A HARD RAIN'S A-GONNA FALL

It was Bob Dylan's song “A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall” in which he told the music world of his meeting with 2 men of startling contrast...

“I met a young man who was wounded in love, I met another man who was wounded in hatred”

Those words could well have been written for the pantomime we see unfolding before us in Scottish Football. As the pain of thousands of Rangers fans was compounded by a BBC Documentary making a number of sensationalist revelations and allegations, it was clear that the wounds inflicted on those who love Rangers Football Club, with an undying passion, had been truly exacerbated.

This wounded love aforesaid, however was in stark contrast to an earlier news item reporting on Aberdeen supremo Stewart Milne's comments regarding how his club would vote in the event of a Newco Rangers gaining entry to the SPL.

http://player.stv.tv/programmes/news-at-six-aberdeen-north/2012-05-23-1800/

(For those interested the relevant interview is at 22:30)

This prompted a response from Chris Crighton of the Red Final Aberdeen Fanzine in which he warned Milne that both he and his peers at SPL clubs could face a backlash should Rangers be re-admitted to the SPL. Crighton even suggests Aberdeen and other clubs could lose fans forever should a Rangers Newco be re-admitted.

This melody however gathers greater meaning when one considers the results of a report commissioned by Dundee United Supporters, The Arab Trust, which demonstrated that SPL clubs (individually) are likely to lose up to £1.4 million annually, in the event of an SPL which had no Rangers.

As the report highlights...

“A reduction in income of this sort of magnitude would have a serious impact on some clubs’ ability to continue trading without drastic action being taken, assuming this is even possible for some in the time available. “

http://www.arabtrust.co.uk/current/?619-statement

In essence, Crighton, and his ilk, are so wounded by hatred that they are demanding their own and other SPL chairmen vote on a measure which will have a serious financial detriment, not only to their own clubs, but to the whole of Scottish Football. And such demands are accompanied by threat of boycott should those voting not acquiesce to such demands.

At a time when Rangers supporters would do anything to save their club is it not ironic that others would seek to damage their own in order to damage Rangers ?

One wonders how many times Crighton and his ilk can turn their heads,

Pretending he just doesn't see.

 OUR YESTERDAY IS OUR TOMORROW


Once upon a time a wise man said...

“I have been lucky — lucky in those who were around me from the boardroom to the dressing-room. In time of stress, their unstinted support, unbroken devotion to our club and calmness in adversity eased the task of making Rangers FC the premier club in this country.

To be a Ranger is to sense the sacred trust of upholding all that such a name means in this shrine of football. They must be true in their conception of what the Ibrox tradition seeks from them. No true Ranger has ever failed in the tradition set him."

Our very success, gained you will agree by skill, will draw more people than ever to see it. And that will benefit many more clubs than Rangers. Let the others come after us. We welcome the chase. It is healthy for us. We will never hide from it. Never fear, inevitably we shall have our years of failure, and when they arrive, we must reveal tolerance and sanity. No matter the days of anxiety that come our way, we shall emerge stronger because of the trials to be overcome. That has been the philosophy of the Rangers since the days of the gallant pioneers. “

Perhaps our familiarity with the greatness of these words, and their constant repetition amongst the Rangers support, causes us to fail to truly ruminate and meditate on the significance and entailment of our forefather's foresight. They are worthy of revisiting and exploration...in fact if they are to claim the greatness which we attribute to them, then they MUST give us both meaning, explanation and encouragement given our current predicament.

The first paragraph speaks of unstinted support and unbroken devotion from the boardroom to the dressing room. It is a sad reflection of the times...and the chairmanship of Sir David Murray.... that the unstinted support at boardroom level which Mr Struth alludes to..has been sadly missing in recent years. Loyalty should not be to a charismatic and ebullient owner, but solely to Rangers football club. The saying that “no man is bigger than the club” is as applicable at boardroom level as it is in the dressing room.

End of.

The second paragraph could have writers waxing lyrical for page upon page. But I will cut to the chase, because after all...we welcome it.

It bestows upon us an allegiance to a sacred trust...a kind of covenant. An adherence to a set of standards which requires an almost mystical, even ethereal understanding of our traditions, they are not written down.... but by virtue of something, way beyond this writer's understanding, they appear to be imbued in those who are called. Perhaps Mr Struth's words are epitomised in this following popular saying....

Bluenoses are born, not manufactured.
We do not choose, we are chosen.
Those who understand, need no explanation.
Those who don't understand, don't matter.

Mr Struth attested that no true Ranger had ever failed in the tradition set before him. I would respectfully suggest to you that our current predicament has come upon us because the men representing us, charged with guarding our traditions and heritage, have not been “true Rangers”. Perhaps there is a lesson here for Duff & Phelps...its not the content of your wallet which is important...but your love and understanding of the Rangers.

In essence...have you been called.

Mr Struth's third paragraph requires no vindication. The whole of Scottish football has benefited from Rangers success. In a country where our defeat of the “auld enemy” serves as an almost “opiate for the masses”..... a Wee Blue Devil and a Slim Jim were at the forefront of some of those memorable victories. Not particularly surprising for a club whose players have accrued more international caps then any other in history.

That of course takes no cognisance of the financial benefit to every Scottish club, who host the Rangers, and their travelling support, a support who have never fallen short of the traditions set for them.

“We will never hide from it. Never fear, inevitably we shall have our years of failure, and when they arrive, we must reveal tolerance and sanity. No matter the days of anxiety that come our way, we shall emerge stronger because of the trials to be overcome. That has been the philosophy of the Rangers since the days of the gallant pioneers. “

But we do fear.

Because we have deviated so far from Mr Struth's vision that we do not know what tomorrow will bring for our club.
His vision spoke of a unity from the boardroom to the dressing room. But it was more than just a unity of purpose. It was something far deeper. It spoke of men steeped in the Rangers tradition running the club from top to bottom. Men who did not choose but were chosen. Men who never failed in the tradition set them.

Mr Struth's words are not a reflection of yesteryear....they are a guarantee of our tomorrow.

The concepts of which he spoke are not our history...they are our future.

It wont happen tomorrow, or the next day, but it will come to fulfilment.

One day Rangers men, steeped in the tradition of their calling, will stand at the helm of our club.

And how will that happen ?

Because those who have and guarded and cherished the precepts from yesteryear, will ensure they become our tomorrow.

That is the power and potential of the Rangers support.

Awake and realise your potential, fulfill the traditions expected of you.

A Call To Arms

“.... You ask, What is our policy? I will say; "It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us: to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy." You ask, What is our aim? I can answer with one word: Victory - victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival. “

(Sir Winston Churchill)

When a tyrant assumes a position of leadership within a country often the people are powerless to prevent it. They suffer the ravages of such tyranny until the oppressor is overthrown and removed from power. Events in Iraq the last few years are a timely reminder.

However post tyranny you don't see the United nations seeking to punish the people of Iraq for events which they had no control over. Instead money, aid and expertise has been thrown towards them in an effort to help them re-establish themselves.

Craig Whyte assumed control of Rangers when our former owner betrayed both his previous promises as well as his sense of moral duty. The carnage which followed is now well documented.

One man's totalitarian rule at Ibrox has ravaged our club. He sold some of our cherished heritage, he banished Rangers legends making their role at Ibrox untenable, he sold star players for less than their market value and by his actions tarnished the name and reputation of Rangers Football Club. Had the SFA been more pro-active, as some in the know are suggesting they should have been, then such carnage could have been avoided. In fact if it was not proceduraly possible for them to intervene perhaps their energies should be to exploring their own constitution and procedures to ensure there is never a repeat.

In fact here's a novel, although not unique, idea. Instead of seeking to punish Rangers for the actions of one totalitarian leader, perhaps the SFA, like the United Nations are doing in Iraq, should be helping in any way they can to allow Rangers Football Club to recover and re-establish themselves, post tyranny.

Of course it's clear its not going to happen. What is happening to our club by way of punshment for the actions and conduct of Whyte is totally unfair and against the rules of natural justice. A football club which has conducted itself with honour and dignity for well over a hundred years is being punished with Draconian measures for the actions of one man during his tenure of several months.

But the arguments have been heard and the decisions have been reached. Let their unfair punishments of Rangers Football Club be the indictment. Let the unfairness and injustice of it all serve as a catalyst and motivation to every single one of us.

The Rangers supporters Groups and Assemblies who have been sitting despondent after attempts to take control of our club were doomed to fail, may have thought their chance for glory had gone. Let me tell you this there is a far greater opportunity presenting itself right in front of them. That opportunity is to channel in a united fashion the moral indignation being felt by every Bear, on mesageboard forums, supporters clubs and buses...in fact just about anywhere into an effective fighting force and protest against the injustice against our club.

They need to make sure the boycotts which are been called for ad hoc on messageboards, are directed and organised into an effective weapon and explore all other avenues for effective action.

It is the duty of every Bear, man woman or child, to step up and play when the conductors baton directs them.

The army of Rangers supporters could bring this country to a standstill should they withhold their right to work for a day. But we are talking about potential here.

Potential has to be realised and actioned, not threatened in newspapers or on messageboards.

There is the potential for Scottish Football to be turned upside down by the Rangers support acting together as one with boycotts, withdrawing support from away games etc. This is not revenge, this is about fighting for justice for our club.

And on the subject of unity – the guardians of our club need to join this protest. Withdrawal of Rangers players from representing Scotland would be a fine start. If the SFA are going to severely restrict our options on players with a transfer embargo, then why should we risk injury to those players we do have left representing a governing body who has done nothing to help, but plenty to hinder our recovery ?

I sincerely hope the leaders of our supporter's groups rise to this challenge. Behaving with dignity and decorum does not appear to be effective in fairness or justice. Perhaps a more militant response will prove more beneficial. It certainly cant be any worse. Do I really want to fill the coffers of clubs who have sought to kick us when we are down ?

It is time Bears.

The soundbites of the politicians who promised to help seem to have faded away. Its up to every one us to do our bit to help our recovery. Its also time for us to show, but more importantly exercise the same disdain towards others, as they appear to show towards us.

The time for dignified silence is over.

The time for expecting fairness and justice is over.

The SFA by their conduct and draconian punishments have unleashed a fury. A fury which only seems to grow with each passing day. Its time to channel that fury towards our enemies and those who seem indifferent to our plight.

Its time for Churchill's pledge which opened this article to be resurrected and put into practice.

If we do so with the same vigour and commitment as those whose responded to it over 70 years ago, then woe betide the enemies of our club.