RANGERS fans have called for the heads of Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley's last remaining allies in the boardroom after chairman David Somers resigned days before his future was to be decided by shareholders.

The Rangers Supporters Trust said it was "delighted" at Mr Somers' resignation calling him "inept and embarrassing". The move came just a few days after director James Easdale also resigned.

The RST said it was now time for the resignations of Derek Llambias and Barry Leach, the remaining directors on the Rangers International Football Club plc board who are business associates of Ashley, the Sports Direct owner and founder.

The Trust want the chief executive and finance director to go in advance of Friday's extraordinary general meeting of shareholders set up to decide the fate of the board and whether to replace them with King, former Blue Knight Paul Murray, and former Glasgow brewery boss John Gilligan.

"There is a huge rebuilding process required at the club. We ask the remaining directors to leave now so it can start a few days early," said an RST spokesman.

"They should do the right thing, appoint the nominee directors and then follow Mr Somers out of the door."

The call came as it emerged that Mr Ashley chose not to make a personal appearance at a Scottish Football Association disciplinary hearing which was continuing on Monday night over charges relating to possible breaches of dual interest rules through his involvement in Rangers and Newcastle.

Ashley owns 8.92% of the Scottish Championship outfit's shares but was accused on December 15 of not acting in the best interests of football and of breaching a rule relating to holding power over two clubs.

Ashley was refused permission by the SFA, Scottish football's ruling body, to extend his Ibrox shareholding to almost 30%, having previously signed an agreement that limits him to 10%.

Llambias and Leach joined the plc board after Ashley provided an emergency loan to the club.

A condition of the loan is that Ashley has two of his representatives on the plc board. The board has previously said that Llambias and Leach are not the nominated representatives.

Meanwhile former Rangers manager Walter Smith has decided to proxy his shares to the Rangers Supporters Trust (RST) ahead of the club's EGM on Friday.