Scottish Championship side Rangers investor Dave King "heralded the end of days for the Ibrox board -- but insists any takeover would not mean the end" for shareholder Mike Ashley, according to Gregor Kyle of the Scotland DAILY RECORD. The South Africa-based Scot "reassured fans that he was the man to take the ailing giants forward, bring on board the right business expertise and proper governance." King said, "The board has proved intransigent in the past and they are trying to find ways to maintain their power base within the club. It must be as clear to them as it is to me that the outcome of the general meeting is guaranteed once it is called. The game is over. We should be 23 days away (from clinching victory)." King also stated that "he would be willing to work" with Ashley, "the man who effectively holds power at Ibrox." King: "It's not a question of driving Ashley out. He is a shareholder and I don’t get any sense that he is going to sell his shares" (DAILY RECORD, 2/4). In a separate article, Kyle wrote King warned Ashley that "he could find himself out of pocket" by £10M ($15M) if "a forensic analysis" of the club’s accounts finds evidence of impropriety. King: "We would complete a forensic investigation and if there is something untoward, some form of malfeasance it is quite possible that there could be a claim against any wrongdoer including Ashley." King "was quick to stress that he is not looking to completely close the door on Ashley." He believes that "it is vital that there is an opening of the books and a clearing of the decks and that for Rangers to truly move forward, past sins by anybody have to be addressed" (DAILY RECORD, 2/4). The BBC reported King "called a general meeting, a date for which has yet to be announced but where he hopes to replace the current board with himself and his own associates, Paul Murray and John Gilligan." King: "It is more important that we have a board that have the influence, the desire and the financial capability of taking the club forward. Whether that's with Mike Ashley or without Mike Ashley, personally I'm quite indifferent to that" (BBC, 2/4).
