Record date was 21st December - which means the stock needs to...

Record date was 21st December - which means the stock needs to be actually registered in your name by this date.

Thus, buying the stock on 20th will not suffice as the last day you could have bought stock and it been registered in your name would be 21st minus 3 (trading) days - Thursday 16th Dec at the latest.

Hopefully you can get some cheap stock on market but the technicals and depth look too good to warrant a sell off.

Cheers.