Scottish Premier League - Rangers fans oppose board

Eurosport - Wed, 14 Jan 16:05:00 2009

Disgruntled Rangers' supporters groups have launched a stinging attack on the club's board and demanded an immediate change of direction at Ibrox.

FOOTBALL; Rangers fans in Manchester, May 2009 - 0

Backed by the board of the Rangers Supporters Trust, as well as involving other fan organisations, the 'We deserve better' campaign challenged the club's hierarchy to announce measures designed to improve Rangers' lot both on and off the field.

Wednesday's move comes in the wake of a month of turmoil at Ibrox, in which chairman Sir David Murray admitted the club would be forced to sell at least one of their star players to balance the books.

Tuesday night's Scottish Cup tie at St Johnstone saw visiting fans unfurl a large banner reading "David Murray must go" as the Ibrox owner sat in the directors' box.

Wednesday's attack focuses on the club's activity in the last decade and the relative lack of success on and off the field.

A wide-ranging list of complaints - one of which was that there was "no discernible strategic vision, either on or off the pitch" - begins by highlighting the club's two Scottish Premier League title wins in the last eight seasons, which is set against a backdrop of dominance by arch-rivals Celtic.

The garnering of only two trophies in the last three full campaigns and this season's embarrassing Champions League qualifying defeat to Lithuanian minnows Kaunas is also pointed out.

The statement complains that the club's Murray Park training facility, opened in 2001, had failed either to improve the technique of first-team players or help in the nurturing of youth players.

As Rangers look to offload up to 10 fringe men in January, the Ibrox club's record in the transfer market is questioned.

Furthermore, the perceived breakdown between the fans and the club - for years a hot topic among a section of the Ibrox support - is highlighted.

It is claimed there has been a "failure to engage with or interact with the support in any meaningful way".

The statement goes on to claim supporters have been treated with "disdain" and have been reduced to "almost 'social pariah' status through a failure to challenge those seeking to link Rangers with sectarianism".

The attack concludes with an appeal for all Rangers fans to unite behind the campaign, while stressing "the people at the top of the club must realise that we will no longer accept the avoidable situation we currently find ourselves in".

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. LOL! Mazz - great minds think alike! Although I thought­ it was the sight of their first RC import under the­ Souness regime blessing himself in front of the rangers­ support! The Battle of The Boyn, and the Potato Famine­ are consigned to ancient history, and "the­ troubles" are recent history, but history­ nonetheless. Let's consign it to the history books,­ and start enjoying the next 91 years of the 21st­ century!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Thu 15 Jan 10:42AM

  2. all rangers fans want success,so does murray (business­ wise) so we have to compromise,the only way to succeed­ financially is to keep boyd, fergie, and the likes.­ boydy scores goals = points "nuff said" we­ need the money from european games to succeed in­ business MURRAY we need these players to get there.­ sell the fringe players and guys collecting wages and­ not playing HEMDANI and murray could stablise the ship­ from his other interests. then the famous glasgow­ rangers will march on together. wullie j.

    From WILLIAM, on Thu 15 Jan 10:38AM

  3. Educated debate always a breath of fresh air! A change­ from the hate fueled ignorance from those, most­ probably still suffering the effects of post traumatic­ stress, caused by Rangers signing Mo Johnstone back in­ 1989!

    From Mazz McK, on Thu 15 Jan 10:33AM

  4. Celtic fan here, i dont blame rangers fans for opposing­ murray/board. Murray major mistake is in willing to­ listen to offers for his major players at a time in the­ season where they cant afford to go, esp when there­ squad is so paper thin. Seems like murray is trying to­ re-coup as much money as he possibly can before he­ eventually sells rangers on.

    also on a seperate note,­ how gutted am i that boyd didnt leave!!!

    From Philip, on Thu 15 Jan 10:29AM

  5. David W - where have you been hiding? All I've read­ on this site for months is endless FTP drivel, etc from­ "alleged" rangers fans. All of a sudden you­ come along, like a breath of fresh air! They've­ dished it out, so in return I've dished it back,­ but hopefully now that you've arrived, perhaps we­ can see proper debate here! WELCOME, MY FRIEND!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Thu 15 Jan 10:26AM

  6. Well said David W.

    From Mazz McK, on Thu 15 Jan 9:57AM

  7. point 65 1st rangers fan here to make any sense .
    the­ rest of them just dribble all over themselves with­ their nonsense

    From simonk, on Thu 15 Jan 9:53AM

  8. POINT 66 MIBEES AYE

    From JAMESM WATP, on Thu 15 Jan 9:35AM

  9. point 42....are you braveheart??....

    From sean d, on Thu 15 Jan 9:32AM

  10. Im a True Rangers supporter and im beginning to grow­ tired of the famine gags! Their old and rusty and come­ from the mouths of small time bigots who have probably­ never even graced ibrox.. Its embarrasing for both true­ fans and the club that wee pric@s continue to spout­ this boring rubbish,,, All i can say to them is _ Shut­ up and ship out you are not rangers supporters you are­ uneducated fannies....

    From David W, on Thu 15 Jan 9:02AM

  11. al tims must go home the famine is over

    From scottm977, on Thu 15 Jan 4:45AM

  12. im confused, so are the people at the top no longer the­ people? why dont the ones who want rid of murray go­ start another team to compete with murrays team and see­ how you get on, or are you not the people either?

    From inverkenny, on Thu 15 Jan 3:26AM

  13. the ship is sinking at ibrox.. strategic vision?.. i­ love it lol

    From zzgus f, on Thu 15 Jan 1:16AM

  14. the ship is sinking at ibrox.. strategic vision?.. i­ love it lol

    From zzgus f, on Thu 15 Jan 1:13AM

  15. point 51 who says a was takn tae you away n have a wash­ 52 in may

    From JAMESM WATP, on Thu 15 Jan 12:21AM

  16. ..." Tell all the gers you know that we're top­ of the league and your no...they've been told by­ the BANKERS to sell all their W4NKER5...and its gonna­ be 4 in a row "...

    From steph_hewitt2001, on Wed 14 Jan 11:48PM

  17. no jamesie im simon cant you read on top of it all
    i­ suppose i should not be surprised if you cannot

    From simonk, on Wed 14 Jan 11:43PM

  18. point 51 the truth can be fun like rangers will win 52­ in may 2009 easy watp

    From JAMESM WATP, on Wed 14 Jan 11:42PM

  19. They can't reply because they are all away down to­ Ibrox to burn the season books out side and rob the hub­ caps from Sir lol Sir Davie Bhoy Murrays wheel­ chair.

    ..."HELLO HELLO IT GONNA BE 4 IN A­ ROW"...
    ..."HELLO HELLO IT GONNA BE 4 IN A­ ROW"...
    are we all singing now guys c'mon you­ know the tune

    From steph_hewitt2001, on Wed 14 Jan 11:42PM

  20. point 51 wits up stevie

    From JAMESM WATP, on Wed 14 Jan 11:40PM
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