‘Gang of four’ Rangers rebels issue charter

The four nominees issued an eight-point constitution. Picture: SNS

‘Gang of four’ director nominees Paul Murray, Malcolm Murray, Alex Wilson and Scott Murdoch have all signed an eight-point charter that sets out a framework for how the Ibrox hierarchy should behave.

They have called on the current regime to match their commitment while repeating fears about the club’s financial future should they not win on December 19th.

Ex-chairman Malcolm Murray warned supporters at a meeting in Belfast on Monday night that he feared Rangers might go bust again if the current board retained their positions.

Wilson echoed Murray’s concerns, outlining why the ‘rebels’ felt it necessary to make their constitution draft public.

He told the Daily Mail: We want to re-establish trust and integrity. By publishing the pledges, we are pushing home the fact we really mean them. That strengthens our commitment.

“In our view, there is also a clear contrast compared to some of the antics we suspect, or have observed, over the past couple of years of Rangers regimes.

“We have signed the document and we’d be perfectly happy to send it over to the board and invite them to do the same. I suspect that offer would be rebuffed with some cynicism.”

Wilson also believes the constitution will find favour with shareholders whose votes will determine the make-up of the board in future.

The five current directors - chairman David Somers, chief executive Graham Wallace, finance director Brian Stockbridge and non-executive directors James Easdale and Norman Crighton - are up for re-election at the AGM.

Wilson added: “We can absolutely say that if there is major change in the board - and there are board institutions that shareholders can believe in - then we have had conversations with institutions shareholders and/or other wealthy individuals who say they will invest more money in this club.

“I would be deeply concerned if the current regime continued - not only about the club’s reputation off the field, but about whether they had the ability to avoid administration.”

Malcolm Murray expressed similar views, admitting: “I personally think the club is in danger if we don’t get a win at the AGM.”

Murray’s appearance alongside Paul Murray in Northern Ireland, followed a meeting of supporters in Glasgow last week, attended by the four nominees and backer Jim McColl.

Wilson said he felt fan representation was ‘the right thing’ and that the four nominees would seek ‘much more interaction with the fan groups in the future’.

He added: “It would be a two-way dialogue. The fans are the lifeblood. I am a fan, a season-ticket holder and don’t want to ignore their views.”

He said the current board’s refusal to respond to requests to meet with supporters implied ‘some sort of disregard for the fanbase who are providing the cash.”

The charter states

• We will never sell the stadium. We will ring-fence the assets to ensure this can never happen again. This is our home and will always remain our home.

• We are committed to fan representation on the board

• No director (including his/her family members or close business associates) shall have any financial interest in any contract involving the club.

• We will undertake to ensure that all executive directors’ salaries and bonuses are approved by the renumeration committee and subject to market benchmarking

• We will undertake to ensure that all shareholders are treated equally

• We will undertake to ensure that there is total transparency in all club affairs

• There will be no long-term debt

• All non-executive director fees are to be waived unless the club is in Europe