Nanny state is Charles Green consortium's key to care

Sports Writer

Sunday 20 May 2012

CHARLES Green last night fleshed out his plans for a share issue at Rangers and said his proposed new structure would prevent a rogue owner such as David Murray or Craig Whyte leading the club into further turmoil in the future.

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By Stewart Fisher

Green and his consortium plan to list the club on the London-based AIM market in the next few months and open up a two-year window for new and existing shareholders to buy into the club.

The Yorkshireman even compared himself to kids' film character Nanny McPhee, a strict governess who the fans need, but might not want, yet whose work will be done when the club no longer needs him. Green said: "All the things we are seeing now coming out in these reports where David Murray had run it this way and Craig Whyte had done these things, will never be allowed to happen again. "If you have been to see Nanny McPhee, that's my role," added Green, who plans to be interim CEO of the company. "When you need but don't want me I am here. The fans don't want me because I am a bad guy from Sheffield United, but actually when you don't need me but want me I am leaving and that's when the accountant walks into my office with the balance sheet and says 'Charles we have got all these assets and no debt and here's the bank statement with a pile of cash in the bank'. Then, I'll disappear as fast as I appeared." Green hopes to escape administration via a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), and remains hopeful of getting the assent of major creditors such as HMRC and Ticketus. Nonetheless, he is committed to pursuing the newco route in the event he is unsuccessful. Green said: "It would seem illogical to me this concept that HMRC want to make an example of someone and what better example than the mighty Rangers. The reality is that to agree to the CVA they will get several million back and I can't understand how the government or the treasury would agree to lose anything in financial terms to make an example when cash could be received. If commonsense prevails, it will go through." The clock is ticking, however, especially as season tickets have to be sold for next season. Green and manager Ally McCoist will make an appeal to fans to buy into their project next week, once McCoist returns from a youth competition in Hong Kong. Some "local names" with a previous link to Rangers would be announcing their backing for his plans in the next few days. "If ever there was a time for unification it's now," said Green, who envisages the club's long-term future in a European league. "There have been major issues and we accept there is always going to be some doubt and mistrust because of what happened in the past. What people can really be sure is that any money that comes into the club, whether it is from hospitality, season-ticket sales, marketing from any contracts, is going to stay in the club and be used for the club."

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Nanny state is Charles Green consortium's key to care

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