Craig Mather Statement

[chilledbear 16]

http://t.co/7q2pCdrsD6

 

RANGERS Chief Executive Craig Mather has issued the following statement today.

 

He said: “Rangers Football Club is a 141-year-old institution built for success and along with the Board of Directors, I am determined to conduct business with honour, dignity and integrity. The men who created this great club would expect no less.

“During my time as a main investor and now as Chief Executive, I have learned about the club's rich history and proud traditions.

"So it is with deep regret that I find I must address the recent frenzy that has surrounded this great club.

"Again there are those attempting to bang down the doors simply because they feel they should be inside before any others and for no good reason other than self gain and arrogance.

"It doesn't matter to them that they have not invested or helped the club, or that they failed to make even a remotely credible attempt to save this fantastic club in its darkest hours.

"Not a single one of them stepped forward willing to invest their own money. Yet now they think they can waltz into the club.

"This club needs commitment and unity. It does not require the type of people who stood back and did nothing when Rangers were in trouble.

"Now, as Rangers has been climbing on to more solid ground and as the fans are heartened by what they've seen, these men emerge from the shadows with empty promises. They should be ashamed.

"It is surely no coincidence that they waited until the signs are positive and strong.

“Ally McCoist has enjoyed a positive pre-season programme, we have added eight new players to the squad to get Rangers back to the top flight and more than 34,000 supporters have bought season tickets for the new campaign.

“There was a positivity and excitement ahead of the new season and this was heightened by last weekend's victory and slick performance against Albion Rovers.

“It is therefore disappointing that once again we are distracted by non-football matters that do nothing but destabilise this club.

“Rangers fans are well aware that there have been various people trying to grab pieces of their club for years now and to force themselves into positions of power.

“However, all they have ever done and continue to do is have a negative effect when I and the other directors are trying to focus totally on taking Rangers back to the pinnacle of Scottish football.

“It is a difficult task and yet again we are seeing people attempting to make it impossible.

"But we will not be defeated, I certainly won't, and we will meet this latest ill-considered and ill-timed challenge head on.

“Let me stress that I, as Chief Executive, a position I am privileged and honoured to hold, and all of the other directors are firmly behind Ally McCoist and his team as we embark on stage two of our journey

“I urge all of our fans not to listen to rhetoric or empty promises and continue to support the manager and those of us who do genuinely have Rangers' best interests at heart.

“Everyone is entitled to an opinion, including Charles Green. But what I want to make clear is this: Backing the manager and the playing staff in their quest to restore Rangers' fortunes is critical to our ambitions.

"That and resolving to stand firm against anyone who would drag Rangers down in their selfish desire to promote themselves.

"This great club is bigger and more important than any of them, or any other individual."

[der Berliner 3,682]

Strong words indeed.