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Business as usual?
A recent blog post on Rangers raised the question of where loyal Bluenoses would turn, if our beloved Gers were to go under. Until very recently, the idea of Rangers going into insolvency was never an issue the supporters would even consider thinking about maybe mulling over. It’s still verboten, forbidden hoodoo for those who’s blood runs blue.
But now, as Rangers plunge into yet more financial uncertainty, fans of the most successful club in the world are beginning to look over their shoulders. The taxman and many other debtors, including former Chief Executive Martin Bain, threaten the peace and harmony of Scotland’s champions. Such uncertainty became apparent to me when the other day, my father, the man to which I owe my Rangers gene, was, for the very first time worried at the state of the club. Sipping on his beer and furrowing his moustache he grumbled; “Rangers are in a lot of trouble, you know”. Such worries don’t occur often.
However, these concerns were not echoed by Rangers owner Craig Whyte, the man who when he took over in May of this year, promised plain sailing for the club. The ‘Whyte Knight’, speaking on Wednesday, had this to say on the club’s official website;
“First, the board would like to make it absolutely clear that, at Ibrox, it is business as usual. The club is trading normally and has a strong balance sheet.
The board finds it reprehensible that the law courts have been used in recent days to suggest the club is on the brink of insolvency. It is not.”
That’s fighting talk, from a man who the club’s fans demand not to lurk in the shadows. Whyte goes on to explain that the HMRC tribunal, which could leave Rangers with an “unmanageable” bill, will most likely be found in favour of the Ibrox club. His language, word choice and style is fierce. He vows to continue “fighting the club’s case most vigorously”.
However, the undertones are for all to see. Whyte’s statement doesn’t directly suggest the popular opinion that Rangers’ potential demise would be detrimental to Scottish ‘fitba’ as a whole. And it is theoretically true that Rangers Football Club’s insolvency would almost certainly spell chaos, not only for the SPL and Scottish football, but also for Scotland in general. Scottish revenue from the Old Firm and it’s supporters cannot be underestimated, but if one of the two were to fall, the entire foundation of football in the country would collapse.
It was Horace, an Augustian poet and one of the great thinkers of the Roman era, who once said “Who knows whether the gods will add tomorrow to the present hour”. Whether the ‘Gods’ will add Rangers’ tomorrow is yet to be seen, but if it isn’t it would be wholly irresponsible of the HMRC not to consider the potential consequences.
Posted by Rangers fan Ali Hunter
Follow Ali on Twitter @AliHunter1
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