The state of Rangers Football Club.

 

So where did it all go wrong for Rangers Football Club?

Since venture capitalist Craig Whyte acquired Sir David Murray’s 85.3% shares in the Scottish champions in May 2011, the club were doomed before they knew it when he took over the club for just £1.

This is the story of Rangers downfall.

Predecessor Murray was owner of Rangers from 1988 - 2011, after a £6,000,000 takeover from Nevada-based Lawrence Marlborough. During his time at the Glasgow club, Murray oversaw Rangers win nine consecutive league championships from 1989-1997, during the period of when Graeme Souness (1986-1991) was in charge.

Walter Smith took charge (1991-1998) and a new training complex was built, an idea that Murray thought that the club would see Rangers’ mount a serious challenge in European glory. The club went on to win two more League titles and three cups. Despite their glory, the costs soon started to build up.

“For every five pounds Celtic spend, we will spend ten.” This was the statement Murray made that would soon become the avalanche of Rangers’ debt problems.

Manager Dick Advocaat replaced Walter Smith after Celtic won the SPL and he went crazy with big name signings joining the Ibrox club such as Paul Gascoigne (reported fee of £4.3m), Ronald de Boer (£4.5m) and Tore Andre Flo (£12m) during the 2000/2001 season.

Advocaat’s reign ended when Celtic won the title back in 2001, and Rangers’ were soon reaching debts of up to £50,000,000. Murray sanctioned the Employee Benefit Trusts (EBT). This was to minimise the club’s tax liabilities for employment.

The problem was with the this tax strategy was that it was meant to be used for non-contractual payments to employees.

In 2002, with doubts totalling up to £80,000,000, Murray stood down as Chairman and handed over to John McClelland.

Murray returned just two years later looking to clear off the debts that were owed, looking to pump in £57,000,000 to reduce any outstanding debts. Only £51,000,000 were raised, but underwritten however and it was transferred off Rangers’ books and into his company, Murray International Holdings (MIH).

Murray revealed in 2006 that he was considering in cutting ties with the Scottish club and was quoted saying: “It's not a 'For Sale' sign per se, but obviously I don't want to do this forever.”

Fast forward amidst the crisis the club themselves in and in 2011, Murray sold his shares to Wavetower Limited, owned by the company Liberty Capital, ultimately owned by Craig Whyte.

Who is Craig Whyte? In a nutshell, Whyte is a Scottish businessman brought up in a business orientated family, and at just 15, after taking an interest in financial markets, it is reported that the teenager made more than £20,000 buying and selling shares before he left school.

He went on to own his plant-hire company called Whyte Hire. But in the early 1990’s the business went bankrupt with debts reported to be around £300,000.

At just 26, he was Scotland’s youngest self-made millionaire. After selling off most of his businesses, he moved to Monaco. He soon returned back to the United Kingdom, returning to London as a venture capitalist.

He become the head of London based company Liberty Capital, a business that specialises in turning around distressed businesses and eventually selling them on, despite it being dangerous, he made it a successful business.

His purchase of Rangers Football Club for £1 was not taken lightly, despite then manager Walter Smith welcoming Whyte’s takeover saying that it would “bring stability to the club.”

Whyte said he would clear off the overdraft of £18,000,000 owed to Lloyds TSB but there were immediate doubts. The uncertainties of the businessman’s ability to provide funds for the football club were soon echoed by former board members Alistair Johnston and Paul Murray. The history of the Scot is misty and far from bright and his murky past was exposed by BBC Scotland’s documentary Rangers: The Inside Story, which was aired in October 2011.

The documentary claimed that Whyte had illegally been a ‘de facto’ director of a company called Re-Tax during a seven year period in which he was banned from doing so.

Convicted fraudster and a well known associate of Whyte, Kevin Sykes was the ‘fake auditor’, who looked to sell off the company before it was wound up in 2003.

The allegations were supported from a member of Insolvency Service and was revealed that he was banned after his previous company, Vital Holdings Ltd, failed to produce satisfactory accounts.

This was followed by various other acts that lead to his ban such as claiming he had made a payment to Inland Revenue, to which they say they still have not yet received the £100,000 that was owed.

Back to the takeover of Rangers FC, Whyte waltzed in to Ibrox, with his past thought to be rosy, and considered to be a saviour to the Scottish giants.

On his purchase, Whyte said at the time: “Obviously I'm a massive Rangers fan and have been since I was a boy. I'm here first and foremost because I'm a Rangers supporter. I also see a great opportunity and think that Rangers can be a great worldwide brand. I believe there are many commercial activities that can be expanded on.”

Whyte planned to clear off Rangers’ £18,000,000 overdraft to Lloyds TSB and provide a working capital, which seemed to have convinced everyone involved with the club.

Former Chairman Alistair Johnston, along with former Chief Executive Paul Murray who were booted out by Whyte, expressed their concerns soon after they were removed from the board.

Bitter? You can see where Johnston and Murray were coming from. The £33,000,000 that Whyte pledged to put in to the club to help clear the overdraft  apparently went and sold the future rights for Rangers’ season tickets to a company called Ticketus. 

Where was the money? The greater chances were that he never had the funds to pump in to the football club and no overdraft was cleared, plunging the club into greater financial crisis.

The growing problem had only just begun, and as we fast forward to today, and today the overall debt is monumental.

HM Revenue and Customs are owed £93,000,000. This relates to the big and small tax cases, unpaid VAT and PAYE.

Other football clubs are owed money it seems, with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, Celtic and Dundee United being a select group of teams that are waiting to be owed.

Reports from the BBC state that Ticketus are now owed £26,700,000, debenture owners (fans who loaned money to the club) are totalled up to £7,700,000.

Other funded bodies are also owed, such as the Strathclyde Police, Scottish Ambulance Service and Glasgow City Council being amongst just three of many that are in line to be paid back by the football club.

This shocking report has jeopardised many members of Rangers’ staff, including players, coaches and club staff and losses have been made since the club entered administration some six weeks ago, reports suggest the club have lost more than £2,500,000.

On the field, the ten point deduction has hampered the club’s hopes for a second successive League title, with Celtic running away in pole position. But the results on the field now do not seem to matter any more with the club in such a crisis and in a shambolic state, Rangers are in a very dark hole.

Administrators Duff and Phelps are doing their best to help the club out of the mess that arguably Whyte has got the club in to, but you could look further back to when Murray started spending millions and millions when Advocaat was in charge.

Whyte had not helped the cause, and the fact that he did not even take the fit and proper persons test is an outrage. How he managed to be considered a businessman is highly questionable.

The Scottish FA have slapped a 12 month transfer ban on the Ibrox outfit and the imminent lifetime ban on Craig Whyte in any future involvement in Scottish football.

As a result of this, Rangers’ woes continued as the Scottish FA fined the club £160,000. In regards to the transfer ban, the club can now only sign under 18 players in the next year. The embargo was hit after the club brought the game in to disrepute.

Whatever happens next for Rangers Football Club is vital. For a club as big as them to be in so much trouble is colossal. The club must get out of this as soon as possible or Scottish football would be in grave danger as a result of their demise.

As for Craig Whyte, it’s about time he was banned from any involvement, but for Rangers Football Club to have suffered just as much as Whyte is unjustified. Let’s just hope there is light at the end of the very, very dark tunnel the Glasgow club find themselves in.

 

Leicestershire make promising start with win over Glamorgan thanks to Joseph.

 

Twelve months ago, Leicestershire CCC defeated Glamorgan in the Liverpool Victoria County Championship Division Two fixture, which would turn out to be the Foxes only victory in the 2011 season.

The league’s basement boys from last season look to have turned the corner this season with a convincing win in the same fixture as last year thanks to new acquisition Robbie Joseph’s demolition of the Welsh side with match figures of 12-111.

Leicestershire’s season look to have got off to a faulty start with Greg Smith and Jacques du Toit  departing with the first two balls of the new season thanks to Huw Waters, caught behind and leg before wicket respectively.

With overseas star and former West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan making his debut at Grace Road, he watched at the other end as Matt Boyce was removed, gifting Waters his third wicket in just his second over.

Josh Cobb joined Sarwan as they were able to stop the rot after finding themselves at 1-3.

Cobb enjoyed a terrific season in 2011 despite the club struggling in both the four day format and one-day games but the top-order batsman was one of the club’s stars as he helped Leicestershire win another T20 medal.

Sarwan made his mark on his first game for the club with a stubborn 41 off 110 balls but was soon back in the pavilion after Wagg had the West Indies’ batsman trapped for leg before.

The middle order all made starts but failed to push on, however, veteran Claude Henderson’s efforts supported by Wayne White and Robbie Joseph helped Leicestershire past the 200 runs mark giving the Foxes their first batting points of the season.

Henderson soon reached his first half-century of the season and his 57 runs helped Leicestershire up to a respectable score of 249, despite falling agonisingly short of the second batting point, score of 250.

Enter Robbie Joseph. The new addition comes with fire since his departure from Kent CCC, and he immediately made his mark on the club as he opened up with captain Matthew Hoggard

With two wickets apiece from Hoggard and Nadeem Malik, Joseph was the star of the show removing Glamorgan’s bottom order as well as dismissing top-order batsmen Walters and Bragg.

Former Fox James Allenby became Joseph’s third victim followed by Wallace, Wagg and Croft all falling to the seamer’s attack.

Leicestershire collected their full quota of bowling points and it was their turn to add runs to the scoreboard which would set Glamorgan a score they would have to chase going in to the final day.

The home side’s second innings total was the Leicestershire of old, a score that failed to see Leicestershire win any more games in the previous games.

Albeit, the Foxes revived their efforts with thanks again to Robbie Joseph in the visitor’s second innings.

With figures of 6-64 in the second innings, Joseph helped Leicestershire record their first victory of the new season and the club have got the ball rolling.

Both sides were docked points due to slow over rates, with Leicestershire losing five points and Glamorgan one, as the hosts collected 15 points and the visitors only two.

There’s a new fire of optimism at Grace Road. Lead by Hoggard, his leadership will be invaluable to the young players once again this season. The former Yorkshire man will have a controlled front-line bowling attack followed by the experience of Nadeem Malik and young seamer Wayne White.

Sarwan brings tonnes of experience to the Leicestershire camp following his international career with the West Indies for many years. The younger batsmen around Sarwan will learn greatly from the overseas as he looks to help the club improve from last season.

Cobb will look to follow up his form from last season in to the new season in all formats. There is no doubt there is a lot of talent in his locker, he used that to great use, especially in the club’s triumphant T20 season with his off-spin and his slogging mentality.

Lloyd Tenant and Phil Whitticase can take positives from the result over Glamorgan. It was always vital Leicestershire pick up their first win as early as possible. The two coaches can continue the club’s fine start to the season as they now prepare to face local rivals Derbyshire away from home.

Match Scorecard

Foxes Managerial Merry-Go-Round Resumes

Earlier this week, Sven-Goran Eriksson was again out of a job, this time at Leicester City.

The Swede, who took over in October 2010, oversaw a 3-0 home defeat to struggling Millwall in the nPower Championship on Saturday, which was to be his final game in charge for the Foxes.

"It was always my aim to lead the club into the Premier League.
"I am very sorry I won't be able to do that. Being the manager of Leicester was an absolute pleasure."

The east Midlands club were favourites to win the league this season, after a £15 million war chest was handed to the former England chief, but Eriksson has had a steady start to the new season, as the club currently lie in 14th place, but the board felt this was not good enough after signing the likes of Matt Mills (£5m), Kasper Schmeichel (undisclosed) and Gelson Fernandes.

Eriksson and Leicester City have both struggled for stability respectively in recent seasons.

Since departing the England national role in 2006, Sven has been in charge of four teams in five years, not forgetting his role as Director of Football at Notts County in League 1. From Manchester City to Mexico, to the Ivory Coast in the last World Cup and then finding himself in the east Midlands.

Meanwhile, Leicester City have chopped and changed since Martin O' Neill left the club back in 2000. No more than 11 managers have come and gone.

The abysmal era of Peter Taylor took over the following season. Micky Adams briefly enjoyed a successful spell between 2002 and 2004 promoting the Foxes in the old Division 1, before admitting he has took the club "as far as he can go", just after relegation in their solitary season back in the Premier League.

Scotsman Craig Levein left Hearts in the SPL in 2004 to join Leicester, and in three seasons, City installed four more managers with Rob Kelly, Martin Allen, Gary Megson and Ian Holloway who all failed to stop the rot at the King Power Stadium, then known as the Walkers Stadium.

Eventually, Leicester City were relegated under the stewardship of Holloway. Despite joining an already sinking ship, Holloway was relieved of his duties under owner Milan Mandaric.

Nigel Pearson's availability was seized upon by Mandaric, and it had seemed the good times had come back round. Leicester bounced back into the Coca-Cola Championship within the first time of asking, and Pearson and the Foxes continued their good form into the new campaign. They reached the play-offs but fell to runners up Cardiff City in Wales.

Pearson's departure came as a huge shock to many Leicester fans. The Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough legend left the club after it had seemed former Swansea manager Paulo Sousa had held talks with Mandaric during the play-off semi final defeat to which Pearson left the club to go on to pastures new.

Sousa installed and City suffered a woeful start into the new season. The 6-1 away hammering to bottom of the league Portsmouth was enough for the board and fans as the Portuguese's contract was cut short.

New owners had took over from Mandaric, and Eriksson was in place to steer the City ship away from the dark depths of the relegation zone.

Successful he was. The club just missed out on the play-offs this time around. The loan signing of Yakubu signalled the saucy Swede's intentions of taking the club back in to the promised land.

A year on from his appointment, both parties are looking elsewhere.

Football is a cruel game. In a results-based industry, Sven failed to produce this term. Many believe he hadn't had long enough, many felt he was clueless with his formations and the starting line up. Whichever way you look at it now, a new era dawns on Leicester City yet again.

An Interview with Paul Nixon

There are not many cricketers in the modern game who manage to reach the age of 40 and still have the desire to continue playing. Former England wicket-keeper and Leicestershire legend Paul Nixon is one of that rare breed.

“Nico”, as he is affectionately known as by his team-mates and coaches, is about to enter his 23^rd season as a professional cricketer, and the Cumbrian is pleased to have signed a new one year contract last October.

He said: “I’m delighted to get another contract. There aren’t many players that have played four decades. I think there are only four of us, Dominic Cork, Mark Ramprakash, Robert Croft and myself, so I’m delighted.”

He joined Leicestershire in 1989 as a youngster. In the 22 seasons that have passed, Nixon has represented Kent as well as two stints in a Foxes shirt. An IPL (Indian Premier League) invite for Delhi Giants to go along with a call up to the England squad in Australia in 2007, and a World Cup selection in West Indies in the same year.

The evergreen professional has enjoyed two County Championship titles with Leicestershire, a Norwich Union – One Day title with Kent, two Twenty20 cup wins, as well as four consecutive finals days in the first four seasons of the new competition. 

Nixon recalled his time during the Jack Birkenshaw era, when the club dominated cricket for many seasons.

“The team (1996 and 1998 County Championship winning sides) were just peaking, just like the England Rugby team who won the World Cup. Each player was really starting to know his game. It was a small squad, so we knew we had to be fit and up for the challenge, and we knew our resources were smaller than the test playing counties,” Nixon said.

“We had a great atmosphere, we were very positive. James Whitaker (Head Coach) instilled that in every person.

“Jack [Birkenshaw] loves the game, passionate about the game and that rubs off on the players. I was delighted he had the success down here. He’s a well loved character in the game.”

Nixon believes his call up to England was probably the highlight of his career.

“For me, walking out in Sydney in the first Twenty20, representing England versus Australia. When you get picked for England, and then you play for England, then it’s your dream. That’s what it is all about. You walk out with the ‘Lions’ on your shirt. To see the ‘Barmy Army’ and the thousands there, it was a very special moment.”

Four years on, Nixon has handed his keeping duties to Tom New to become a specialist batsman in first-class cricket.

However, a knee-injury in pre-season training has forced him to rest for a few weeks. But he is optimistic that he will be fit for the first game of the season.

He said: “I tore my cartilage eight days ago in training doing some sprints, but fortunately I got surgery straightaway. I’m back running again, and I really can’t wait for the new season.”

After recent seasons in which Leicestershire have struggled in Division Two of the Liverpool Victoria County Championship (LVCC), the Foxes enjoyed a good season under the captaincy of shock signing,  former England and Yorkshire paceman Matthew Hoggard. The club finished fourth, but narrowly missed out on finishing in the top three.

“Our goal is to get Division One status. That is one of our targets. We were only literally a couple of points from going up. We had a relatively young squad as well as our overseas Andrew McDonald,” he said.

“Hopefully, I’ll have a great year for Leicestershire, and as Virender Sehwag always says, ‘the sun always shines for another innings’.”

Just you then, John Terry and co..

We've managed  to end 24 years of hurt down under, and what a fantastic achievement this was, winning the series in Australia's own back yard.

GREAT Britain, if you include Wales as well in England & Wales CB, in the new millennium, has now overseen two magical success's, and if you don't consider the Ashes as big as the World Cup, then think of it as cricket's equivalent.

The other, the Rugby World Cup. Martin Johnson lifting the Webb Ellis trophy in 2003, ironically in Australia. Admittedly, I am not a rugby lover, but I will always want the national side in any sport to do well, and the two winnings mentioned above are undoubtedly a few of the nation's sporting greatest achievements.

Some will say the Australians were, and still are going through a transition, but it doesn't matter. You have to beat what is front of you. This is what Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and head coach Andy Flower have done. Boy, we have kicked them where it really hurts.

Boys have become men in Australia. You can not criticise one member of England cricket team. Every single player has had a contribution; you may say, "Paul Collingwood didn't deserve his place?" Correct, he was off-form, but he took the most catches (9). Would it be a different case if it was someone else? Maybe, maybe not. From Alastair Cook's devastating run-fest, to Monty Panesar's drink duties, every single member of the Ashes squad can be so proud of what they have just done this morning (07 Jan, 2011).

Mike Gatting was the last successful captain to enjoy scenes similar to what Andrew Strauss has. This was such a long time. Years before I was even born. But the pain has healed, the Urn is coming home.

So, let's go to the country's national football side. 1966. A significant year. A recognised number. Why? This was the last time England has won a major tournament in this sport. Since then, the country has endured 44 (forty four) years of hurt. Another four more years until the next tournament, so this will be 48 years (that's forty eight) of more pain and misery.

The expectation of the football team is huge. Higher than you can ever imagine. The arrogance is disgusting. We, as a nation, seem to believe we DESERVE to win the World Cup. We do NOT. It takes years of progress, and will not happen over time. The rugby and Ashes winning respective sides, worked endlessly to achieve what they have done.

England cricket had never seemed to be going forward, until a change in hierachy scrapped old plans, introduced new ambitions and targets, and was met right on time. It has took years, and years for England to win three of the last four Ashes series, and it isn't on luck. Maybe, just maybe, the FA had ought to take a leaf out of the ECB's book, and follow their policy and initiatives.

England's fat cat bosses as well as players are earning embarrassingly, ridiculously high earnings for something they are ALL averagely good at. None of these players are WORLD-CLASS. None of them will ever reach the status Bobby Moore and the 1966 winning team reached.

Until everyone involved with England football and the FA take their head out of their behinds, the country will continue to bemoan another lacklustre tournament. The expectancy must lower, and there must be more graft behind to scenes. I will not go on, but for example, look at the amount of international/oversees football players that are playing in England. Just how on earth are young talent going to progress and improve if they do not even get a sniff of first-team football in the Premier League. That is one for example, but I could go on forever.

As the rugby and cricket national teams set to continue improving, England football will only settle for their pay packet at the end of the month. National pride and trophies were a thing of the past. Fast cars, mansions and money seem to be number one priority. Just how long will this last..?

England Cook-ing on gas, as visitors move closer to historic win

Firstly, a Happy New Year to my readers. I trust you all had a safe Christmas period, and a great start to the New Year.

England were on course on Day 3 in Sydney for a series win, the first win down under in 24 years as Alastair Cook and Ian Bell both recorded first-class centuries, as England finished the day at 488-7.

Cook entered the record books yesterday, spending a patient 36 hours at the crease throughout the Ashes series, becoming the second highest prolific run scorer down under, behind Wally Hammond.

Cook was eventually dismissed on 189, despite having a decision referred on 99 after Phillip Hughes, fielding at 'short leg', claimed a catch off the bowling of debutant Michael Beer. Hughes (right, in helmet), celebrated hesitantly, before looking at his team mates and opting to go up for a wicket. Evidence shows the ball touched the ground first, much to the disgust of Sir Ian Botham.

With two day left of the Ashes series, England were very much favourites to take the match. Australia captain Michael Clarke will probably be left to rue his decision to bat first, on a wicket which favoured the seamers, most notably England's, as Australia's tailend were left to pick up the pieces left by the host's top order.

Usman Khawaja and Michael Beer made their Test debut at the SCG, replacing Ricky Ponting and the injured Ryan Harris respectively.

Batting first, Shane Watson and Phillip Hughes look to hit the gas quicker than usual. Hughes, the main instigator, influenced a 55 run partnership for the first wicket, before falling to Tremlett on 31. Immediately, Khawaja stamped his authority on the game, slapping a short pitched delivery off the Surrey pace-man, then hooking the second, with attacking intent.

For the Aussie's, Khawaja seemed to be a breath of fresh air. He and Watson produced another 50 partnership, before Watson falling to Bresnan for 45. Clarke soon departed 4, again off Bresnan, which has turned out to be a torrid series for the stand in skipper. Michael Hussey, who had a quiet 4th Test, was dismissed by Paul Collingwood for 33, after an inside edge saw his bails removed.

Wicket-keeper Brad Haddin could only make 6 as Steven Smith scored 18, before a late onslaught by Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus saw Australia go from 189-8 to 265-9, before Johnson was bowled by Bresnan. Hilfenhaus was eventually removed for 34, with Beer remaining not out out on 2.

England's reply went well. With a swinging Kookaburra ball, Strauss and Cook looked steady and comfortable, frustrating Johnson and Hilfenhaus in the process. England captain Strauss has not converted a 50 to 100 yet, after he made 60 as England lost their first wicket on 98.

Hot-shot Jonathan Trott fell for a five-ball duck, his first of the series, to a Mitchell Johnson delivery. Cook was then joined by Kevin Pietersen, who hasn't really excelled since he produced that magnificent 227 in Adelaide. Pietersen made a start, but was halted at 36, again by Johnson, who was the pick of the bowlers. James Anderson went in as a nightwatchman, with the score on 167/3 accompanying Cook on 61 not out.

Commence Day three, and Hilfenhaus wasn't prepared to wait much longer, banging in the short balls to Anderson (left), but his opposite number played some delightful shots, despite scoring 7. He done his bit, facing 35 balls and staying overnight, protecting Cook.

Collingwood, who hasn't hit top form throughout this summer, looked uncomfortable at the crease, with Johnson swinging the ball from left to right, cramping Collingwood. It was obvious Collingwood was given instructions to get some runs on the board by his skipper. Beer claimed his first Test wicket at the expense of Collingwood, for another disappointing low score of 13. A rash shot; dancing down the track and hitting high into the air, straight down Hilfenhaus throat. But the tail hadn't been reached yet, with Bell to come in.

Bell hasn't really had room to play, despite previous scores of 76, 68* and 53, until this innings. With the score at 226-5, the lead wasn't much. Bell had to form a partnership with Cook and he did just that. Technically correct, and a pleasure to watch, Bell excelled in the warm temperatures, playing each ball on merit.

Cook, in his partnership with Bell, saw one of two controversial decisions go against the hosts on 99. The opener ran two runs to oversee his century. Much to his delight and the team's delight, the Australian's showed no acknowledgement for his knock, which was very disappointing to see.

However for Bell, with glorious shots, to go along with the pristine form he has shown over the summer for club and country, came controversy and a let-off for the Warwickshire batsman.  Smith dropped a chance off his own bowling, as Bell drove straight back at the leg-spinner, before being droped.On 67, it had seemed that Bell had edged behind off Watson. The decision was given, and despite only knowing if he snicked off behind or not, Bell still referred to his partner, new batsman Matt Prior, then to the Umpire. The review system including 'hot spot', showed no signs of an edge, but after Aleem Dar overruled his decision, snickometer showed there WAS a thin inside edge. Bell off the hook, and his intention was now to take advantage and hit that long-awaited century he has been craving.

Cook eventually departed for a phenomenal 189 runs, with Bell caught out on 115, as England reached 488/7 at close of play. Prior heaped more misery by scoring a half-century of his own.

Two days are left to play in this final Test, and with the momentum with England, the Australian's must look to restore pride back into the team and country. A draw at most is a must for Clarke's side, but a defeat looks most likely.

A declaration may be imminent on Day four, but whatever may happen come Day five close, what a winter England and the Barmy Army have had, down under.

My Verdict: The cream always rises to the top..

England retained the Ashes in Melbourne into the early hours of this morning (GMT) and what a way to do it.

Andrew Strauss's boys emphatically won by an innings plus, totally destroying Australia in the process. Fittingly, Tim Bresnan weighed in with 4-50, picked ahead of beanpole bowler Steven Finn, showing why he can do the business in the bowling department.

'Bres' took the final wicket of Ben Hilfenhaus to skittle the hosts to 258 all out (Ryan Harris absent hurt).

This is the first time England have won 'down under' since Mike Gatting's heroes did the job 24 years ago, and this was no better time to win here than any other before.

Currently four Tests now played, England humiliated Australia at the MCG. Bowled out for 98 on Day One, the game was lost by an innings and 157 runs, with the press calling for Ponting's resignation after losing 3 of the last 4 Ashes series.

Roll back five years ago, and the nPower Ashes Test was well under way. Ricky Ponting was skipper for this one, leading the likes of Hayden, Langer, Martyn, Gilchrist, Warne, Lee and McGrath. Legends of yesteryear, who all at once, went in one clump. Here, lead by Michael Vaughan, enjoyed our very own heroes. Flintoff most notably amongst Hoggard, Harmison, opened with Trescothick and followed by by Strauss himself. Now known as the 'Greatest Test Series, Ever', England won 3-2, with the following year with the return fixture, and this was one to forget for newly appointed skipper, Andrew Flintoff.Oh how we took a hammering. Warne claimed Collingwood as his 700th Test victim, Ponting wrecked havoc amongst England's bowlers, consistently scoring hundreds. McGrath on-song as per, followed up by Brett Lee's devastating pace, with the exception of the 551 scored in the Second Test, England failed to get close to Australia's standards.

Fast forward to 2009, and everything changes. Australia came to England with the urn, currently going through a process of changes. McGrath retired in 2007 after the ICC World Cup, Shane Warne hung up his bowling boots a year later in 2008, and the Ashes winning team of 2002/3 and 2006/7 soon went altogether, allowing fresh crop of players to come to the forefront of the International stage. Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle, Phillip Hughes, even Mike Hussey, one of the older-heads of the group were allowed to open his wings. Ponting's job became harder. He didn't have the 'Golden Generation' to help come up with the goods. Here, the responsibility became twice as hard. Nontraditional in the Ashes Test schedule sense, the First Test was held in Cardiff, historically, and not Lords. It didn't disappoint.

Dramatically - not as exciting as 2005, but in terms of getting on over the Aussie's, this was equivalent as the last Ashes here. They wouldn't of thought so at the time, but it was pretty inevitable to say which way Aussie's were going.

Unlike England, Australia didn't nurture young with the old, bedding them in on the big scene, learning from the best. Instead, the ACB decided to stick it out for as long as possible, sitting on top of the world, and thinking of the present and living off the past. What they hadn't realised was, Steve and Mark Waugh wasn't around. Neither were the greats - Hayden, Langer and Warne and co. Albeit, they thought that the next generation of cricketers can emulate these legends, and a term used NOT out of context. This was misunderstood, as it will be probably impossible to achieve what these have achieved, winning Ashes series after another, dominating world cricket in every format possible. However, England went the right way about it. When Vaughan retired, another was waiting in the wings. Step forward Alastair Cook, who hit a masterful 200+ at Chelmsford, Essex, ironically versus the Aussies in 2005. Cook, despite a bad run of form prior to the 2010 Ashes, is currently the leading run scorer now, ahead of Mike Hussey, and showing his true, potential talent. When Hoggard hadn't been selected, Stuart Broad was waiting in the wings. The trend was was rotational. Future stars were tried, not necessarily dumped, but just gaining that extra little bit more help and advice in what will make them quality players.

In stark contrasts to our rivals, our policy has paid off. Success wasn't instant, but within itself, it was eventual that we would become successful. The cream always rises to the top as they say, and England have had their just rewards.

Cook in his first Test, hit a patient 67 and surprised many with a world-class 235 not out currently on 577 tour runs so far, with one to play. Trott, not really a youngster, and as Atherton described him after retaining the Ashes, "the babe of the team", quite inexperienced, but a very stubborn number 3. He has settled in nicely at 3, playing an anchor role, frustrating the bowlers and not showing much weakness. Trott averages 111.25, scoring 445 runs, one place behind Hussey.

Stuart Broad, in his first Ashes series 'down under', fell unfortunately to an injury, that forced him to go back home after playing two tests. Despite being fairly economical, he averaged at 80. However, he didn't have chance to bowl at Perth and Melbourne, and the final one in Sydney, so to call his game wouldn't be fair. Broad has so many exciting years ahead of him, and will have many more chances to go back to Australia, and continue retaining the Ashes.

England have never really had a consistent spin bowler. Robert Croft has tried; to a certain extent, Monty Panesar has tried, but not gone; we can even look back to Richard Dawson who went to Australia last time around; but no one has come as close than what Graeme Swann has over the past couple of years. His performances has made him a cult hero, even his Sprinkler dance on  Swanny's Diary has become something special. Nonetheless, he has been outstanding. Swann has 13 series wickets now, and despite his average being 37.30, he has took vital and important wickets, those mainly being Hussey, his former Northamptonshire team mate many moons ago.

Steven Finn emerged as a hot prospect for the future with fantastic tours to Bangladesh and a home series versus Pakistan, Finn found himself on the plane to Australia, deservedly. Although he was tactically dropped, not just because of his expensive spells, Finn has 14 wickets to his name, behind Jimmy Anderson on 17. This boy has so much talent. A young body with an old head, he knows what he is doing. He will have learned so much from this, and this isn't the end of the tour yet for Finn. He can still contribute to a vast amount of games.

On the other hand, Australia are having to go through a transitional period, chopping and changing. Knee-jerk reactions and high amount of demands, Australia are faltering in more ways than one. Ponting has come under severe amount of pressure, losing the previous series to India, and most recently not regaining the Ashes from England. The Aussie's have seen a large amount of players come and go, and not performing when needed.

Changes are imminent as well as inevitable. As well as the players on the field, it could also mean changes behind the scenes. Ponting must take the fall for this more so than anyone. He has been allowed to select his own players who he has felt that could do the job, and failed..massively.

Just as so, Ponting has took full responsibility for losing the Ashes. He still has the chance to restore some pride in the Aussie camp, levelling the series in Sydney, but no matter what the result is, the critics will be on the case more than ever now. He has endured a disastrous series, scoring a lowly 113 runs at 16.14 in eight innings. This form suggests and asks questions of his place in the squad, let alone his captaincy abilities. I've always backed Ponting, as a  world-class player. His statistics don't lie, he's averaging well over 50 and scored an astonishing 12300+ runs. But, in modern day cricket, you are vulnerable to the worst if you fail to perform. And Ponting has struggled.

So where do they go from here? It's all in the air. But, if someone of Steve Waugh's calibre questions your authority, then you are in the brown stuff. Ponting is set to sit down with the ACB and discuss the future. He has too much pride to continue playing if he has been stripped of the captaincy. Personally, I can not see him continuing if this is the case. The chances of him carrying on AFTER the Fifth Test are slim.

It's a long and winding road for the Aussie's. As an Englishman, it's a pleasure to see them fall beneath us, but for a neutral of the game, it'd be nice to see Ponting recapture his form that has seen him become one of the best number 3's in the world.