The King Must Return


 It's been a busy week, once again, in the life of a Rangers fan. Two massive games in our league campaign, away to St Johnstone and at home to Aberdeen, as the league draws down to single figures left to play and the long awaited 150th celebrations.

Leave it to the current board to take most of the focus off this monumental milestone in the history of our club and create a negative atmosphere. 

Sydney Super Cup

I am of course talking about the Sydney Super Cup, or the Ange Postecoglu homecoming. 

How such a decision could come across the boards desk and they unanimously agree to it is beyond me.

As I said on the latest The 4Th Official podcast, I don't necessarily blame James Bisgrove, his job is to make the club money and this will net the club more than a full SPL season (why is Doncaster employed??).

 However the board are meant to be the custodians of the club and our representatives, yet they've happily sold the clubs soul by agreeing to be a side attraction on the Ange love fest in Australia. 

I don't begrudge out Australian based fans getting the opportunity to see the team by the way. What I do begrudge is getting in to bed with that rancid club and being used to bury other, more sensitive, stories.

The timing of decision was as equally positive for that lot in a PR spin as it was negative for us in taking the shine off our 150th celebrations. 

Our away section of the support certainly made their feelings know against St Johnstone, and I find it difficult to criticise them too much. As fans there's very little we can do if the board choose to disregard us, other than to disregard them. 

That isn't me condoning the songs, but it equally isn't me chastising them. I merely understand the frustration of the fan base and why they felt the need to do it.

150 Years

I am glad this didn't boil over to Saturday however, and we were able to support the team, while being angry at the regime. 

The Union Bears were integral in this, putting together a phenomenal TIFO that looked absolutely fantastic. They deserve plaudits for that.

The board however managed another PR nightmare, advertising that the team would be wearing the Gallant Pioneers kit for the match, then releasing a pro version the morning of the game to end up only wearing it for the warm up.

The club have stated it was due to thinking it was more appropriate to wear the home strip for our 150th celebrations, a decision I agree with, but a shambles after the advertising we'd wear it.

Reports that we failed to register the kit are, however, wide of the mark, with the league confirming it was registered at the start of the season.

The Board

The board have done a lot of great things for our club over the last few years, but it seems since Dave King left they've lost sight of what's important. 

Valuing profit over results and the fans. From the ill advised Sydney Cup to failing to invest in the summer when there was an opportunity to put our boot on the throat of that lot.

Instead we were conservative, deciding to rely on a squad who had just went a full season undefeated, but in the previous 3 years had fallen apart after the New Year. 

What we've seen this year seems to be the norm, with last year being the exception. 

The kit debacle is just another, albeit minor, PR disaster for this board and questions need asked about the effectiveness of our PR team and the board as it currently operates.

I for one, as I stated on the podcast, would welcome the return of Dave King right now, but only because im angry.

Since he left he's annoyed me but not as much as the current board. Regardless of if he really should return or not, something needs to happen.

The Team

All that being said, it's important we don't overlook the team. 

Despite two wins this week they have come in very poor displays and off the back of surrendering a 2 goal lead against Motherwell this time last week.

Things need to start improving if we're going to win this league, and it will likely take 8 wins out of 8 to do that with the way the goal difference currently stands.

I'm still confident we can do it, but it won't be easy, and with a favourable draw against Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League and Dundee in the Scottish Cup I'm confident of advancing in both cups.

Until next time, I hope your team wins

The Rambling Ger

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