They're All Doomed - Doomed Ah Tell Ye

BACK when the old Rangers first went into administration, I reckoned the turmoil would run and run. My belief in this hardened when liquidation followed, and I stand by my assertion back then, it would have been better had the SFA played real hard ball and forced the new Rangers to begin life in Central League, Division Two, of the West of Scotland Region of the SJFA - pending a sorting-out of events around the defunct club.

 

The scenario I envisaged would have enabled new Rangers to transfer to the new Lowland League from the start of this current season, then be able, in time, and good management willing, to re-claim old Rangers' place in the top flight.

 

But, this didn't happen. Yes, the body of the kirk in Scottish football wanted Rangers punished for perceived past misdeeds (real and imagined). But, they didn't want - for all the past problems they have caused them - to perhaps drive Ra Peepul away. Yes, the Rangers support might, as my late mentor and guide Ian "Dan" Archer, so-memorably described them, be a constant embarrassment to Scottish football, but, there are a lot of them out there and they bring a great deal of money into the game.

 

So, Rangers had to be punished, but, not sufficiently hard to really hurt them.

 

The outcome of this is the current situation. Because, new Rangers, who only want to be new Rangers when it suits them, but, are also determined to claim those 140-plus years of history and tradition. And that includes the tradition of refusing to live within their means, to spend, spend, spend to an extent which would surely, were she still alive, have embarrassed that late Yorkshire lady Mrs Nicholson, the pools winner who brought spend, spend spend into the everyday lexicon.

 

There is that other timeless aphorism about those who fail to learn from their mistakes are certain to keep repeating them - remind you of any football club based on Edmiston Drive.

 

Graham Wallace's assessment of the situation ought to be praised - although, not completely, I see there is a continuing intention to keep buying players. This, like a pile-up in a multi-storey car park, is wrong on so many levels.

 

Rangers are in deep doo-dah. For all Mr Wallace's claims to the contrary, I can see a second bunch of administrators climbing the marble staircase, and, this time, after the shambles of Dumb and Dumber, hopefully the appointed firm is able to finally knock heads together, because, Scottish football needs checks and balances and, a strong Rangers is the only means I can see of keeping Celtic in check. But, getting a strong Rangers back there, from the current position, will be damned difficult - if not impossible.

 

Clearly, the fan-base have little or no faith in the current men at the top. They can have little of no faith either in Dave King. Here, if I were the current Rangers board, I would be making a: "put-up or shut-up" ultimatum to Mr King.

 

First thing - have a word with Messrs Ogilvie, Lawwell and Regan at Hampden. Establish, once and for all, IF Mr King would be deemed a suitable person to have a say in the running of the club. I think the answer here would be: "No way - he's a convicted criminal, convicted of fraud. He was a director of the failed Rangers, he doesn't get near the new Rangers.

 

If that's the answer they get - he can be told: "Sut-up. Go Away. You are an irrelevance".

 

However, and remember, this is Scottish football we are speaking about - if the Rangers board is told: "Yes, Mr King is a fine and honourable business-man without a stain on his character, you can bring him on board; then, the Rangers board should tell him: "OK, put-up or shut-up; for £30 million, to be transferred to the club within a month, you can come on the board".

 

Either way, the King problem is solved and the club can move forward.

 

Should he, as I suspect would happen, King suddenly decide life in South Africa would be simpler, then, the board can move ahead, but, to do so,they will have to accept a totally new, un-Rangers-like way of doing things - living within their means, putting their faith in thoroughly researched, recruited and trained young Scottish players; being honest with the fans, telling them, the road will be long and rocky, but, we will get there and by a determination to truly eat humble pie, get it right and get back.

But, somehow, I don't see this happening. I fear, Rangers Mark II are a proper basket case. Sadly, I feel, the time is ripe to put this sgtruggling dinosaur out of its misery.