Dave supported Airdrie when they were toiling by issuing a winding-up order on the grounds that "business is business"? The threat from Rangers fans to boycott away games next season is laughable. Listen, if Rangers have no chance of winning the league, I can assure you they'll stay away from the games in their droves anyway. If you don't believe me, just have a look at the pre-Souness attendances. By the way, don't bore me - again - with all that Eartha Kitt about the vast reduction in TV revenue if Rangers get kicked out of the SPL. On the day when a Scottish Cup semi-final between a team from Edinburgh and one from Aberdeen kicks off in Glasgow at 12.15pm so the match can be screened on both Sky Sports and the BBC, I honestly couldn't give a Daffy Duck about TV deals. In fact, let's take this perfect opportunity to put the fans first. Kill the cameras, cut our cloth accordingly and, well, let's just see what happens... PS: Paul Murray and the Blue Knights? Sorry, but if I were a Rangers fan, I wouldn't want a member of the "previous regime" anywhere near my club. Goes to show that this isn't about celtic fans trying to put the boot in. Almost all scottish football fans feel the same way.
I don't know why he feels sorry for the fans though? They were more than happy to revell in the sucess and turn a blind eye to the debt. Sure, it's not there fault but part of being a supporter is to take the good with the bad. Can't have it all your own way, which appears to be rangers philosophy.
I'll be honest and admit that the logic escapes me when people ask "Why should the fans be punished"? It makes no sense as an argument, it's like some career crim getting the jail and liberals claiming that his family are victims too and If fans misbehave, it's the club who gets punished, so it's a two way street. If Rangers are to be punished then there is no way of doing so without the fans feeling the blowback.
I agree Dev, ( you are not always stupid) Rangers fans rejoiced and celebrated all their tainted titles. They sneered at us and laughed at Celtic only able to spend £5 against every £10 of theirs. We at least know our £5 was an honest £5. How much of their £10 was honest.
