STEVEN NAISMITH has branded Rangers' treatment of their fanbase "appalling" and believes supporters will review their negative opinion of him when the truth of what has been going on behind the scenes at the club is made public.

Police investigations are ongoing into the circumstances which surrounded both Craig Whyte's takeover in 2011 and the subsequent deals which were done to permit the Charles Green-led Sevco consortium to buy the club's assets for £5.5m following administration in 2012.

Naismith refused to transfer his contract over to the new company formed in the wake of that agreement and left for Everton on a free transfer. A number of other players including Allan McGregor, Steven Whittaker and Kyle Lafferty also walked away from the club at that time.

Naismith admits he is upset by the fact a section of the Ibrox support continues to demonise him over his decision to leave without bringing in a transfer fee, but he has stated in a BBC interview that he is certain the decisions of those players will be looked upon in a different light when the realities of the situation have been fully exposed.

Despite receiving a recent £2m loan from the Newcastle United owner, Mike Ashley, Rangers remain desperately short of funds and are likely to be faced with a decision to make over selling their star player, Lewis Macleod, in January.

Herald Sport understands Burnley have joined the list of clubs from England monitoring the midfielder's progress. Aston Villa have also been credited with an interest and he remains one of the few assets on the playing staff capable of bringing in a seven-figure sum.

"It is disappointing and sad because it is the club I grew up supporting," said Naismith, in reaction to the suggestion that Rangers fans still refuse to cheer him even in a Scotland shirt.

"I had some of my best memories in football there, but a situation arose that was out of everybody's hands. I think the fans and the good people at the club are still suffering. I hope they will come out of this situation they are in soon.

"It was a horrible decision for everyone involved to make. The biggest thing for us, as players, was that no-one was made redundant and we did that part of it. Over time, I am sure the truth will come out.

"In years to come, people will understand it a bit more and understand it from the players point of view a bit more. The fans always have their opinion and they are right to. They pay good money to come and watch. They are the backbone, especially of a club such as Rangers.

"Over the last two or three years, they have been treated appallingly. For everyone's sake, I hope it gets better and they can get back in the division they deserve to be in challenging for trophies."

Naismith insists none of the players wanted to leave Rangers following the meltdown of the business under Whyte's reign, but concedes there were other ways he could have resolved his own situation.

"Looking back, I would definitely have done some things differently," he said. "None of us wanted to leave that way. It wasn't nice at all. We'd done all we could. It wasn't deferred wages [we had]. It was wage cuts, in the hope that we came out of administration and could move on.

"It didn't happen. It got to the point where there was not much else the players could do. People would have liked us to have stayed and transferred over, but it wasn't just as easy as doing that. It was a horrible situation to be in.

"I can say that everyone in that changing room had no interest in leaving. Everything was fine, we were successful and doing well.

"However, when you are doing all you can to help and it becomes impossible, you need to make a decision.

"It was very disappointing the way I left, but I hope, over time, that people can look back and say I was part of a successful team that brought some very good days for the club."

Rangers currently sit nine points behind Hearts in the SPFL Championship with some supporters calling for the head of the manager, Ally McCoist, during the weekend's 2-0 loss at Tynecastle. "The fans were frustrated at the result and the wider condition of the club," said a spokesman for the Rangers Supporters Trust.

"The club is a shambles. The vast majority of the fans' frustration has been directed at the board, but Ally knows he has to take responsibility for results.

"You have to look at the minimum requirement, which is to get promoted. We would we want to go up to the Premiership as winners of the league, but that is looking less likely after the Hearts result. Although they are not great, the bottom line is they have beaten us twice this season.

"To those people who say Ally has to go, fine. But who would pick his replacement? We don't even have a chief executive.

"I don't think the fans would trust this board to pick a replacement. There is no money, no scouting system, nothing."