NIGEL SPACKMAN could see the future for Rangers. Having already lived through one Charles Green era, he knew what was to come at Ibrox.

The headlines, the statements, the bravado and the bewilderment came together to form a far from perfect storm. Now, Spackman is just happy that the dark clouds have dissipated.

There are few relationships more important at a club than that between the manager and his chief executive. At Sheffield United, it was a fractious one that became non-existent.

Spackman had taken the Blades to within touching distance of the First Division summit but would resign from his position before his side would climb to the top. In the end, he could no longer work with Green.

It was why, when the Yorkshireman assumed control of Rangers in 2012, Spackman feared the worst for his friends and his former club. Four years on, the story of Green’s Ibrox tenure has seen many chapters written, and there could yet be more to come.

“Sadly, I could see what was coming,” Spackman said. “I have a couple of really good friends who are season ticket holders, executive club members at Rangers. I told them, I tried to warn them. They said he was doing a good job. To be fair, it wasn’t long before they were back on the phone saying ‘you were right big man’.

“I could see what was going to happen and unfortunately at a great club like Rangers what can you do when someone likes that gets into power. I always thought it was going to be a disaster and sadly I was right, it was a disaster. Football isn’t a business. It’s a passion, it’s a religion.

“For my part, I haven’t been back at Ibrox since that regime got in. Once Charles Green got in there was no way I was coming to Ibrox. I’ve been really busy with my work for TV but hopefully I will be back soon under the new regime.

“I advised Ally (McCoist) as best I can. He sees me know and says, ‘I did listen to you, but I didn’t think it would be that bad.’ After all they’ve been through, it’s great to see the club coming back.”

Green may have arrived in Glasgow as a relative unknown but Spackman was well aware of what could unfold once he took office at Ibrox. Few people know exactly what went on behind closed doors between Green and McCoist during his two spells at Rangers. Spackman has an idea, though.

With United in the hunt for promotion, Brian Deane and Jan Age Fjørtoft were sold without the knowledge of the manager. It was the beginning of the end for him at Bramall Lane.

“I remember the day we sold Brian,” Spackman said. “I’d been down in London looking at a player. I got a call from Willie Donnachie, who was my No.2, and he said Brian and Jan Age Fjortoft weren’t at training.

“I phoned Charles and he said, ‘yes I need to speak to you about that after training.’ I said, ‘no you f*****g don’t’ and I drove straight to the club. The chairman, vice-chairman and CEO were there. It was a heated meeting because Brian had been given permission to speak to Benfica and he was over in Portugal and Jan had been given permission to speak to Barnsley who were then in the Premier League.

“We were fourth in the league and we had a real chance of going up. But a few days later I was called to another board meeting and told the club needed to raise another £1.2million. Shortly after, Don Hutchinson was sold to Everton.

“We beat Wolves on the Saturday and I resigned on the Monday. Why? Because I wasn’t being allowed to manage anymore. I wasn’t in control any longer.

“We had a chance of promotion but other people chose to take the club in another direction. I resigned and that really turned the pressure onto Charles, he was forced out not long after because the fans could see through it. He was fathomed out not long after I resigned.”

It may be almost three years since Green left Rangers for the second time but the fall-out from his time in Glasgow continues. It could do for some time yet.

Progress has been made on and off the park by the new Ibrox board in their first months at the helm as Rangers have taken steps on the road to recovery. Spackman, back in Glasgow ahead of the Scottish Cup final between Mark Warburton’s side and Hibernian next week, is pleased to see a calmer picture at boardroom level after the Green era came to a close.

“I don’t know how long it will take, I don’t know if everything has come out yet,” he said. “Maybe the current board are in there now still finding things. Perhaps they are dealing with things that have been hidden.

“But it certainly hasn’t taken the club forward, it has taken the club backwards. Sometimes you have to look to the future but the supporters need to know what has happened to their great club.”