George Taylor Signs up to Rangers First: Fans should own Rangers

[WATP_Greg 0]

Three Bears investor George Taylor believes Rangers should eventually be controlled by the Ibrox support.

 

Along with partners Douglas Park and George Letham - as well as oldco director Dave King - the Hong Kong-based banker is among three factions battling for control of the Glasgow giants.

 

But while the Three Bears' most immediate threat comes from US financier Robert Sarver - who has launched a £20million takeover bid - and the current board and their ally Mike Ashley, Taylor believes the club should eventually be governed by the Light Blues faithful.

 

The Morgan Stanley managing director has now signed up to a life-time membership with fan-ownership group Rangers First.

 

In a statement given to Press Association Sport, he said: "My hope is that direct fan ownership would become the biggest individual owner of Rangers."

 

Rangers First have made a number of significant strides in recent days.

 

Wealthy supporter Jim McColl recently handed the group his 10,000-share Ibrox stake last week, while they have signed up around 700 new members since the Three Bears and King bought up around 34 per cent of the club in two surprise transactions just before the new year.

 

The scheme - which is similar to the one used to rescue Hearts from administration - is now collecting thousands of pounds a month from contributors and using that to buy up shares.

 

On Saturday night, they announced another 60,000 shares had been purchased, giving them control of 0.8 per cent of the club. The Rangers Supporters Trust has also recently increased its stake to just over one per cent.

 

With the fight for power set to come down to which faction can get to 51 per cent, the fans could yet play a vital role for the Three Bears and King in the coming days.

 

The board urgently needs to raise cash to keep the club afloat and an announcement on Sarver's revised takeover bid and possible news of another emergency loan is expected early next week.

 

A general meeting may also be called if King and the Three Bears can find the support to force boardroom change.

 

Rangers First director Ricki Neill said: "With our monthly contributors donating amounts from 5 upwards, Rangers First have the income to buy an increasing number of shares every month.

 

"The more members we get the faster we grow and the bigger our shareholding becomes. We also have the Club 1872 membership which George Taylor has recently joined, this costs £500 and was designed originally to help us reach our target in as short a period as possible.

 

"George Taylor is one of many true Rangers fans that have joined Club 1872, we look forward to meeting up with George in the near future."

 

Meanwhile, midfielder Nicky Law believes a win against Hearts next Friday could kick-start Rangers' Scottish Championship title push.

 

The Ibrox side host the Jambos but cannot afford to let Robbie Neilson's men add to their already huge 13 point lead at the top of the table.

 

Law, who scored a first-half winner as the Light Blues finally beat Alloa at the fourth time of asking on Saturday with a 1-0 success at the Indodrill Stadium, said: "The quality of player we have got, we know we should be doing a lot better than we have been doing.

 

"There is no way we should be 13 points behind Hearts but we are. Unfortunately that is a huge gap to claw back but we will do our best to try and rein them in, starting on Friday night.

 

"It's a must-win game. If we can get it back to 10, you never know."

[the gunslinger 3,366]

excellent news. especially added to mccolls support and g letham being on the rst board.

[colinstein 294]

and that there is realisation by the board elect that fan ownership is a must to cement the long term security of our club. Another reason for all us sane supporters to get behind them

[andy steel 0]

and that there is realisation by the board elect that fan ownership is a must to cement the long term security of our club. Another reason for all us sane supporters to get behind them

 

What about the rest of us?

[colinstein 294]

What about the rest of us?

 

join RM or something

[MikeN63 0]

not enough money amongst fans, (3 Bears, King) possibly with full commitment from McColl but we know he's not willing or ready for that, therefore we need Sarver or someone of that ilk, whatever bluster we write on this site.

 

sorry should back that up; Hearts will be happy with Premiership football, occasional Euro football, we will want CL footie, on a regular basis, we may even expect to win a few games and before you know it we'll be asking to get to the last 16, that will demand serious money, not just fan ownership, we'll need some large US/Middle East/ Far East/non-Scottish money.

Edited January 11, 2015 by MikeN63
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[pmu 0]

not enough money amongst fans, (3 Bears, King) possibly with full commitment from McColl but we know he's not willing or ready for that, therefore we need Sarver or someone of that ilk, whatever bluster we write on this site.

 

sorry should back that up; Hearts will be happy with Premiership football, occasional Euro football, we will want CL footie, on a regular basis, we may even expect to win a few games and before you know it we'll be asking to get to the last 16, that will demand serious money, not just fan ownership, we'll need some large US/Middle East/ Far East/non-Scottish money.

Is that what you expect or what you think others will expect?

[MoodyBlue 0]

We need significant money. Not just a few million here and there. The whole club needs rebuilt. Who is out there that can provide such massive investment which will keep us happy ???

Edited January 11, 2015 by MoodyBlue

[MikeN63 0]

Is that what you expect or what you think others will expect?

 

as things progress that is what we will all expect, it is human nature, we get to SPL, we end up mid-table season one, lower possibly, we expect more the next season, then we end up in Europa, we want to become competitive in that, we win league, we get to qualifiers of CL,.... our demands increase, you know what we're like as fans we constantly expect more, the 3 Bears and KIng, as thankful as we are for their club investment and willingness it is not enough cash.

[pmu 0]

as things progress that is what we will all expect, it is human nature, we get to SPL, we end up mid-table season one, lower possibly, we expect more the next season, then we end up in Europa, we want to become competitive in that, we win league, we get to qualifiers of CL,.... our demands increase, you know what we're like as fans we constantly expect more, the 3 Bears and KIng, as thankful as we are for their club investment and willingness it is not enough cash.

When will the penny drop! If you need mega millions then you always need more and more.. thats what fucked us up. Are we going to repeat the past?

 

 

Same shit all over again.