Lloyds TSB have issued a statement dismissing misleading claims that they have been blocking the sale of Rangers.
Supposed saviour Craig Whyte has still to make a formal bid for Sir David Murray’s shareholding in the club but already appears to be planning his exit strategy with the finger of blame being pointed at the club’s bankers.
Claims of a £1m charge for repaying the club debt to Lloyds TSB have been widespread over the last few days with analysis thin on the ground.
Whether Whyte has the finance to fund the deal remains debatable but if the reported price of £30m for the club and a £25m warchest for new players are accurate it seems highly unlikely that a £1m charge would bring the sale of the club to a halt.
Last night a Lloyds TSB statement said: “Any potential takeover is a matter for Rangers Football Club and its shareholders.
“Suggestions that Lloyds Banking Group is blocking a deal to acquire the club are baseless and without foundation.
“We understand the concerns of Rangers’ supporters, given recent media speculation.
“Lloyds Banking Group recognises the importance of Rangers FC to its supporters, shareholders and to the wider football industry in Scotland.
“We are committed to supporting the board of Rangers FC in their plan to ensure the financial stability of the club.”
Lloyds backing for the club was demonstrated during the summer when a fee of £4m was provided for the purchase of Nikica Jelavic from Rapid Vienna.
Despite making his interest known four months ago very little is known about Whyte and claims that he is a billionaire seem wide of the mark.
Since his interest in the club emerged in November Whyte hasn’t provided a single interview or attempted to present his case to the supporters.
The contrast to the Celtic takeover in 1994 could hardly be more vivid. Back in those pre internet days it quickly came to light that Fergus McCann had emigrated to Canada owing the Croy Celtic Supporters Club seven shillings!
McCann, Brian Dempsey, Gerard Wiesfeld and Willie Haughey all made regular media appearances explaining their bids and attempting to get the supporters onside by advising them about financial problems and the need to provide a modern all-seater stadium to comply with the Taylor report.
The official silence from the Whyte camp suggests that the potential buyer is about to depart the scene with Rangers supporters left none the wiser about his offer but Lloyds TSB offered up as scapegoats.
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Funny, when i read the same story on one of the Rangers websites (i can’t remember which, they’re all just terrible..) it painted a very different story of “Big Bad Lloyds”. If Whyte is the saviour of that football club, then by the sounds of things it’ll create more problems than it solves!
Out of interest, if Whyte DOES buy the club, does he become liable in the tax case? Or would that still be Murray (clearly i have no knowledge of finance at all..)
am i missing something with this rangers debt whinge fest? can someone please explain why rangers fc and their fans are struggling to understand something as simple as borrowed money being paid back? who is to blame for rangers not running their club properly? the bank? celtic? ghandi? get a grip of reality rangers, you tax dodgers are responsible for your own actions just like everyone else on the entire planet.
It certainly shows up fat boy traynor for what he is, (I read his cringeworthy ramblings courtesy of CQN btw), nothing but a fat hunscum bag of pi*s and wind.
What an utter buffoon!!
A wee word of advice jim if you’re lurking, if you dont like the way banks operate in the UK, you know, like wanting any money they LOAN customers paid back at some point, WHY DON’T YOU JUSY PACK YOUR BAGS AND GO!!
It’s completely symbolic of the arrogant, detached-from-reality, ‘wearrapeepel’ ranting of the hordes.
The assumption that they deserve everything on a plate because they are the 2nd biggest institution in Scotland (copyright Minty Moonbeams).
The fact that they have got away with, and continue to do so, extreme vile bigotry from inside the club as well as obviously from the fans.
If they have never been held to task for these things is it any wonder they believe that they are above the laws and criticism that affects all us mere mortals.
This is why most Celtic fans hope they really will be held to task for their outrageous spending (or cheating) through the years of buying 9iar. We also face a long wait for the Sweet FA to do Sweet FA over their sickening songbook.
dont count on the sfa punishing them for singing sectarian bile, they have been given a pat on the head for not causing mayhem and stabbing celtic fans after the final, which everyone in scotland knows would have happened if they had lost.
This could turn into a classic