Rangers fans group fears Murray Park is to be sold

Rangers announced last month that they had sold only 17,000 season tickets. Picture: Robert Perry

The umbrella body for Rangers supporters’ organisations last night said the board did not have the funds to get through the season, and that the omission of Murray Park from a statement issued from Ibrox on Sunday was a sure sign that it was being touted for sale.

“The Union of Fans were approached approximately two weeks ago, on behalf of the plc board, to once again try to reach agreement on a binding legal guarantee over the club’s assets,” the group said in a statement. “The statement that the board released yesterday was rejected by UoF last week due to the fact that it does not give a binding guarantee over Ibrox and that several misleading statements are made within it.

“We were seeking written guarantees over both Ibrox and Murray Park. The board removed all reference to Murray Park.

“We believe this is because the board are actively looking to sell this vital club asset due to their failure to so far secure enough funds to see the club through the current season.

“The board claim that they are ‘committed to protecting the assets of the club’. Currently the club has four main assets. Two of those, Edmiston House and the Albion Car Park, have already been used as security for crisis loans due to financial mismanagement.

“The board continues to refuse to give any legally binding safeguard over Ibrox and we believe they are actively looking at a sale and leaseback of Murray Park – a vital asset if we are ever to properly develop our own talent. They have shown no commitment to protecting the club’s assets.”

Rangers announced last month that they had sold 17,000 season tickets. The figure is roughly 50 per cent of the total from the previous two seasons, drastically reducing the club’s working capital. “The board have lost just under half of the club’s season ticket holders due to a complete lack of ability to build trust,” the UoF statement continued.

“Even if those fans were to buy season tickets now, the club still does not have the funds to complete the season and yet the board keeps us in the dark over how they will address this shortfall. We ask them to stop the half-truths, spin and smoke and mirrors, and tell fans the truth.”