THERE were doubtless a fair few fans who were excited about the prospect of Dave King pumping tens of millions of pounds into Rangers during the struggle for power at the ailing Ibrox club in the last couple of years.

 

Yet, in all likelihood the majority of supporters were more favourably disposed towards the Johannesburg-based businessman than the individuals who occupied the boardroom, and those who controlled them, for other reasons.

Having King in a position of authority was, most felt, preferable to the men behind shadowy entities like Blue Pitch Holdings and Margarita Funds Holding Trust - whose identities have still, after three years, not been fully revealed - wielding significant influence.

In addition, the possibility of a genuine fan, someone who viewed the Glasgow institution as more than, as Mike Ashley does, another outlet in a nationwide chain of sports goods stores, taking control was appealing to many.

Derek Llambias, the former chief executive, outlined the Sports Direct business plan at a meeting with the official Rangers Fans' Board in February shortly before he disbanded the group. "The model is taking over as many retail operations at football clubs and putting them 'into the SD machine' for ongoing revenues," he said.

It was little wonder, then, that more than 85 per cent of the shareholders who voted at the EGM in March supported the removal of what remained of the board and the appointment of John Gilligan, King and Paul Murray as company directors.

Nevertheless, the recent pronouncements of King, who has now taken up his position as club chairman after being passed as "fit and proper" by the SFA, have caused some bemusement and even, in certain quarters, ridicule.

As he appealed to fans to show the same level of backing they did when Rangers played in the Third Division in the 2012/13 campaign (when 38,228 people bought season tickets) earlier this month, King stated: "The club needed money and we put the money in. We've done our bit."

The "our bit" he was referring to was the £1.5 million in interest-free loans which both he and the members of The Three Bears consortium, which comprises George Letham, Douglas Park and George Taylor, have separately provided for working capital in the last few months and which will be converted into shares in the future.

It was quickly pointed out that King's outlay has, even if you added the amount he spent acquiring his 14.57 per cent stake, fallen some way short of the £30 million he had personally promised to part with as he agitated for change. What was it that judge in South Africa had called him again?

It is worth remembering, though, that King had estimated he would need to plough that sum "over the next four years". He has also stressed there will be further "substantial investment" from himself and other major backers going forward.

Gilligan, the former managing director of Tennent Caledonian Breweries, asked the gathering at the EGM called by Ashley at Ibrox 10 days ago to "trust us". The supporters remain, given some of the ersatz characters to have preceded the current regime, overwhelmingly of a mind to do so.

But ultimately the current custodians of Rangers will be judged by their actions and not their words.

AND ANOTHER THING . . .

OF the many reasons put forward as to why Mark Warburton may fail at Rangers (lack of managerial experience, inability to cope with the pressure, limited knowledge of Scottish football) the fact he didn't play professionally hasn't been among them.

With very good reason. Not having earned a living as a footballer has been shown to be no impediment to being a successful coach with a major club, or even a national team, on myriad occasions in the past.

Indeed, Bill Struth, the longest-serving and most decorated manager in the Ibrox club's history, was originally a stonemason to trade. He was an accomplished middle-distance runner and started out in football as a trainer with first Clyde and then Hearts.

Many others without backgrounds as professionals have done exceptionally. Carlos Alberto Parreira (a fitness coach) led Brazil to the World Cup in 1994, Arrigo Sacchi (a shoe salesman) was in charge when AC Milan won back-to-back European Cups in 1989 and 1990 and Gerard Houllier (a schoolteacher) lifted the UEFA Cup with Liverpool in 2001.

Guy Roux, meanwhile, spent no fewer than 44 years with Auxerre in France after being given his chance aged just 23. He nurtured the embryonic talents of Laurent Blanc, Eric Cantona and, er, Basile Boli, won the Ligue 1 title once and the Coupe de France four times.

Warburton was unable to make the grade as a youngster with Leicester City in the late 1970s, when the legendary Rangers manager Jock Wallace was a domineering presence at Filbert Street, and moved on to play semi-professionally for part-time non-league Enfield and Boreham Wood.

He worked as a trader in the City of London dealing Yen and made enough money to retire from that line of work aged just 41 and pursue his dream of a career in the game he loved. There is no reason Rangers won't be quid's in with him as manager despite his far from stellar playing days.