St Johnstone assure fans they will vote 'no' to newco

Sports writer

Saturday 23 June 2012

St Johnstone are expected to join Hearts and Dundee United as confirmed 'no' voters when the Scottish Premier League clubs meet to decide on Charles Green's newco's request to receive oldco Rangers' league share.

Steve Brown, left, has told fans he will vote 'no'

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Richard Wilson

Steve Brown, the Perth side's chairman, revealed his stance at a private meeting with a St Johnstone Fans Forum during the week, but he has made no public declaration, unlike Hearts and United.

Stewart Milne, the chairman of Aberdeen, moved yesterday to deny reports his club had also decided to vote 'no' on July 4. They are still expected to vote against, as are Celtic, Hibernian and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, which would leave Rangers' newco short of the eight votes required to gain entry into the SPL.

Brown has flown out to Geneva for Monday's Europa League draw, but a source told Herald Sport: "Steve had been hoping to keep the board's stance confidential and prevent it being played out in the media before the July meeting of SPL chairmen. But when he was flagging-up ambitious plans to introduce a new family stand at McDiarmid Park and for free admission for under-12s next season, it emerged that the Perth board had decided to say 'no' a newco Rangers on the grounds that St Johnstone's best interests, and those of season ticket holders, would always come first and the sporting integrity of the game also had to be of paramount importance."Steve was at pains to make it clear it wasn't an issue with Rangers. Their stance would have been the same whatever club had gone into liquidation and breached the rulebook. He told fans steps had to be taken to prevent a repeat."Aberdeen were thought to have joined Hearts and United in declaring their stance to a Rangers newco, who now look likely to go into the Irn-Bru First or Third Divisions. But Milne said that the board has yet to finalise its position. "The views of our fans and the issue of sporting integrity will clearly be a major influencing factor in our decision-making," he said.Green received a further setback yesterday, with the Rangers Supporters Trust advising fans not to renew their season tickets. Herald Sport revealed that renewal money currently goes into the oldco's bank account, where it is not securely ring-fenced, despite Green's assertion to the contrary."Given recent revelations, we feel there is no other option open to the support than to delay payment until it is clear that proper corporate banking facilities are in place and supporters cash is protected from liquidators," the RST said. "The RST board has serious concerns with regard to Charles Green's business model. It remains unclear whether he will be able to raise the £30m pledged at the outset of his bid."Rangers did attempt to appease fans by announcing that the season ticket renewal deadline has been moved to July 11, and that prices will take into account which division the team is in. "Rangers has not taken any season ticket money by direct debits," said Brian Stockbridge, the finance director. "At present Rangers has full corporate banking facilities in place and the process of transferring direct debit instructions will be completed within the next few working days."

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St Johnstone assure fans they will vote 'no' to newco

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