Stars ‘must be sold’ to balance the Ibrox books
R angers managing director Stewart Robertson admits the club will have to sell off some of Steven Gerrard's star players next summer to balance the books.
The Ibrox club announced £15.9 million losses in their annual accounts earlier this month and need to raise up to £24 million by the end of next season to fill a black hole in their finances.
R angers’ revenue streams have risen significantly on the back of the £21million Gerrard's team raised with their run to the last 32 of the Europa League last season.
But Rob er tson admits the Ibrox boss will be forced to let some of his key men go in a bid to balance the books.
Speaking at the club's virtual AGM, he said: "We're delighted to report that revenue came in at just under £60million, which has probably trebled in the five years since the current board took over, so we're delighted with the progress.
"Really there are four main pillars to the revenue. You've got your season ticket income, which nudged up by over £1million and we're delighted that the fans have stood by us again by selling out our season tickets.
"Our commercial revenues are growing at a pace under James Bis grove, while the third pillar is our European income. That's where we saw the largest growth in the 19/20 accounts due to our run to the last 16 of the Europa League.
That demonstrate show important regular participation in the group stages and the latter rounds of Europe really is to us.
"The last pillar is player trading. We don't have much at all in that regard but what we do have, which we haven't had to the same extent is a real value in the squad.
"We know that in time a key part of our business model means that we have to facilitate an increase in income by trading players. We have to really focus on that over the next 12 months.
"We know as a club we've made a lot of progress in a lot of areas but that area is one we're really focused on.
"We know for the business model of the club we need to start moving one or two players a year.
"It won't be a big turn over in the squad but that is something we need to do and something we're really focused on for the summer."
But vice chairman John Bennett insists the Gers board have already proved they will not accept any old bid after knocking back interest in Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent over the summer.
The director-who along with chairman Douglas Park has vowed to cover the club's cashflow shortfall - told shareholders: "One thing is clear we don't want to sell them at values that don't reflect their full and fair value and you've seen that last year to bids for our players. It has to reflect our valuation. And if that is the case, we'll have a decision to make.”
Just over 24 hours after Gerard Houllier’s death was announced, it was no surprise that the raw emotion in Steven Gerrard’s voice was still palpable as he paid tribute to his former Liverpool manager.
For Gerrard, the Frenchman who arrived at An field in 1998 was so much more than just a coach.
Houllier was the biggest prof essional and personal influence on a career which saw Gerrard captain both Liverpool and England.
Their bond remained a close one and Houllier’s role as a mentor for G err a rd was maintained when he moved into management with R angers in the summer of 2018.
"I was lucky and blessed to work with Gerard because he wasn’t just a coach,” said Gerrard.
“He was someone who was like a father tome from a football point of view.
"He was my football father from the moment I turned professional.
"I’ve got a lot of respect for all the coaches I worked with but he’s ‘the one’ because he played the biggest role in shaping me and my Liverpool career.
"He remained very interested in what we are doing here at R angers.
"His relationship with my assistant Gary Mcallister, who was also at Liverpool under him, was very strong as well.
“He was very keen on being as upport in anyway, shape of form.
"He was more interested than anyone else in how we were doing here. I can’t tell you how much interest he had in my development as a coach and a manager.
“The relationship has been strong since day one.
"I spoke to him just a couple of weeks ago and I’d spoken to him in the summer.
“There was a difference in the way he sounded, compared to when I played under him.
"He obviously had a big operation back when we played, which was well documented.
“He was getting older and a little bit frail in his voice. But it was still very unexpected and still very much a shock to hear the news yesterday.
“Even though there was a difference a few weeks ago, he was still very enthusiastic and up beat, laughing and jo king on the phone.
“Basically, still giving me soundbites of advice on what I’ m doing at R angers.
"He will be a real big loss tome from a personal point of view and I know there are an awful lot of other people in the game feeling the same.”
Houllier oversaw one of the most memorable seasons of G errard’s career when Liverpool, after a period which had seen a significant downturn in their for tunes, won a memorable treble of the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup in 2000 - 01.
It is the kind of revitalisation that G err a rd is now trying to effect at Rangers as he looks to end their decade -long wait for major silverware.
"Gerard, for sure, turned Liverpool back into a winning team ,” added Gerrard.
“He brought a culture and a philosophy into the club and it was the right thing to do. Part of the club was broken at the time, the standards weren’t good enough.
“He brought the winning mentality and culture back. For sure, that’s what we are trying to do here at R angers.
“They are different scenarios. Liverpool at the time was a lot different to when I walked in the door at R angers.
"I actually think the challenge here is much bigger, but for sure Gerard Houllier was a winner. His culture and philosophy helped him to become a winner.
“We are hoping one day, by putting the right things in place on and off the pitch at Rangers and bringing in players who understand those standards and can deliver on them, to turn this club into a winning one as well. Gerard has left a huge legacy for me, but not as much in what I’m trying to become, because there is a level of coach and people I worked for and there’ s no way I can become them.
"I can’t become Gerard Houllier, or Rafa Beinitez or Fabio Cape l lo or these coaches who are incredi - ble people as well as high level managers.
"I have to be myself but, for sure, I have to steal ideas and use methods and ways I believe are right ways with players – and add them to what I’m trying to become.
“Gerard gave me load sand loads of advice. The main piece
of advice was to be myself and do it my own way. Try and learn as much as I can.
"Lean on people at the right time, don’ t do it all on your own–be your own man but use the people throughout your career who you trust and believe into take sound bite sand advice from.
"He was always there on the end of a phone. If I wanted to set up a certain way, if I was up against a certain oppo - nent, if I was unsure in any shape or form, he was the type of person
I could pick a phone up to and bounce anything off.
"He had time for people, he knew when you needed telling, he knew when you needed some home truths and to be disciplined.
"But he also knew when you needed him, when you needed a shoulder, when you needed some care and some love and he was an absolute magician at picking and choosing his moments.
"S o, yeah, he’s a big loss that is really tough to take and still is to day, but hopefully he is resting in peace just now.”