‘No issues’ to block Rangers return, insists King

FORMER Rangers director Dave King returned to Scotland yesterday and insisted there would be “no issues” to prevent him resuming his place in the Ibrox boardroom.

Dave King insisted there would be 'no issues' to prevent him resuming his place in the Ibrox boardroom. Picture: SNS

Clubs need the approval of the football authorities before the appointment of new directors can be ratified, but the South Africa-based businessman appears confident there would be no attempt to bar him, despite his pleading guilty in the Republic on 41 tax-related charges earlier this year.

King, who first became a Rangers director in 2000, plans to attend the club’s League One match at East Fife this afternoon.

He hopes to become chairman at Ibrox, and has mentioned the possibility of further investment in the club, despite being believed to have lost £20million when it went into administration early last year.

“I’m back in Scotland for a series of confidential meetings to establish the best way to take Rangers forward,” he told STV after arriving at Glasgow Airport. “I’m here to see if I can get rid of the disharmony at boardroom level and between the board and the fans.”

Asked if he was confident that the Scottish Football Association and the financial authorities would approve of his appointment as a director, King said: “I wouldn’t be here otherwise. I’ve checked this fully with the relevant people.” He also said that his lawyers had assured him there would be “no issues”, and that he “knows for sure” his appointment would go through.

King plans to meet Brian Stockbridge and James Easdale, Rangers’ only two directors at present following the resignation of chief executive Craig Mather. He also wants to meet the group of shareholders, headed by businessman Jim McColl, who aim to put new directors in place. That group in turn held a meeting with supporters’ representatives this week with the aim of getting backing from the fan base for their plans.