CHARLES Green has insisted he will attend Rangers' William Hill Scottish Cup match against Dundee United at Tannadice despite the fans' boycott of the fixture.
Green last night confirmed he would be present at the fifth-round match on Sunday February 2, after condemning United's decision to sell tickets to Rangers supporters. He believes the club's plan to offer briefs to away fans for a tie for which the Ibrox club have refused to take up their official allocation, could create safety problems.
However, Green will travel. "Of course I will go to Tannadice," he said. "I'm a director of the club so I've got a responsibility. There will be other directors who will travel. Most are businessman and have other duties so the numbers vary from game to game.
"At Elgin on Saturday there were two directors – myself and Ian Hart – with two guests, including Andy Cameron. It was difficult as it was an early kick-off. There are lots of factors which dictate the numbers. But I go to every game. I think it's my responsibility. It would be bad manners not to go."
Stephen Thompson, the Dundee United chairman, was one of the most outspoken figures in the summer on the subject of admitting the Ibrox club to the top flight.
Rangers, backed by the main supporters' bodies, decided against accepting their allocation of tickets for the match at Tannadice.
Despite being one of a potential handful of Rangers representatives in the stands for the Scottish Cup match in February, Green says he has no fears for his safety.
"I'm sure the welcome will be frosty – it's frosty everywhere I go right now," he said. "I've never known it to be warm since I got to Scotland. I expect the welcome in Dundee will be exactly as the reception will be for Dundee United if we draw at Tannadice.
"I won't be taking any extra security. I'm from the Yorkshire coal mines. But if it's a warm reception for me at Tannadice then that's good – because I'm usually freezing at games."
Meanwhile, the possible return of Dorin Goian to Rangers appears to be on hold.
The Romanian defender, on loan with Serie B team Spezia, has been described as "my biggest disappointment" by Spezia's sporting director Nelso Ricci.
However, manager Michele Serena said: "He still has time to settle in and will be an important player for us in the second half of the season."
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