Union of Fans slams Rangers board

Rangers chief executive Graham Wallace had his plan for a binding proposal rejected. Picture: SNS

Following comments from the club posted on the Rangers official website at the weekend, the Union of Fans issued an angry statement last night, insisting that Murray Park and Ibrox Stadium are in “grave danger” and that it is “impossible to deal with the board in good faith”.

Graham Wallace, chief executive of Rangers, Norman Crighton, a non-executive director, and Sandy Easdale, a major shareholder and member of the football board, attended a meeting with representatives of the Union of Fans, in which the fans believed they had secured a promise of a “legally binding” document over the future of Ibrox. A similar pedge was sought over Murray Park, the club’s training complex near Milngavie.

However, a club statement at the weekend read: “Whilst the board is reported to have offered legally binding undertakings during a fan group discussion in relation to Ibrox and Murray Park, this is not the case.”

The Union of Fans’ statement accused the board of trying to create confusion and that there had been no more contact with the board despite the promise of further discussions.

Dave King, a South Africa-based businessman and Richard Gough, a former Rangers captain, recently established Ibrox 1972 - a fund for season ticket holders’ money while security was sought over Rangers’ assets.

But the Rangers statement said: “The club will not grant security over Ibrox to any organisation and therefore the ‘Ibrox 1972’ scheme can never achieve its objectives.”

A Union of Fans’ statement said in response: “It is clear that [the board] have now rejected Mr Wallace‘s proposal to give a binding undertaking over Ibrox. It is clear that they have considered our proposal that the same undertaking be given for Murray Park and have also rejected that. The idea that this latest board proclomation should give supporters any type of additional confidence over the club’s assets is therefore utterly ridiculous. In fact, it should confirm just how much danger our vital assets are in.

“It is clearly impossible to deal with this board in good faith. They told us we would receive a swift response following their deliberations. We have received no response. They told us that over the past two weeks all major investors, bar one, have indicated they will participate fully and proportionately in any future rights issue. We do not believe this to be the case.”

Rangers extended the season-ticket renewal period over the weekend.