The media in Scotland never fails to entertain, especially when they’re scrambling to put a positive spin on anything that happens across the city at Ibrox. Yesterday, one of the Daily Record’s resident Ibrox apologists, Andy Newport, was at it again, doing his utmost to find a silver lining in the latest twist in their ongoing saga – the resignation of their Head of Football Operations.
The spin he attempted was that this latest “clear-out” of the boardroom and commercial department would allow them to bring in a “better class” of people. Hilarious, for several reasons. Most glaringly, these are rats fleeing a sinking ship.
There’s no glossing over the reality of it. The fact is that key figures behind the scenes at Ibrox, from their academy head to their commercial department and board, no longer believe the club is heading in a positive direction, and they can’t wait to jump ship. In the space of just a few months, they’ve lost a chairman, their academy head, their Head of Football Operations, and their chief executive. None of these roles have been filled, and the club is in freefall.
It’s understandable that Newport wants to sugar-coat this.
He has to try and paint a positive picture. But to claim they’ll suddenly attract top-tier candidates is pure fantasy. There’s no reckoning with why these people left in the first place. Those on the inside know the Ibrox operation is on its knees.
They are in the midst of brutal cost-cutting measures that show no sign of ending, and as Celtic’s dominance on and off the field continues, the backlash from their own support will only intensify. That could send season ticket sales tumbling, and with it, their fragile finances.
Who in their right mind would want to work there in this mess?
Are they going to headhunt executives from Europe’s top clubs? Not a chance. They’ll scrape together candidates from the SPFL-level and try to fill the gaps with so-called ‘Real Ranjurs men,’ as they always do. If they can’t retain the people who have helped drive the current chaos, how on earth do they expect to hire better ones?
This isn’t going away. It’s long been said that Celtic’s board is made up of individuals of a higher calibre, and while some of us have been critical of them, it’s undeniable that we can attract a better class of person. Why is that? Is it simply because we have more money? No. It’s because we are a more appealing institution, period.
Ask yourself this: if you had the chance to invest in or join the board of one of the two clubs, which would you choose? The outward-looking, internationally minded club with a rich heritage, or the backward, insular, supremacist organisation whose fans revel in racism, bigotry, and nationalism? Britishness Day, Armed Forces Day, and supporters singing about being “up to their knees in Fenian blood.” It’s not exactly an appealing prospect.
If there are any credible people willing to get involved in such an organisation, they’d have to weigh the constant upheaval. This is a club that’s had two boardroom coups since its birth in 2012 and two major clear-outs associated with those coups. Managers come and go like clockwork, and they have the most intolerant fanbase in British football when it comes to reacting to perceived failure. There are easier ways to make money and far less thankless jobs out there, without the constant fear of being dragged into the next scandal.
The blind spot at Ibrox is their belief that they’re still a big club and that this alone should attract top names. They forget the other side of that reputation – they are a shambles. Deep in debt, unable to balance the books, and run by a toxic culture that makes you want to wash your hands of the whole affair. It’s no surprise they’re struggling to fill these key roles because, with each passing year, the club becomes more insular and reactive, and that is a massive problem for them.
Newport’s article is funny in its sheer desperation.
He’s trying to shine up a situation where that is frankly impossible to do. Four senior executives have left, none of whom have been replaced. Some of these roles have been vacant for months. How long have they been without a chief executive or a Head of Academy? Every time they seem to be fixing one problem, another crops up.
The resignations of these executives is not something to downplay. This is a company whose top people have no faith in the vision, and that’s why they’re heading for the exits. No matter how much spin people try to put on it, this is a hallmark of a full-blown crisis behind the scenes. And the deeper the crisis gets, the harder it will be to dig themselves out.
Jelly n icecream 2.0
Turd polishing thats all it is.
Until they lose the “ranjurs man” mentality the Murray’s/Green’s/White’s and King’s of this world will be the calibre of “businessman” they attract.
There aren’t many wealthy individuals who would choose to invest in Scottish football never mind that basket case of a club.
Retired and living the dream amongst rice fields in Asia aged 69.
What makes my morning is reading the latest news about sevco.
Being old have seen a mediocre team scale the heights, lose their crown and backers and gradually lose their shine.
Seen celtic slowly and carefully ascend the heights carefully and securely, there is more and better to come from this business model.
Sevco are stripped of their emperors clothes and are now just a well supported West of Scotland club.
Celtic get the invites to play and visit around the world earning more and more from advertising.
There will always be a sevco, but, they blew it.
Toxic fans and publicity are never asked to visit again.
Never change Huns. Never change.
Sounds more like Andy Newport’s attempting to polish a jobbie or put lipstick on a pig, bless him , he’ll do anything to distract from the TRUTH when it comes to his beloved Sevco .
I wouldn’t be surprised if RIFC/TRFC appoint a certain Alistair Kellock, the former rugby international, Glasgow Warriors MD & a right blue-nose, to a board-level position.
Another Pathological Liar for Liebrox from The Scummy’s of The Scummy Scottish Football Media then…
Surprise Surprise ? Not, Not, NOT…
Doubtless they will buy The Scummy by the droves today then and their sales might go up by a thousand…
You can just imagine their pathetic wee minds believing the comforting blanket lies of That Scummy and texting / phoning / facebooking each other and saying “Did ya see in The Record That we are getting a ‘better class’ of peepil ‘inversting’ in the klub soon”
Honest To Fuck – These two groups deserve each other of every minute, every hour, every day until The Record dies like it’s bel ‘Rangers did !
That boy Newport has loads of Daily Record back pages when they won the Covid title framed on the walls in his hoose
I seen them when I watched one of their Daily Record podcasts things last week .
Strange fella
You’re a braver lad than me Harold watching their podcasts or whatever…
1) – I’d need suicidal councilling if I gave The Scummy’s as much as a half penny –
2) – I’d probably smash the iPad in anger towards myself if I paid to read their daily Anti Celtic evil rhetoric…
Anyway it won’t be for long as That Guy That I’ve never heard off will soon be on the dole as The Scummy (Record not the crayon scribbler) will be stinking in a vomit induced cemetery lair !
“Gradually, then suddenly”…….
It could be understandable in any organisation,
if there is high turnover of senior staff, in a short period of time,
IF there was a new CEO brought in to turnaround the organisation.
Unfortunately, sevco doesn’t have a CEO – and hasn’t had a CEO for 4 months now.
The ‘Executive Chairman’ is a pensioner, just keeping the seat warm.
And that AGM photo at the top of this article suggests just how
pleasant it is to work at ibrox: grim! 🙂
Newports just another jackson disciple. Ah could easily name about 10 of them in that tabloid alone, but ah cannae even be bothered. They see theirselves as ibrox sentinels. Even willin regularly, tae put any shred of journalistic credibility they might have on the line tae dae it.
They always have the get out that those leaving have gotten the rangers into a bad situation therefore naturally ‘Better’ people needed, those of much staunchness.
Did the guy from St Mirren, a real rangers man by all accounts, refuse to join as he was not offered good financial terms, ie, they couldn’t afford, a guy from St Mirren.
The blazer and brogues not the draw it once was!!
The last time that I read ma wee granny’s cast off with that rag on a boring night shift it was guys like The Fat Fitness instructor (Gym Trainer) a guy called Alex Cameron that had the poison pens…
Having said that I don’t think they were so Anti Celtic and such evil pathological liars as what they are now for sure…
Probably because we weren’t winning Fuck all in 1993 !
Aside from their obvious bias, it looks like they’re trying to keep Sevco relevant to keep the “big two” narrative credible, as they need that title race stuff to fill their papers.
That will only take them so far, because even their diehard fans are calling in SSB etc. to admit they’re in a bad way and can’t see any direction forward on the pitch or in their remnants of a boardroom. They were buoyed by an upward trajectory through the divisions with a full ibrox standing by them, followed by the covid title.
Now it all seems to be unravelling as they see their worst fears of Celtic leaving them behind and the possibility they will soon have other clubs to realisticly call their rivals. There also seems to be a few empty seats appearing at ibrox.
This is why have grown to hate my own country. Biggotry rampant then the media promoting it. As it appeals to the right wing royalists who lets be honest ARE the media. I fear for scotland. ?
We had our Golden Chance of Independence and Freedom Hugh and The older population believed The Pathological Lies from Pathological Liars and blew it big time…
And now they have reaped what they sewed for sure –
The Butchers Apron flies highly and proudly in Scotland now as The Labour Party reigns supreme…
How many Celtic ‘supporters’ foolishly voted for That Butchers Apron Loving Political Party…
Well for those on the breadline (Celtic supporters or any other team or none at all) – Youse deserve all that’s gonna come down the pipe towards youse…
The winter fuel payment withdrawal is only just the start of it all as well…
For those who are struggling and didn’t vote Butchers Apron Loving Labour – I am Heart Sorry for you all…
For those who are struggling and ran to the polling station to vote Butchers Apron Loving Labour – Then Hell mend yeez – Enjoy These Freezing Cold Long Winter Chilled (This Year) – No sympathy here !
You’re right. My club is mired in sectarian bigotry.
It makes me ashamed.
Poor George his team are pish and the boardroom full of bigots don’t have a clue so back to the child abuse again, no mention of the abusers at Ibrox or the royal family, total hypocrite.
The saying ‘You can’t polish a turd’ comes to mind. It wouldn’t surprise me if administration 2.0 is just around the corner. Maybe the new entity will eventually see the error of their ways, but I very much doubt it.
Sorry to correct you john, but there can not be an administration 2.
As this new mob have not had 1 yet.
When we pump them at ibrox that will be the straw that broke the camel’s back. Their fans know this .
Part of me wonders if these “resignations ” are to clear the way for a takeover or buy-out ?
I sincerely hope, however, its just because the Club is on its uppers…and these guys are on a downer.
Long may their pain continue.