Sons of Struth leader Craig Houston, who led the fight to force regime change at Scottish Championship side Rangers on Tuesday, "spoke of his disgust at the secret deal," which will see Newcastle pocket £500,000 ($741,500) if the club makes it into the top flight, according to Keith Jackson of the Scotland DAILY RECORD. Houston "urged his fellow supporters" to hit Newcastle Owner and Rangers shareholder Mike Ashley in the pocket until the Sports Direct tycoon loosens his grip on the club’s coffers. News of the promotion bonus -- which was part
of the deadline day agreement to loan five players from St James’ Park
second string -- "was made public" by interim Chair Paul Murray. A "furious" Houston said Tuesday, "I can’t say I’m surprised because we’ve been suggesting for a while that there were various things attached to these loan deals -- despite the claims from the previous regime that they were not costing Rangers any money. But, even so, to find out the full scale of the fee involved has most certainly come as a genuine shock. It’s a great deal more than even I anticipated and it’s just more evidence of the level of behavior inside that boardroom over the last few years" (DAILY RECORD, 4/1). In Edinburgh, Alan Pattullo wrote the detail of the possible payment to Newcastle was described as "beyond belief" by one supporters’ representative. Rangers Supporters Association General Secretary Drew Roberton described the situation as "a scandal." He added that "he hoped the current board might be able to contest the payment should McCall’s team succeed in their aim to return to the Premiership." He said, "It is beyond belief that the people running the club before March could conceivably agree to such a thing -- did they do anything at all to help the club’s welfare?" (SCOTSMAN, 4/1).
