The main fan groups from Scottish League 1 Rangers Sunday night "demanded the Ibrox board come clean" on whether former CEO Charles Green "is still involved with the club," according to Alan Marshall of the Scotland DAILY RECORD. The new Union of Fans -- a coalition of six Rangers supporters groups -- "want answers on what happened" to the Yorkshireman’s 7.68% stake in the club after he left a second time. The call comes in the wake of ex-Rangers Dir Dave King suggesting it was “quite possible that Charles Green is still de facto controlling the club.” The South Africa-based businessman "plans to travel to Scotland to step up his bid for boardroom change after his attempts to invest in the club were rebuffed" (DAILY RECORD, 3/3). STV reported the Rangers board has summoned King to meet them following what it describes as "damaging" statements. Rangers Chair David Somers "wants a showdown too." King stepped up his bid for boardroom change last Wednesday "when he encouraged the Light Blues support to withhold season-ticket cash." He then followed that up on Saturday with another press release "accusing Ibrox chief executive Graham Wallace of insulting the Gers faithful." Somers' open letter to Kings says, "The board of Rangers International Football Club has noted your astonishing press releases over the past few days. These statements and innuendos are very damaging to the club, which we can only assume is your intention. We wish you to attend a meeting to explain your allegations in more detail as soon as possible. Please confirm your availability" (STV, 3/3).
DISPELLING THE RUMORS: The Scotland DAILY RECORD reported Somers' letter was released to the media just hours after the PA reported King's belief that the club "will not call in administrators any time soon." Rumors "swept across social networking websites" on Sunday night claiming Ibrox CEO Graham Wallace "was preparing the club for their second insolvency event in the space of two years." The club responded by saying the rumors were "completely false" (DAILY RECORD, 3/3). The BBC reported the Rangers and King "were united in dismissing" rumors of a second insolvency. A club spokesperson said, "There is an agenda-driven campaign underway to destabilize Rangers. Please look at the anti-Rangers record of certain bloggers and ask yourself why they would put out damaging misinformation such as this." King: "I don't believe that it is likely that the club will go into administration at the present time" (BBC, 3/3).
MCCOIST STAYS MUM: The Scotland DAILY RECORD also reported Rangers Manager Ally McCoist "refused to discuss the ongoing power struggle at the club as he blanked questions about which faction had his backing." At his broadcast press conference on Friday afternoon, McCoist was asked which side of the increasingly entrenched divide his loyalties lay. McCoist: "I am here to talk about the football today and that is all I will be talking about." Asked if he could understand why the fans would look to the manager for guidance after another week of turmoil, McCoist said, "Absolutely. And you can understand that while I'm sitting here, all I will be talking about is football" (DAILY RECORD, 2/28).
