Work colleague- You listening to the Real Radio phone-in?
Me - Nah, some of us have work to do
WC - Haw it's me yer talking to
Me - Right, what's happening?
WC - launches into a spiel about the Famine Song and the garbage Real Radio are peddling on the back of the BBC Scotland tea time hatchet job.
Later on we talked in person and I had asked what Rangers official response to all of this was? I was soon put to the wise and whilst the club's weasel words were vomit inducing, they were hardly surprising and no more than were to be expected from Captain Cave-in and his motley crew of ne'erdowells.
After dragging the carcass home, there was only one question in mind. Was logging onto the messageboard to find out the reaction from the support, the night before (Monday) more important than a bowl of Corn Flakes?
To my surprise the majority of posters seemed to be adamant that a line had been drawn in the sand with that night's MOPEry. The offended bar had now been raised to a new unimagined (even for that lot) height etc, etc. Enough is enough seemed to be the mood of the people.
I'm not so sure though. You see there have been people on here for all of the lifetime of this website pointing out the dangers of turning the other cheek; whether it be to a yahoo driven agenda by the press, by NBM or by politicians. By and large all of these warnings have received a mixed reaction at best and veiled insult the more likely outcome.
I suppose I should be glad that more and more people are getting on line with the message that the people at the top of the Ibrox tree are the problem. I'm just sad that it took an over the top reaction to a silly, wee song to rouse the support from its slumber. That is if the general consensus of the FF boards is indicative of a mood swing in the camp. And they know what they say about this website and the percentage of who or what it represents?
To complicate matters still further, Martin Bain sought to clarify the situation with a statement last night (Tuesday). My reaction to that statement is quite simple; 'Martin, please, please, please give up the day job and the sooner the better!'
Just what are we to make of the following; "The club also approached the police following the recent old firm match over a number of issues including violent threats to our staff and fans. The issue of The Famine Song was raised AGAIN by the club and consideration was given to a joint public statement being made to advise supporters that singing 'The Famine Song' would put them at the risk of arrest as we had been informed."
Words fail me here (well nearly). We as a club make a complaint to the police on behalf of as to how our own fans were treated at CP but then give Plod carte blanche to jail us by highlighting a separate issue altogether? If nothing else it once again shows the mindset that is all pervading up the Marble staircase.
What I'm now going to say will most probably appeal to the Lord Ho-Ho's who frequent the board in ever increasing numbers. But after reading that part of MB's statement and adding in perceived talk of the SPL getting involved regards the singing of TFS; I am now firmly convinced that the Murray and Co would gladly take a fine or even a deduction of points to try and ostracise the very lifeblood of the club.
For good measure he then goes onto say "In recent times, the absence of sanction or attention directed at any other club supports the contention that this is very much a one way street." Sherlock Holmes eat yer heart out.
Martin, just in case you are reading this. Of course it is a one way street, and there is a very simple explanation as to why that is the case. It is because of the negligence and apathy from those in positions of power at Ibrox to confront these recurring issues that we find ourselves in the position we are in at present.
The continuing refusal to confront Rangers hating filth head on at every opportunity has left us hung out to dry for anyone and their dog that harbours a grudge against our club.
As I said earlier, the mood of the website seems to be that of 'no more Mr Nice Guy.' So what are we looking for, or should be looking for from the club from here on in?
Well the cynic in me believes, if normal service is resumed between the club and the press in the run up to Sunday's SPL fixture against Motherwell. And by that I mean Messrs Smith and McCoist treat BBC Scotland journalists with the same courtesy as the rest of the press, then I reckon it is safe to say that the Ibrox ostrich is alive and kicking.
Which is, no matter the scale of lies told about us - for instance Cameron on Real Radio allowed the famine song to be compared with us singing songs about the Holocaust to Spurs fans (Mr Edgar take note) we will still accept all the mud slung at us. Not only that we will gladly go against our own fans, and Bain then has the audacity to claim he's issued the statement for our own good?
But let's get back to the power behind the throne. People better start getting their heads focussed on the main agenda that needs to be addressed at Ibrox and that is the removal of the absentee landlord from our club. But there should be no illusions here, if you truly believe David Murray has to go, (and he does) then so must all the people at Ibrox who are there to prop him up in his current position.
You cannot say 'Murray Out, but hey Ally's my hero, or Watties a legend.' If there was no one at Ibrox prepared to stick their head above the parapet in conditions such as those we have encountered this week, (and there weren't) then we are entitled to ask when exactly will they stick up for us? And I think we all know the answer to that one.
Yours, looking back on another sad, sickening but entirely predictable few days in the life of a once proud institution.
The Govanhill Gub.