The FC Barcelona model

Should Rangers not take this opportunity to change the whole business model used for the running of the club and emulate the likes of FC Barcelona?

Running the club as a not-for-profit business, with a members system like Barcelona's 170,000 socios would generate cash every year in membership fees. If these membership fees were say £50 per season that would generate tax free cash every season on over £8 million quid. This 50 quid would give the member voting rights and accountability over the management of the club. Interestingly at FC Barcelona 2,500 of these socios are selected at random every season to attend the AGM and major votes, this avoids the opportunity for political cliques to form and helps the well-oiled machine run smoothly.

After some significant restructuring, the day to day running costs of the club would be met with ticket sales, merchandising, food and other commercial activities, sponsorship etc. and, being a non-profit, would not be liable for much of the taxes that have been a burden to the current Rangers business model.

Maybe I am being too simplistic in my analysis, but surely to run the club for the club's supporters instead of trying to make money for wealthy playboys is the way forward and would avoid the shiznet we have seen over the past couple of years ever occurring again...

We can only hope.