DAVE KING wants an Ibrox EGM – to let the fans decide who runs Rangers.
Following John Bennett’s shock resignation, the Castlemilk-born tycoon has offered to return as chairman.
Former Rangers chairman Dave King has called for an EGM[/caption]
King (centre), John Gilligan and Paul Murray after an EGM in 2015 where they seized control of the club’s boardroom[/caption]
His hopes looked to be dashed after the Rangers board made it clear there is no desire to welcome him back.
But now King – who stood down after five years in the hot-seat in 2020 – has urged the Light Blues hierarchy to let supporters have their say.
The 69-year-old said: “We need to find the right CEO and construct an executive team that will take the club forward.
“Using a recruitment agency will be counterproductive and expensive.
“This decision again reinforces the disconnection of this board from reality and its inability to get recruitment right.
“I completely understand why some influential board members don’t want me back.
“They know from past experience that I would not tolerate board members who are only in it for the “jacket and tie” and don’t actually want to do any real work.
“If the board can, for once, set aside self-interest and put the supporters first, then I offer a challenge.
“Urgently call an Extraordinary General Meeting – as I did to get Ashley out – and put yourselves up for re-election.
“I will in turn put up my nominations, including myself.
“None of the existing board members can vote and neither will I.
“John Bennett and George Letham would also be excluded from voting for obvious reasons.
“In that way we can leave it to supporters – for once – to decide who they want to run their club.”
Gers are operating without a chairman and chief executive, with King outlining his two-year plan to haul the club back on track.
Vowing to provide leadership and stability, the Johannesburg-based business insists Rangers MUST attract outside investment.
King revealed: “I estimate that the club needs a minimum of £50 million to achieve our short to medium term objectives, but that could never be raised under the present board structure.
“The funds we need must come from a far wider and wealthier base and from parties that will be willing to invest more, over time, to take the club forward and to become a modern age football club.
“This board could not put forward the business case to achieve such an investment.
“I have repeatedly said that we, as shareholders, are only custodians of the club for its true “owner”- the supporters.
“I do not believe that the supporters can have any confidence in the present board to turn things around.
“Lurking in the shadows in a time of need is not the Rangers way and that is why I have again offered to assist.
“If there is a better option I would support that.
“But, I cannot support a leaderless, rudderless board that is in a crisis of its own making.”
King – along with current interim chairman John Gilligan and Paul Murray – wrestled control of Rangers in 2015.
Under his stewardship, Gers won their first title in ten years back in 2021.
But the club have regressed both on and off the park since then with King last night insisting: “The faceless names on the present board have presided over the hollowing out of our club.
“The significant cash received from supporters and from the sale of Bassey, Aribo, Patterson etc have been wasted on poor recruitment of managers and players, and poor cost control and oversight of infrastructure projects.
“Yet, those same faceless people want the chance to do it all again.
“When John Bennett took over he tried to turn things around- but had no human or financial resources to support him.
“It is amazing that the same people who got us into this trouble want to continue control by placing, as a professional chairman, their own puppet- who will have no knowledge of the club or financial interest in its future.
“We are sleepwalking Celtic towards 55, 56 and 57 instead of trying to stop them.”
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