Rangers pledge ticket refund if they go down

Senior News Reporter

Saturday 23 June 2012

RANGERS last night offered to refund season tickets if the Scottish Premier League rules they should play in a lower league.

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Martin Williams

Rangers chief executive Charles Green also announced the deadline for fans to renew had been delayed for nine days until July 11.

That date is a week after the vote by the SPL clubs on whether Rangers can play in the top tier, instead of the original date of two days before the vote.

Mr Green was forced into the new offer after the Rangers Supporters Trust called for supporters to delay paying for 2012/13 season tickets until after the decision.Trust general secretary John McMillan had said fans needed assurances, with fears the Ibrox club could be relegated after the formation of a newco by Mr Green's Sevco consortium last week.In a statement last night, Rangers said pricing will be reviewed and adjusted accordingly and refunds would be paid to season ticket holders who have already committed. Addressing fears that money had already been taken out of some fans' accounts, the club added the first of four direct debits would be taken on July 6, rather than June 29 as previously planned. Although the sums charged would be no different from those notified in renewal letters, the club said future payments would be cut if Rangers were forced to play in "an alternative league".Fans should also be assured that all season ticket money will be held in an account that will go directly to the club, say Rangers.Mr Green said: "I am pleased to announce today that the club has decided to continue the ticketing rights for bond-holders at Ibrox."There are approximately 6500 bond-holders and their contractual rights effectively came to an end following the rejection of the CVA proposals, thus forcing the creation of a new company."Brian Stockbridge, finance director, said: "There has been some misleading and inaccurate media coverage regarding season ticket monies." He added: "Rangers has full corporate banking facilities in place and the process of transferring direct debit instructions will be completed within the next few working days. We will be writing to all season ticket-holders who pay by direct debit with all relevant information. "A relatively small amount of money has been paid by supporters by cheque and cash, and that money is being transferred to the club's new bank account."Earlier, Mr McMillan said: "I believe supporters should be wary and be aware that until July 4 we aren't going to know which league, if any, we are going to be in." Of those who have already bought tickets, Mr McMillan said the club should promise that if it drops down to the "third, second, first Division, wherever it may be, they will give fans money back if prices come down."The Rangers Fans Fighting Fund had encouraged fans to renew their briefs in an effort to show support for manager Ally McCoist and his players.The fund's representatives emerged from meeting Mr Green on Thursday, to express satisfaction on the "future security" of Ibrox Stadium and Murray Park and the "ring-fencing of season tickets" for the club's benefit.Sevco formed a new firm for Rangers from the ashes of the administration-hit previous one for £5.5 million. The money is thought to be in the form of a loan to the club after Mr Green paid a nominal sum for it to former owner Craig Whyte.

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Rangers pledge ticket refund if they go down

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