The Rangers Supporters’ Trust and Rangers Supporters’ Association released a joint statement detailing five key questions that they wanted answered by the club’s bankers.
Already there have been banners unveiled at games in protest against Lloyds and the role of the man they have placed on the Ibrox board, Donald Muir - and now the disgruntled support are going to war.
This week, it was revealed in an investigation into the financial state of the game in our paper that Lloyds are also the bankers of SPL clubs such as Aberdeen, Hibs, St Johnstone and Dundee United.
Aberdeen, with a turnover of £8.6m, are also just under £8.5m in debt, and Rangers fans’ groups want to know why it’s only their club who has a man from the bank on the board.
Despite public assurances from Gers chairman Alastair Johnston last week that the bank are NOT running the club which has plunged £31million into the red, rumours persist that Muir will call the shots from now on, including key decisions on which players will be sold should offers come in during the January transfer window.
Now, the RST and RSA want answers. It is believed some Rangers fans have started to close personal and business accounts with Lloyds as they feel the bank are applying unfair pressure.
And in a surprise move, today’s statement called for shareholders to re-oppose the election of Muir onto the board at what promises to be a stormy AGM at Ibrox on December 7.
The joint statement read: “We believe that this current uncertainty is highly damaging and agree with our manager, Walter Smith, that this affects the team detrimentally and benefits no-one at a crucial time of the season.
“The Rangers support is being deliberately kept in the dark about issues as fundamental as the very future of the club, and therefore today we issue a public call to Lloyds Banking Group for answers to key questions.
“We urge the bank to respond to these questions promptly, given that a large section of the club’s fanbase are their customers.
“We urge all Rangers fans to approach Lloyds direct and seek answers to the above questions, should they not choose to respond publicly to the various fans’ groups who have united behind this statement.
“Should the support fail to receive satisfactory responses we will review all available options, including a coordinated termination of personal and business relationships with Lloyds Banking Group.
“Lloyds Banking Group should be aware that the Rangers family will NOT stand back and let them run our club.
“To that end, at the club’s AGM on December 7, we call on every shareholder to oppose the re-election of Donald Muir onto the club’s board.”
Trust spokesman David Edgar added: “This is a well thought-through request for transparency. If the bank don’t want to answer the questions we are posing, then they can deal with the consequences. Why should Rangers fans bank with them if they are not giving us the full picture of what’s happening at our club?
“We are not disputing the fact that the bank have the right to go in and run Rangers if they deem that as the best way forward. But the Rangers fans have a right to know what is happening, as does the general public given that the bank itself was bailed out by the taxpayers of this country.”
FANS WANT TO KNOW:
What is the remit given to Donald Muir by Lloyds Banking Group and what is he doing on the Rangers Board?
How many other Scottish football clubs owe significant amounts to Lloyds Banking Group and what role does the bank play in those clubs?
Are Rangers being treated by the bank as a stand-alone business - or as part of the Murray Group?
When will the Rangers support be consulted and involved in determining the future of our club?
Are the bank now the direct point of contact for any offers for the club - or is that point of contact the majority shareholder, Sir David Murray?
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