Malcolm Murray Rangers exit looms amid leak claims

Rangers director Malcolm Murray. Picture: SNS

• Malcolm Murray edges closer to Rangers exit after minutes reveal board disquiet over director’s conduct

• Accusations levelled at Murray include the leaking of information to the Press and plotting against another director

The club board has accused Murray of leaking sensitive information to outsiders, including former director Paul Murray and media outlets.

Murray is also alleged to have listened to voicemail messages on a speakerphone in front of strangers at a hotel.

Brian Stockbridge, a director at Rangers, was the subject of a plot orchestrated by Murray, according to secret club minutes.

Another accusation also suggests that director Ian Hart heard about the leaks via fans. Acting chief executive Craig Mather was alerted to the suspected leaks by the SFA, according to The Sun.

Malcolm Murray was last week given a vote of no confidence by the Ibrox board amid reports that former chief executive Charles Green had - despite appointing him last summer - made attempts to remove him from the board.

Murray, whose background is in pension and fund management, still has backing from sections of the board - most notably former manager Walter Smith - but the revelations, taken from secret club minutes, expose the director’s increasingly precarious position.

Minutes

Malcolm Murray is alleged to have leaked a story to a newspaper because he wasn’t allowed on the podium to celebrate Rangers’ Third Division title party.

He is also accused of plotting to oust finance director Stockbridge, 39, from his post.

Hotel staff have claimed they overheard sensitive financial details being discussed by Murray as he listened to voicemail messages during breakfast, with other hotel guests in earshot.

The minutes detailing the accusations reportedly say: “Given the concerns about confidentiality, credibility and professional conduct and the impact on regulators, a motion was proposed to remove Malcolm from the position of chairman and as director of the company following the completion of the investigation.

“It was decided that Malcolm should not attend to any duties in the meantime and would not be involved in the direction or detail of the investigation.”