Gough on King and the future

[SteveC 150]

RICHARD GOUGH from Scottish Sun

 

DAVE KING delivered an impressive statement straight from the heart last week.

But as captain of the Rangers team that dominated Scottish football in the 1990s, one section really stood out for me.

 

It was the part about the prospect of Celtic winning 10 in a row ‘— while Rangers ‘‘remain a small club who slug it out for the minor places’’.

 

It stood out for one reason, it focused on football.

 

It focused on the need to ensure Rangers is able to have long-term success on the pitch.

 

Throughout this whole saga, it has often been forgotten that we are talking about Rangers Football Club.

 

This has been a wretched story of dodgy dealings, of boardroom shenanigans and shadowy characters.

 

But we should never lose sight of the ultimate goal ‘— and that is restoring Gers to the top of the Scottish game.

 

I’’ve known King for a long time and share his concerns that unless serious action is taken, Rangers are in danger of being left trailing by Celtic.

 

That can’’t be allowed to happen ‘— but there are countless tales in world football of big clubs who go through difficulties and never truly recover.

 

You want an example? Just take a look at Leeds United’’s troubles over the last decade. I was in Dubai for a few days playing in a Scotland/ England legends match, and Lee Bowyer was in the opposition side.

 

Seeing him reminded me of that great Leeds team from the 2000/01 season that reached the Champions League semi-final.

 

That in turn got me thinking about our own Battle of Britain with Leeds in the European Cup in the early 1990s. They were an elite club back then. Those sides carried on the tradition of the legendary Leeds teams of the 1960s and 70s.

 

Now? They are just an average Championship side who have been out of the top flight for 10 years.

 

Leeds are still a massive club with a huge fanbase and they regularly attract crowds of 30,000 but they have never recovered from their original problems.

 

So many years of mismanagement have hit Leeds very hard.

 

Leeds are a million miles away from challenging for trophies and being a big hitter in English football again.

 

Rangers won’’t languish in the Scottish lower leagues like Leeds have down south.

 

But with the ongoing financial chaos and concerns over the direction of the club, it could be years before Gers can challenge Celtic.

 

Are Rangers going to be the Scottish equivalent of Leeds? King certainly holds that fear, judging by his statement and it’’s hard to argue with him in a week that saw Rangers bank a ‘£1.5million emergency loan ‘— loaded with a crazy 15 per cent interest rate over six months.

 

The Ibrox board claim this was part of a plan. Really? Are the fans expected to buy that?

 

Rangers’’ response to King’’s statement said his comments were ‘‘damaging’’ but could any more damage be done? From the outside looking in, it appears Gers are in a mess ‘— once again.

 

King’’s had enough and it looks as if the fans have as well. But who can blame them?

 

Remember that banner from a few years back towards the end of Sir David Murray’’s reign?

 

‘‘We Deserve Better’’ it said.

 

It’’s time the Ibrox fans looked that out again. For the last two years, the people running Rangers have taken them for granted.

 

Enough’’s enough. It all has to stop now. This has to be the watershed moment.

 

The fans have backed King. They have responded to his call for season-ticket money to be withheld and pooled.

 

That might seem like drastic action, but why should the fans just hand over millions again?

 

They have already seen a fortune being squandered by the people running Gers. They have watched as mystery shareholders have walked away with a massive profit in a matter of months.

 

With the ongoing uncertainty, the fans have every right to choose to put their money somewhere safe ‘— not in the hands of people they don’’t trust.

 

Nobody wants to damage Rangers. That is the last thing King or the fans want. Their support has been exceptional.

 

But they need full transparency from the board before the hand over yet another huge wedge of cash.

 

Fans are demanding answers and those in control at Ibrox will need to start providing them quick.

 

If they don’’t, then it looks like they won’’t be getting the season-ticket money. That could put them in an impossible position.

 

As for Ally McCoist, the best thing he can do is concentrate solely on football.

 

My old team-mate has been shoved from pillar to post in the last few years.

 

He has had a succession of bosses who have asked for his backing.

 

Right now, Coisty is right to stay out of the politics. The fans look to him for guidance because he is the one man they trust.

 

But the Rangers manager has three trophies to compete for. He has to try to lift the gloom over Ibrox.

 

What better way to do that than by winning silverware?

 

After all, that’’s what Rangers Football Club should be all about.