Scottish Championship side Rangers fan group Rangers Supporters Trust has secured more than £500,000 ($755,700) funding for "their legal fight to prevent Ibrox Stadium being used for loan security," according to Richard Wilson of the BBC. The money was donated by the Rangers Fans Fighting Fund, set up when Rangers Football Club plc entered administration in '12. The fund was "established by donations." The Rangers board recently agreed to "advance notices of security being lodged in the name of Sports Direct for training ground Murray Park and Ibrox." Rangers Chair David Somers has "previously insisted that Ibrox would not be used for security." The RST sought advice from lawyers to determine if Somers' comments "constituted a legal commitment but were advised that a legal challenge would not be successful" (BBC, 1/21). A spokesperson for the RFFF said, "The Rangers Fans Fighting Fund was launched by Ibrox legends Walter Smith and Sandy Jardine in 2012 to help safeguard and protect the club's future and assets. In recent days it has become crystal clear that the club's current board is considering the use of Ibrox Stadium and Murray Park in order to secure a further loan from Mike Ashley" (HERALD SCOTLAND, 1/21). In Glasgow, Hugh Macdonald reported the battle for Rangers "has intensified with the Easdale brothers hitting back strongly" at former Dir Paul Murray, who is "supporting attempts to oust the board." A "coruscating statement released by Jack Irvine, adviser to the brothers who hold power at Ibrox," said, "So like an episode of The Living Dead, Paul Murray emerges from his Borders lair having vowed never to return. He says he expects a smear campaign against himself and Dave King and in the same breath compares the Rangers board to Gerald Ratner. Hypocritical? You decide." Murray is supporting the bid by former Dir Dave King, the South African-based businessman, to "call an extraordinary general meeting in an attempt to overthrow the present board." King, who served on the Rangers board from '07-11, compared the present board to Gerald Ratner, the jewellery entrepreneur who "infamously alienated his customers and saw his company collapse" (HERALD SCOTLAND, 1/21).
RICKSEN: SET PROBLEMS ASIDE: In Glasgow, Greig Thomas reported former Rangers player Fernando Ricksen has called on the Rangers board to allow former Manager Ally McCoist to "attend his benefit match at Ibrox on Sunday." Ricksen will be the guest of honor at the Fernando Ricksen Tribute Match as he "continues his fight" with ALS. He said, "Ally McCoist has my greatest respect. If there are problems between
Rangers and Ally then it's between them. Neither the tribute game nor me
should be dragged into this" (DAILY RECORD, 1/21).
