Follow, Follow On, We All Follow... 'Team 12'!?

Major developments in the Rangers saga have been witnessed in recent weeks; markedly the rejection of the Company Voluntary Arrangement Proposal and their subsequent decent into Liquidation.

Following formal Liquidation, Mr Charles Green purchased the assets from Duff & Phelps for the princely sum of £5.5 million; a third of what ‘oldco’ paid for Tore-Andre Flo in 2001 (see right); and roughly the same price as refueling a moderately sized family saloon. Mr Green then had his application for ‘Newco’ Rangers, snappily named Sevco Scotland Limited, to replace the previous entity in the Scottish Premier League denied; their fixtures occupied instead by minnows ‘Team 12’.

Given the strong moral hazard in allowing ‘Rangers’ re-entrance to the SPL it shouldn’t be regarded as a surprise that the incumbent members rejected ‘newco’, but the difficulty is where to allow re-entry.

The precedent was set by the demotion of Livingstone in 2009, and Gretna in 2008, to the lowest tier of Scottish League football following their wind-up. It would appear then to be morally and legally just to force Rangers to follow suit. BUT can it really be pragmatic and prudent to put one of the biggest names in not just Scottish, but global football, into the comparative doldrums of the Scottish 3^rd Division?

If this were to come into fruition, the phoenix operation could find themselves head-to-head with the likes of; Annan ‘not terribly’ Athletic, The Gable Endies, Peter’s Head, Elgin ‘barely a’ City and the star studied Stirling Albion. Rangers average attendance in 2011/2012 was 46,234, yet none of these aforementioned clubs can house more than 4,000 fans! To put that into context, that’s just one Rik Waller!

(Typical Div 3 playing surface - (undersoil heating
is considered just too ostentatious, so alternative
draining methods have been sought (below the pitch
you will note one summer afternoon' s precipitation)))

At risk of upsetting both the attendees - on a normal match day in division 3, the club secretary contacts you Saturday morning to ask when you wish the game to kick-off (and also to request you bring your boots just in case)... Then once you finally locate the un-signposted ground (which is invariably hidden behind a small mound of earth, a wheelie bin, or maybe a small ginger child), there are more people in the dug-outs (or there would be if they had any), than on the concrete terraces. Before berating this flippant analysis of Division 3, please bear in mind that I’m writing from a position of knowledge - having attended numerous Scottish Division 2 and 3 clashes down the years (and thoroughly enjoyed them).

I’m simply highlighting the logistical nightmare of having arguably Scotland’s most supported club descending upon this inferior level of infrastructure. At Borough Briggs for example, home to Elgin City, there is seating capacity for 478 (all seats kindly donated by Newcastle United FC in 2000), and standing capacity, housed in a corrugated iron cattle shelter, on the opposite touch line. There is no defined fan segregation, limited turnstiles, a concerning scarcity of Irn-Bru outlets, and to top it all, fans can observe the match in full (or for as long as they can last), for free, by standing on the grassy knolls behind either goal. Imagine then, the strain on local amenities and policing that Rangers’ visit would induce! And this issue translates to the majority of the league; the exception being Queen’s Park who ply their trade at the 52,500 capacity national stadium.

In addition, the financial implications of Rangers’ demotion to division 3 would be far fetching; and not just in terms of reduced match day revenue. The prospect of no league encounters between the ‘Old Firm’ for a minimum of 3 + years will doubtless jeopardise season ticket renewals and any pending broadcasting and sponsorship contracts. The historic rivalry, even hatred, between the ‘Old Firm’, captivates global audiences, and generates much of the league’s revenue as a result. Afterall, a one team title race, very few sell out fixtures, and minimal top class talent on show, is all available in my local pub league.

It is for this reason that Celtic fans shouldn’t be writing “good riddance” on Facebook, Twitter, Celtic forums, Rangers forums, football forums, sport forums, synchronized swimming forums, themselves... Celtic, like the rest of Scotland, needs a competitive Rangers Football Club!

The final decision on their entry will be made shortly and we’ll be waiting with whisky infused breath – I think those with a vested interest in Scottish football will be praying they are accepted into Division 1; but what punishment do you believe 'newco' Rangers warrant?
BC
@BobbyCowsill