Ex-Rangers chief Craig Mather backs fans group

Craig Mather has thrown his backing behind the RST. Picture: Gary Hutchison

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CRAIG Mather, the former Rangers chief executive, has backed the Rangers support ahead of the club’s EGM.

Mather has followed Felix Magath’s example and proxied his shareholding of just short of one per cent to the Rangers Supporters Trust (RST).

And it will provide a further boost to the Dave King-led movement for change, on the same day chairman David Somers confirmed his resignation from the club.

Mather’s shareholding had been included as part of Beaufort Nominees, but he has split in order to back former Ibrox director King.

The EGM will be held at Ibrox this Friday. Picture: John Devlin

A source told the Daily Record: “Craig has always believed the Rangers supporters deserved better and although he tried to do the right thing when at Ibrox there was resistance from others on the board.

“He wanted Dave King in a long time ago and is delighted that he could be making his return. Rangers can only benefit from that.”

Mather was installed as chief executive in April 2013, replacing Charles Green, and despite pumping £1 million of his own money into the club, left Ibrox in October the same year.

He is believed to have travelled to South Africa in a bid to tempt King on to the Rangers board, but was blocked by the Easdales and quit the club after other directors expressed their anger.

Dave King is seeking control of Rangers. Picture: SNS

Mather’s decision to proxy his shareholding roughly amounts to a two per cent swing to King, who has submitted a resolution to remove the existing board and replace it with himself, Paul Murray and John Gilligan at Friday’s EGM.

The RST bought around 0.5 per cent of the Beaufort Nominees shareholding, with Mather’s split leaving the bloc on shaky ground.

The EGM is scheduled to take place at Ibrox on Friday, but with just two board member remaining - Barry Leach and Derek Llambias - the current regime could resign before the meeting, with James Easdale and chairman David Somers having already quit.

RST spokesman Chris Graham told the Daily Record: “The RST are delighted to have taken another significant step towards change at Rangers.

“This represents a further vote secured from the Beaufort Nominees shareholding bloc and we hope it acts as a further confirmation to this regime that their time is up.

“We would like to thank Craig Mather for backing the supporters. We appreciate his support and hope it secures much needed change.”