They never learn, they just never learn…
Even by the usual hyperbolic, desperate standards of the Daily Record, this latest piece of “journalism” regarding the residents of Snake Mountain is a new low. However, much like substandard mince from the butcher’s, so long as people keep buying it, the Daily Record and their team of sycophantic stenographers will keep producing it.
So, the Daily Debunk, here on ACSOM.net may well become a regular series, unless the standards of Scottish mainstream journalism take a sudden and highly unexpected turn for the better.
So, what am I ranting about?
Another “Exclusive” Built on Hearsay
In an exclusive published yesterday, the Daily Record alleged that the group that owns the San Francisco 49ers American Football franchise is about to make a multi-million pound investment in Rangers.
The fact that this comes mere hours after one of Celtic’s best performances in Europe for years is, of course, entirely coincidental, I’m sure.
The story is, naturally, utter nonsense. However, like many of the crayon scribblings that pass for journalism at the Daily Record these days, there’s enough innuendo and “anonymous sources from down south” to construct a semi-convincing narrative. A narrative that the ever-desperate Ibrox hoardes will buy into with gusto. And predictably, that’s exactly what they’ve done.
Debunked in Minutes
You will no doubt be unsurprised that even for a semi-professional journalist such as myself, it took a grand total of about 15 minutes of research to debunk this non-story in it’s entirety.
First of all, there are no named sources in the story. That should draw immediate suspicion. Instead, there is an implied connection to Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe.
Again no evidence is given, beyond, “we think this guy might be involved with a group that wants to buy a stake in Rangers”.
Now remember, you or I could buy a stake in Rangers right now if we so wished. In fact, at 40p a share its cheaper than a trip to the lavvy in Queens Street Station.
I’ll leave it to you to judge which is the more worthwhile investment.
UEFA Wants a Word
Rangers boardroom is also as divided as their supporters seem to be these days. No individual owns more than 13 percent of the club, and that holding gets diluted every time they have another share issue to pay next month’s gas bill.
So, a takeover would be messy, and highly impractical. These people can’t even agree on how to get rid of Phillipe Clement, so I highly doubt they could agree on selling their combined shareholdings to anyone.
Then, there’s the small matter of UEFA. It doesn’t matter if you think you are “the people” or how many times you scream “no surrender”, European footballs governing body has rules that stop any massive cash injection over and above the business’s current turnover.
Saying “but it’s the Rangers” might be enough to get your new club admitted to the 4th tier of Scottish football, but it will get you nowhere in Switzerland.
Also, the San Francisco 49ers are, ultimately, owned by the York family. Leeds United’s chairman is but one tiny cog in their huge capitalist machine. The Yorks are worth $6 billion by latest estimates, if they really wanted to buy Rangers, they could, but we know they won’t.
Above All Else it Doesn’t Make Business Sense
And this brings me to the main reason why this story is nonsensical, and these “late-stage negotiations” will ultimately lead nowhere.
Rangers are a toxic brand. A significant portion of their fanbase routinely sing racist and sectarian songs at every game. Their fan “ultra” group the union bears, when they aren’t indulging in their fetish for Smurf cosplay, frequently express far right anti-immigrant political views. Nazi banners have been seen at Rangers matches on more than one occasion this season.
Despite what some may tell you, fascism isn’t a sound business investment. It’s bad PR, and that is why no-one with any semblance of a public image to consider wants anything to do with Ibrox or its current occupants.
And that’s before we even look at the fact that this is a business that continues to hemorrhage money on a monthly basis. Their stadium is crumbling, the playing squad has little, if any resale value.
Any potential new revenue streams from the footballing department are shut off by the fact that they play in Scotland, and for as long as Celtic allow it, they will remain, at best, in 2nd place.
Daily Record Continues to Bank on Fan Gullibility
So, why would any serious businessperson invest in a business that makes a significant loss, has a reputation for defaulting on its debts, a dilapidated stadium populated in no small part by entitled and angry right-wing extremists, with no clear avenue to move away from any of these problems?
The simple answer is: they won’t. I know it, you know it and the Daily Record knows it.
What the tabloid hacks are banking on is a fanbase that are too lazy, too ignorant and too desperate for a return to “the good old days” to see they are being scammed.
I know plenty of decent people who happen to support Rangers. They are not stupid. The Daily Record is playing a dangerous game by continuing to assume they are.