Tom English has ditched his ra-ra skirt and the pom-poms of his cheerleader role for the sharp suit of Salesman to big up the latest Ibrox Revolution.
Back in 2010-2012 no-one backed Craig Whyte with more energy than the then Scotsman reporter, he did the job so well that he landed a top job at BBC Scotland while circulation at The Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday accelerated off a cliff.
Just like in November 2010 when a billionaire from North Lanarkshire was unmasked, Keith Jackson has again been selected to deliver good news to the Gullible & Deluded.
At 5.45 on Wednesday the story was rolled out, within an hour the other messengers were on board to share the good news of a transformation of the ailing club, the transfer war-chest has been replaced by a ‘spending splurge’ as part of ‘multi-million pound investment’ and all the usual language.
Commercial outlets were on the story straight away, they are required to get publishing, get the news out there while at BBC Scotland they sit around scratching their chins and other body parts over who should do what.
The obvious first port of call would be a phone call to Leeds United for a reaction from Paraaq Marathe on the story, even a ‘no comment’ creates a story or Leeds United refused to comment.
Next up would be an examination of the SFA rules on duel ownership such as the link up between Hibs and Bournemouth.
Finally a resume of UEFA Sustainability Regulations would complete the picture if only to calculate the extent of the ‘spending splurge’.
Given those three options in his role as Chief Sports Writer for BBC Scotland English decided to avoid them all inn case he became the barer of bad news.
Alasdair Lamont, Kenny Macintyre, Jane Lewis and Steven Thompson were believed to be in a high state of excitement last night. As was wee Neil McCann.
The really interesting thing to take from this email, is the collaboration in fabricating a narrative to get a point across.
It’s all staged.“Tom English has said he’ll have a pop at Paul Murray… Scotsman used his comments on the back page with our responses ie. irrelevant.” pic.twitter.com/UQz9KDfDZQ
— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) August 20, 2019
Rather than carry out some basic checks on the story, a task that commercial publishers can be excused from, English decided on his favoured route of laziness, reheating bits of other reports without making any kind of commitment.
The phrases ‘broad agreement’, ‘expected to be completed’ ‘it is understood’ and ‘there appears to be general agreement’ confirms that English hasn’t a clue about the fiction launched by the Daily Record.
A deal between April and June ties in nicely with Season Ticket renewals, keep the excitement bubbling along with scope for it to fall through as pesky details are uncovered like the ‘Wee Tax Case’ in 2011.
Who knows the full extent of the loans owed to Douglas Park and John Bennett? English certainly won’t be digging for bad news.
In his trademark lazy fashion, on the BBC Scotland website English claims:
A takeover of Rangers involving the San Francisco 49ers’ investment wing is expected to be completed between April and June, sources close to negotiations have said.
There is “broad agreement” between all parties, with current shareholders expected to sell all, or part, of their stake in the club in the coming months.
The prospective owners would acquire more than 50% of the Rangers shares while taking on the debt, much of it owed to former chairman John Bennett.
Paraag Marathe, the Leeds United chairman and the force behind 49ers Investments, the investment wing of the 49ers NFL franchise, is a key player in the prospective Rangers takeover.
English added:
It is understood that Dave King, the largest individual shareholder in Rangers, is supportive of the takeover.
The South Africa-based businessman spoke last year about how he believed “investor fatigue” had set in at the Scottish Premiership club.
While other members of the board have not seen eye to eye with King on many issues in the recent past, there appears to be general agreement on the need for new energy and new money at the club.
The current Rangers board see Marathe and his team as “serious people” who have a track record in reviving underperforming sporting institutions, which is how they see Rangers in a changing footballing landscape.
BBC Scotland would have been as well asking Jonathan Watson to slip into Kenny Dalglish mode and say ‘mibbes aye, mibbes naw’
That level of insight could have been supplied by a school pupil on work experience at the BBC five minutes after Jackson’s Daily Record masterpiece was published.
Back in 2010 English was kept in the media loop by Team Whyte, he kept backing him even after the Daily Record had given up but 15 years later it is clear that there is no need to keep Succulent Tam in the picture.
?? “Come and get us”
Rangers fans react to news a takeover of the club involving the San Francisco 49ers’ investment wing could happen.#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/NNVPMhAi3P
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) February 20, 2025
Old ‘ house Paddy ‘ was in a rather jolly , jovial mood on the radio after the Celtic result in Germany on Tuesday. He and the presenter of Sportsound.. MC Intyre , were having a whale of a time ..cracking wise and long .I wonder what caused their joy and sheer happiness at their work ?
The prospective owners would acquire more than 50% of the Rangers shares while TAKING on the debt, much of it owed to former chairman John Bennett.
Interesting choice of word there
Taking on the debt and not clearing or paying .
I’m assured that Douglas Parks has loans way in excess of Bennet…Just sayin’…Cheers.
Celtic goin out of The Champions League Perhaps be the reason Valentines !
What we are witnessing is the final nail in the coffin of journalism. Whatever the truth of the matter is regarding the latest feelgood story involving the current Ibrox club we are certainly not going to get anything from the fanboy media other than sentences which begin with
“It is understood”
“As one insider close the the action has revealed”
What follows is the first thing that they pull out of their arse.
This kind of reporting is on a par with
“A taxi driver told me he dropped (fill in any name you like) at the airport and …”
You can get this type of stuff in any boozer you walk into, or indeed if you are off the piss or simply can’t be bothered going up the pub, just make the whole thing up for yourself.
Even if this story has some legs, the Boy that Cried Wolf fame of what masquerades as football reporting in Scotland should simply elicit yawns from a discerning public until a direct quote attributed to a real person can be produced.
How’s the soup, Uncle Tom?
Any story to take Celtic off the headlines there hurting like caged bears if the yanks wait a little longer they’ll get for the same price Craig whyte got it for £1
A dollar…less than a pound.
Lol rattling up debts month after month after month,shoving confetti shares out there like there’s no tomorrow to survive.
Meanwhile the 49s sit back and watch the debt build up from now until whenever they decide to takeover,knowing each passing day and month they will be het for debt piling up,aye so they fuckin will.
I blame the schools.
Funny the dates put out for the takeover eh,just as season books are due fir renewal,Criag Whyte’s stuntman appears from America to save the day.
The thing is Squint Eastwood appears to be very quiet at this particular time,hence the story being a load of SHITE,he was offloading to some nickel&dime team of supporters his shares no so long ago desperately wanting them to gave them,the wanks sorry the yanks don’t seem to be on King the CHISLERS radar.
If it is true, it is only worrying because Celtic have no-one willing to stand up and speak for them. The cheating will be “off the radar” as according to reports ( I know, I know ) the Americans are interested in the Champion’s League money,
It certainly won’t be ‘Daddy’ Lawwell and Lord Lucan-Nicholson sticking up for us for sure Charlie…
These Bastards have NEVER stood up For Celtic in Scotland !
Two hundred articles a day for the next month of nothing but conjecture
Only for those that are mental enough to financially fund them Harold…
It certainly won’t be me for sure !
Tom “cut & paste” English at his finest! An article devoid of substance or even opinion, it is little more than verbal pollyfilla for their website.
Luv that ‘verbal pollyfilla’. First time I’ve heard it, belter.
In the absence of any direct quote from the ‘alleged buyer’, it’s just SMSM mince!
And sevco wouldn’t pass any cursory checks from an investment firm.
But, it does beg the question: why does sevco need this wild distraction now…?
Clear season ticket season again
How gullible are the gullibillies?
Stop Press. The BBC Chief Sports Reporter could after all be right about a side from Glasgow winning all the domestic trophies … and going on a good run in the Champions League.
He just got the wrong team!
Why have the Americans approached not approached dermot as Celtic are actually turning a profit year in year out and actually win games in the Champions league ?
The anticipated 49er Enterprises purchase of the Blue Bags is the best news for Glasgow football Fans.
There will be a total buy-out, clean-out and complete management structures installed. That’s how they operate. No sinecures for Legends as Ambassadors. Important News provided as Press Releases via Club web site. No knocking on doors by Ally, Hugh, Keith, Bazza and Co. Paraag Marathe does not talk to the Press. Positions based on merit and certainly not on sectarian alignment. Jed York educated at Notre Dame University. His mother, Denise DeBartolo York educated at St Mary’s College. Being a member of the Knights of Columbus means nothing, if the person is incompetent. You know what I mean! If they believe the Rangers Brand has diminishing value, a name change is possible. I suggest Columba’s Football Club. That will get up their bloody blue noses.