Source: FOOTYMAD
They have Lawwell & Dr Death - We have Shergar and Dr Dolittle.
In the battle of Glasgow wills, Rangers have maintained a degree of success in recent years, despite battling significant odds. Celtic’s undeniable re-emergence as a title contender this season, coupled with the continued financial restraints imposed largely due to the failings of our current owner has left us with a problem or two. Yet I feel it’s time to take a look at what goes on off the field, as recent events have created battles at the top level of both clubs. After last week’s Cup match between the two Glasgow giants, there has been a lot of mud-slinging going on, and it has become pretty clear that much like our on-field weaknesses, we have some pretty big ones off the field. Why? It’s simple: In the war of words with Celtic – Our enemies have a propaganda machine masterfully operated by Peter Lawwell and John Reid. And as for us: We have a chairman who is challenging his predecessor very well indeed in the invisibility stakes, and, rather than Dr Death, we appear to have Dr Do-little. Bain’s inaction over shameful behaviour from the animals in the Celtic dug-out from the original Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox in January left him up the proverbial shit creek yesterday when forced to defend our club at the shambolic summit. After Tuesday’s ‘summit’ - a total rouse arranged by the Scottish government - Mr Bain’s chickens came home to roost when he was left with no other option other than to be led by the genitals by his opposite and superior CEO. We did lose the plot – and we were totally justified in doing so. Celtic’s players and management have consciously targeted our players and staff in a relentless manner over the course of the past three Old Firm encounters, yet the only time Bain thought it was suitable to speak out was when his hand was forced. Harsh or unfair on the guys who have steered us through difficult times? Absolutely not and the reason it isn’t harsh is because the Rangers board has avoided every battle one entity could possibly avoid unless forced into action. Let’s start off with Lloyds Bank: Yes, Alastair Johnston, Martin Bain and Walter Smith have done a marvellous job in fending off the bank and preventing us from facing further cuts in additions to the savage ones that have already been imposed. It is worth remembering though, that Lloyds Bank was placed directly in front of them, on the Rangers board effectively, and the battle with the bank wasn’t one they could walk away from. Jimmy Coward from Cowardsville couldn’t have avoided the fight with the bank. Metaphorically speaking, they kicked in the boardroom door and tried to wreck the place: Bain and Johnston HAD to react. Johnston, Bain and Smith have been given mammoth praise for their handling of the many difficult situations they have faced in recent years, and history will credit them for their roles in this situation. But they have done what they were expected to do and needed to do and not much more. Fast forward now to the bugbear of many - PR, Defending the club and speaking out. Nothing has changed and arguably, it has got worse. After last Wednesday’s game at Celtic Park, Celtic launched an all-out attack in the media. Peter Lawwell had a statement ready the next morning which beautifully attempted to exonerate his club for their role in the ugly scenes, whilst not so much pointing the elbow at Rangers and our fans but more like whacking us squarely in the face. Their mentally-challenged captain followed it up later in the day by mocking our team and fans in a statement on Sky Sports News. The bare-faced Lawwell then had the audacity to blame the Rangers management in a cleverly indirect way for his manager acting like the maniac he is after Ally McCoist warned Lennon to stay away from our players last week. Given that Mr Lennon and his staff have waged a campaign of antagonistic behaviour against Rangers staff and players, I wonder how Mr Lennon would’ve acted if one of his players was targeted in the same way? We blamed our behaviour of the Wednesday night on the behaviour of Celtic’s players and coaching staff during the previous cup encounter at Ibrox in January. Here’s the rub Mr Bain: rumours suggested at the time that some of our players were victims of extreme verbal abuse at the hands of the out of control and ill disciplined Celtic management team. Your statement confirmed those stories. So, as well worded as your statement was last Thursday, where was your statement after the first cup encounter? And why now have you backed down and accepted that everything is ok and Ally was to blame? Dignified Silence – or failing to push home a clear initiative - has once again come back to bite us in the arse....which, for the record, it has always done. Rather than taking credit for participating in battles your £600k+ per year role requires you to fight on our behalf, how about you step up to the vermin who abused our players in the first place? Because thanks to our continued weak position the impartial spectator could be entirely forgiven for thinking our reference to the previous Old Firm Cup game was mere sour grapes. Your attitude towards the fans who through countless mediums have politely requested that you clarify the Club’s position on a number of worrying fronts is also pathetic. You will send out our renewal forms in April and expect us to sign on the dotted line just because for the first time in two years, we actually know who our manager is going to be next season. Bravo. It really is getting boring now, Martin. If you insist on maintaining this ludicrous and embarrassing ‘dignified silence’, many fans will be doing the same when asked to renew their Season Tickets. You could do a lot worse than taking a leaf out of the book of our enemies across the city: Because like it or not folks, they have had our board in their back pocket for nearly a decade. As repulsive an individual as Peter Lawwell is to those who don’t support his Club, he has run rings around the perma-tanned one, even when he and his club were entirely in the wrong. Now, it’s time for Bain to be removed from Ibrox. As Rangers’ Dr Dolittle he enjoys talking to the animals... It’s just a shame he doesn’t talk to us, or for us, when the chips are down.
