Sport : Football

Murray wants backing for Rangers regime

28th June 2012, 07:04pm

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Rangers are under new ownership

Rangers are under new ownership

Chairman Malcolm Murray has urged supporters to get behind the newco Rangers as he announced that players and staff had been paid as scheduled.

Thirteen players reported for pre-season training on the day their monthly wages were due but at least 10 have refused to join the new company.

About 1,500 Rangers fans protested against Charles Green and his team outside Ibrox on Wednesday night and were addressed by former player John Brown, who is attempting to lead a fans' buyout.

Green has already rejected two offers since buying the assets and business of Rangers for £5.5million two weeks ago and has faced criticism over a lack of clarity surrounding his investors and scepticism over funding available.

However, Murray stressed working capital was in place and that Craig Whyte, who took Rangers into administration, was not involved in Sevco.

Murray also insisted that the company, which they hope to rename The Rangers Football Club, owned all of the assets.

In a lengthy statement, Murray said: "The club is funded by the new owners and working capital is in place for the foreseeable future.

"Staff and players were paid this month as normal and will continue to be while the club operates and functions normally.

"We are raising additional funds as we said that we would and the board are working to find a way to allow supporters the opportunity to invest. More details will be available in the near future.

"There is no doubt, however, that any boycott of season ticket sales can only harm the club and the manager Ally McCoist and ultimately the supporters.

"Such action would only serve to help destroy the very institution that is so dear to us.

"The club has new banking facilities in place and, as stated a number of times previously, all season ticket money will only be used for the benefit of the club and its operations."

Murray added: "Events have triggered a frenzy of emotion to the point where the only people who stepped up to buy the club and begin the long and arduous task of restoring and rebuilding Rangers are now being vilified by people who claim to have the interests of the club at heart.

"This is deeply depressing and such factionalism can only undermine efforts to make Rangers once again the great sporting institution it has been for generations."

Murray named three investors for the first time - Mazen Houssami, Elias Kaisar and Mr Jean Haddad.

He added: "The provenance of all investments made in Rangers is being made now to the SFA and all directors of Rangers will be required to pass the SFA's fit and proper persons test.

"At the outset the investors agreed that Rangers would be a long-term strategic investment and there is no intention of selling the club."

Murray urged Brown, who left his job as a club scout, to unite with Sevco and encourage his partners to invest in the club.

"All fans and potential investors should pull together in difficult times," he said.

After Brown urged Green to show him whose name was on the title deeds to Ibrox, Murray said: "All the assets commonly associated with the football club - Ibrox, Murray Park, the Albion car park, staff, players etc - are the property of The Rangers Football Club, which at present is registered as Sevco Scotland Ltd until a name change is given formal approval.

"For the avoidance of doubt, Craig Whyte has NO involvement with the club, in Sevco, The Rangers Football Club or any other of the consortium members.

"Indeed, measures have been implemented to ensure that Mr Whyte could not return to the club in any way which is in compliance with the SFA's ruling on his participation in Scottish football."

Murray finished off by saying: "The vicious and gratuitous blood lust of recent times must end, not only for Rangers' sake but for Scottish football too.

"Certain individuals must ask some searching questions of themselves as to what their true motives have been over the last few months and as to whether they really have the best interests at heart of the club they claim to love and support."

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