Richard Gough puts blame on Advocaat’s transfer spending

Published on Thursday 16 February 2012 04:02

NINE-in-a-row Ibrox skipper Richard Gough insists Rangers’ plight is a tragedy – and believes the administration-hit club is crying out for leadership.

The defender proudly captained the team to their historic nine successive league titles during the 1990s and reckons the guidance he exhibited on the pitch is now sorely needed in the boardroom.

Embattled owner Craig Whyte was forced to initiate administration proceedings over a £9 million tax bill. But Gough reckons the problems began the day Dick Advocaat was allowed to spend an estimated £82 million on Tore Andrew Flo, Arthur Numan and Ronald de Boer when he became manager in 1998.

Gough said: “It’s a tragedy. At this moment, the fans are looking for leadership and I hope we get it from somewhere.

“I was probably shocked, like all Rangers-minded people were, although we thought it was maybe coming. It’s all been accelerated very quickly. I just think it’s a huge blow for Rangers football club and Scottish football in general.

“Rangers and Celtic are the two biggest clubs and they’re not football clubs, they’re institutions. For one of them to go into administration, it’s an awful day.

“With Craig Whyte taking over when not many other people wanted to take over, he came in and put his head on the block. He has obviously taken this route, which he thinks is the best way for the club.

“With the ten-point penalty, there is no chance of Rangers securing a fourth championship.”

Gough reckons the club have never been able to get to grips with their finances since embracing Advocaat’s dream of making Rangers a European powerhouse.

He said: “It’s very easy to sit back and point fingers.

“I came up in 1987 as captain from Tottenham and that could never happen today because Rangers had the financial power back then and we had a magnificent ten, eleven years together.

“After that, Rangers employed Dick Advocaat, who was a fantastic coach. He brought fantastic players, but that cost a lot of money at that stage, which was well funded by David Murray.

“Tore Andre Flo was another one for £13 million. That was ten years ago and I think since then the club have always been in debt. Now, with this tax situation coming in on top of it, the taxman is wanting upwards of £70 million. That would bankrupt any club.

“I’m like a lot of Rangers people – maybe my head was in the sand a bit. We knew the financial crisis has been there for the last two or three years.

“Walter Smith has managed to win three championships on a really tight string. I just didn’t think we knew the severity of it.”

Gough reckons the fans will never allow the club to die, regardless of their cash woes. He added: “You have 55,000 coming to Ibrox and it’s an institution. It’s not just a football club, and I’m sure someone will come round and help, whether it’s the supporters themselves managing to do something.”