Martin Bain back in football with Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv

[ian1964 10,720]

BAIN has been out of football for three years since leaving Rangers in the wake of Craig Whyte's purchase of the club but says sufficient time has passed since his "bruising" experience at Ibrox.

 

MARTIN BAIN last night made a surprise return to football as chief executive of Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv.

 

The former Rangers CEO has been out of the game since May 2011 when he was ousted by Craig Whyte after attempting to block what quickly became a catastrophic takeover.

 

Bain’s relationship with former owner Sir David Murray broke down as the sale of the club to Whyte was pushed through and he felt so badly damaged he turned down a string of job offers from other clubs over the last three years.

 

But he has been persuaded to take on the role in the Middle East after being handpicked for the job by Maccabi’s wealthy Canadian owner Mitch Goldhar.

 

And after being presented to local media at a press conference yesterday Bain spoke exclusively to Record Sport to reveal why he has decided to step back into football’s firing line – and to angrily reject suggestions he helped bring the Ibrox club to its knees.

 

Bain, who has not spoken publicly since being sacked by Whyte, said: “I feel sufficient time has passed for me to now return to football and I’m delighted to take on this new challenge at Maccabi.

 

“The way things ended for me at Rangers was obviously a bruising experience and I needed to take a period of time out for the sake of my family.

 

“I chose not to say anything about what went on at Ibrox but, now that I am returning the game, I think it’s appropriate I point out a few facts.

 

“In the two years since the board restructure in August 2009 and prior to Craig Whyte forcing my removal from the club, turnover had increased, operating costs reduced net debt more than halved from £31.1million at June 30, 2009 to £14.1m at June 30, 2011.

 

“This debt reduction was beyond the targets set by the bank.

 

“During that time the club won three consecutive league titles in difficult circumstances while also reaching a UEFA Cup Final.

 

“I needed time away form football after everything that went on towards the end of my time at Rangers.

 

“But Mitch Goldhar is a very ambitious and persuasive man. He has huge plans for this club and when he explained them to me I felt it was an offer I could not refuse.

 

“I believe I am the right fit for what he wants to do in terms of his vision to build a European Club model, training academy and investing in building the club under Jordi Cruyff, the club’s director of football and our coach Pako Aysteran.”

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-rangers-chief-martin-bain-4301876

[craig 5,199]

Not to be pedantic.... but he talks in the timeframe of August 2009 and June 2011... then says "during that timeframe.... reaching a UEFA final".

 

Martin, we played in the UEFA final in May 2008... outwith the timeframe you talk of.

 

Must admit, I am stunned he got this job.