Rangers: Charles Green buys castle in Normandy

Former Rangers chief executive Charles Green has bought a chateau in France. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

Green has bought Castle Marcei, near Argentan in Normandy for just over 400,000 euros.

He told how he visited 30 properties before buying the 18th century castle and 27 acres of surrounding meadow and woods.

The outspoken Yorkshireman said he plans to indulge his love of horses at the mansion.

He said: “I just wanted to buy a property in Normandy to live with my 30 horses.

“I’ve always been fascinated by the thoroughbred. Normandy is the epicentre of the horse world, this is where I decided to start a new life.”

He added: “In each of my visits, it is as if the castle told me: ‘buy me’.

“I hope to finish the work within three months and bring my horses.”

Green was paid almost £1m in 13 months at Rangers, according to the club’s accounts.

He received a salary of £333,077, a £360,000 bonus and benefits which amounted to £22,449.

He also received a severance payment of £217,850.

Green led a consortium which took over the club in May 2012, but his motormouth comments and the manner in which he was running the club soon brought him into conflict with other investors and Rangers fans.

In April he quit as chief executive following racist comments made about colleague Imran Ahmad and allegations - later disproved - that he had links with former disgraced owner Craig Whyte.

The controversial businessman returned to the club in August as a consultant and caused ructions with comments about Ally McCoist’s team and the need to win a domestic cup.

He quit again after three influential fans’ groups called on him to go.

Another former owner of Rangers, Craig Whyte, owns Castle Grant in Grantown-on-Spey.