Rangers CEO Green Calls For Promotion Of Team To Second Division In New Set-Up

Scottish Third Division Rangers CEO Charles Green has argued that "his club should be promoted into the second tier of Scottish football if a new 12-12-18 structure follows their inevitable Irn-Bru Third Division title triumph," according to the SCOTSMAN. Green claimed that "moving Rangers up beyond most of the current Second Division clubs would be in line with 'sporting integrity.'" In a lengthy statement on the club’s official website, Green said: "All things being well, Rangers should win the Division Three title and, that being the case, we should be promoted. That should happen regardless of what league structure the powers that be put in place" (SCOTSMAN, 3/19). In Glasgow, David McCarthy reported "Rangers believe a 14-14-14 set-up would benefit the game the most, but that idea seems to have garnered little support from clubs." If that doesn’t happen, Green would like to see Scottish Football League CEO David Longmuir’s option of 12-12-10-10 "coming into force, with the creation of an extra two places in the lowest league" (DAILY RECORD, 3/19).

PAYING OPPONENTS: Also in Glasgow, McCarthy reported in a seperate piece Green "dangled a carrot in front of lower-league clubs by promising to pay those visited by a Rangers B team a guarantee of the equivalent of 300 fans coming through the gates" -- a sum which would boost their coffers by anything from £3,000-£4,000 ($4,500-$6,000). Green said, "A Rangers Colts team would add value to the league, and other clubs would see their home gates enhanced significantly. I would also be prepared to guarantee other clubs the ticket revenue equivalent of 300 Rangers fans turning up" (DAILY RECORD, 3/19).