Stuart Bathgate: Craig Whyte’s hopes of a comeback look like wishful thinking
Craig Whyte: return to Ibrox may be unlikely. Picture: SNS
Welcome mat unlikely to await return of absent Rangers owner, writes Stuart Bathgate
Craig Whyte’s decision to stay away from Ibrox on Saturday was taken with regret, according to the man himself. He was “taking a step back from events”, a statement in his name explained, because he did not wish to “become a distraction”. It was a self-denying ordinance made necessary by events, he insisted, adding: “I would dearly love to be at the game”.
The implication of the statement was clear. Once this painful but necessary process called administration is over, once Rangers have re-emerged leaner and healthier and happier, Whyte will be back to cheer on the club he has supported man and boy.
The disbelief of others, however, has been equally evident. For them, this was no temporary measure, but the first of a long series of absences which will stretch to infinity, if not beyond.
“Whyte’s away” was the headline in one paper yesterday. “He won’t be back,” the sub-head read, while the intro contained the suggestion that Whyte was “highly unlikely” to ever return.
The scepticism of that report is wholly understandable. Whyte’s statement included a number of assertions about Rangers which have yet to be verified, so why should we believe the implication that he will be back as soon as possible?
There is no reason, really, to lend any credence to Whyte’s words. But his actions are a different matter – and those actions, over the past seven months rather than just the past seven days, suggest that he will be desperate to remain involved.
It is perfectly possible for someone to buy a football club solely for financial reasons – not very likely, but possible. And in that case, it is wholly conceivable that the purchaser in question could stay away from the ground, an absentee landlord whose interest in the product on the park did not extend beyond the effect the results had on the club’s balance sheet.
Whyte may have bought Rangers from Sir David Murray primarily with the aim of making a profit, but that was surely not his only aim. If it was, he would not have placed himself so eagerly at the centre of the club’s visible life.
He had probably not missed a single match this season before Saturday, having attended Rangers’ games both home and away. And, having declared himself to be a lifelong Rangers supporter, what more pleasant duty could there have been for him than hoisting the league flag during the first match of the new campaign at Ibrox?
To behave like that, and then walk away without a qualm, would be highly unusual. That kind of dissociation between public behaviour and private feeling is rare even in accomplished actors.
Whyte gave every impression that he was living the dream. To act in that way, and then court opprobrium by shunning Rangers games, makes no sort of sense. It is unnecessary, inefficient and counterproductive. Even the most coldblooded of businessmen would recognise that.
Whyte may well think he is more clever than everyone else around him, and if he emerges from this crisis with a profit he may be proven correct. But there is probably also an element of wishful thinking in the way he has acted: a part of him that wants that cleverness to be acknowledged by the wider public. A part which hopes, despite everything, that the Rangers support will welcome him back with open arms once this long dark night of their collective soul is over.
But is it possible for someone, once they have been so vilified, to make such a comeback? Is it preferable to stay away or stick it out?
There are recent precedents in Scottish football for both approaches. Across the city from Ibrox, Michael Kelly was a member of the Celtic board which in 1994 eventually ceded control of the club to Fergus McCann after a bitter battle. Vilified by many fans both before and after the takeover, the former Lord Provost of Glasgow is rarely sighted these days at the ground where he once held sway.
At Tynecastle, conversely, the former chairman and chief exeutive Chris Robinson remains a regular attender at matches. The Hearts official once needed around 30 police, assisted by dogs, to get out of his own stadium one night, as supporters let him know of their anger at his agreement to sell the ground to developers. But he kept going to games then, and although he has remained a hate figure for many Hearts fans long after his sale of the club to Vladimir Romanov, he can still be seen in the directors’ box at most games.
Both Kelly and Robinson took their clubs to the brink of major changes which were opposed by the majority of supporters, and it is arguably only thanks to the emergence of McCann and Romanov that Celtic and Hearts escaped the fate which has befallen Rangers under Whyte. But the example of Robinson does at least show that it is possible for a leading official to be massively unpopular yet still go to his team’s games both during and after a crisis in the club’s life.
Will Whyte feel able to return to Ibrox, even if and when Rangers are out of administration and restored to something approaching rude health? He may well want to, but that return to health will probably not be enough in itself.
He will need to accrue a fair amount of credit along the way, and become, if not exactly revered, at least accepted as the man who set Rangers on the path to a better future. But right now, such acceptance looks a long way off.
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Comments
There are 26 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
media4one
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:36 PMCarson's Army - True, Celtic is by foundation a Catholic Club and religiously motivated but no reason to see CFC as a big bad organisation. The world knows the bitterness that exists between the two fan-bases one look at the terraces during any game will explain that - Union Jacks versus Irish Tri-Colours not a Saltire in sight explains how deep rooted the hate goes. And whilst they fight and swear and spit at each other the directors and players of both clubs sit in a lounge swapping stories and enjoying a civilised drink with each other.
SeeEmmEss
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:33 PM#23 Sectarianism is part of the ethos of most religious sects. If they didn't believe they were the only "true christians", there would be no need for the sects in the first place. I have had many online debates with christians of all sorts who believe they and their sect are the only true christians, the others all being heathens, pagans or satan-worshippers. Much as I despise the RCC, they don't have a monopoly on anathematising outsiders.
SeeEmmEss
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:29 PM#22 I wasn't making a deep comparison of the details of each situation, merely pointing out the absurdity of media's attitude. The "dogs blacks and Irish" may be a myth, but I personally saw "No Travellers" signs in pubs in Hackney in the late 1980s. When I asked how they could tell who was a "traveller", landlords invariably told me something along the lines of "from their Irish accents".
Carson 's Army 1912
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:25 PMIn modern Britain a Protestant school teacher can be employed in an apartheid RC school, but he cannot become Head Teacher. If this was a sex, age, colour issue their would be outrage, Sectarianism is part of the ethos of the RC church. According to their supreme leader they are the only true christian church and the rest of us are heathens.
Carson 's Army 1912
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:17 PM19# That is a really pathetic attempt at comparison. The Nazi's policy was the extermination of the jews. Blacks did want to join the SA government, Women did want to vote, As for you Dogs , Blacks and Irish Comment, another myth perpetrated by the chip on the shoulder brigade, saying that, Some people used to plant bombs in pubs in the 1970s in attempt to murder and maim innocent people.
Carson 's Army 1912
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:09 PM13# A bit of fresh air and you make valid points, Rangers were set up by 4 young boys because of their love of the game. Celtic were established in 1888 as a Catholic club for Catholic people, Roman Catholics wanted to play for Celtic. Working class Protestants drifted towards Rangers. RC players have refused Rangers because they feared a backlash from their fellow catholics. It is very evident where sectarianism really exists in Scottish Football
media4one
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:09 PMSeeEMess 19 - Exactly! And since Rangers stopped that practice 20 years ago but the RCC has not it would appear Bunter has some explaining to do.
SeeEmmEss
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:38 AMmedia4one in 1930s Germany: "Jews don't want to join the Nazi party. If their policy is NO JEWS why not respect their policy?" media4one in apartheid South Africa: "Blacks don't want to join the SA government. If their policy is NO BLACKS why not respec their policy?" media4one in early 20th century Britain: "Women don't want to vote. If the policy is NO WOMEN, why not respect their policy". media4one in 1970s London: "Dogs, Blacks and Irish don't want to drink in this pub. If their policy is NO DOGS NO BLACKS NO IRISH why not respect their policy. Me, here, now: "media4one doesn't want to take part in reasonable discussion. If my policy is NO MEDIA4ONE, why not respect my policy?"
Shettlestonian
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:32 AMSorry, cut off the broony - \o
The Diplomat
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:31 AMRe#2 and Gordon Smith - the man is invisible! Strange for a Chief Exec (let alone Gordon Smith) to be so low profile on this issue.
Shettlestonian
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:31 AM@9 Bunter. No, Bunter. We are all Jock Stein's bairns. \o
Rambo the Jambo
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:06 AM#4 - vladhibs - If your only view of Edinburgh rivalry is termed as hatred then you do not deserve to call yourself a Hibs fan. Hatred never entered into Edinburgh football until your kind started posting abuse. I have family and childhood friends who support Hibs. Do I 'hate' them or the team they support? No. Hang your head in shame.
Magnum
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:04 AMIf Craig Whyte had put a bit of money in to transfers and kept the club going until the bitter end of an unpayable tax bill then he could have been a hero. Instead, he has put the club into admin, blown 4iar, spent hee-haw on transfers and has failed in an attempt to scam Ticketus, his days are numbered at Rangers.
media4one
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 10:37 AMBunter: Your post is pathetic. As a former Roman Catholic I never wanted to play for Rangers anyway so why would I or anyone of my creed want them to open their doors to my kind? Are you for real? If their policy was NO CATHOLICS then why not respect that policy? I know for sure the school my mum, granny, aunts and uncles went to was strictly NO PROTESTANTS and it was something religion asked us to respect. I know The Vatican does not look at Protestants for position of Pope or Cardinal yet we are asked to respect such wishes. At the end of the day you chose to place your faith in 11 men on a park and you gave them special powers to represent every fabric of your being, if those 11 men have failed to earn you more bragging rights than the men who place THEIR faith in their team that is your problem not theirs and no matter what religious barriers were in place the title haul is still the title haul and cannot be questioned. Personally speaking I find the SPL embarrassing and pointless due to the utter lack of competition and the lack of talent on display, if you wish to continue watching it do so, but stop pretending you want to play for Rangers as a Catholic when you clearly don't based on your own religious beliefs. lol
WBB
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 10:28 AMAs a Hearts fan I think what saddens me the most in all this debacle is that Celtic supporters, and others including my own teams no doubt, are missing one key point in all this when thet sing "Lets all laugh at Rangers". There may well be job losses, and not just first team players going who have made small fortunes out of the game and will no doubt get another club with big pay deals, but it could well be honest guys in the clubs backroom staff, young pro footballers who may not get another club, admin staff, catering staff and so on. Yeah it is easy to pile on the misery but in all of this take time out and give a few minutes thought to what could become a fair number of lower paid, innocent people being made redundant. Or are we all so full of hate that we miss this point? I am totally against what RFC have stood for in the past and the minority who continue to do so now. But come on losing your job in this economic climate definately not good.
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