Kieran Prior accuses Ashley, Llambias and Leach of laying booby traps as they exit

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http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/battle-rangers-investor-kieran-prior-5269117

 

Battle for Rangers: Investor Kieran Prior rounds on Mike Ashley and his minions accusing them of laying down booby traps

 

PRIOR rounded on the Cockney businessman and his associates and called on King to hold firm and challenge recent Ashley moves in court if necessary.

 

MIKE ASHLEY and his minions stood accused last night of laying booby traps from the Blue Room down the marble staircase as they beat their retreat from Rangers.

Directors Derek Llambias and Barry Leach, on annual salaries of £150,000 and £140,000 respectively, put a price on their boardroom surrender of around £300,000 as they faced up to being routed at Friday’s general meeting.

Dave King refused to enrich them after less than four months in their jobs, unleashing a furious response as Ashley moved to sanction the release of the £5million emergency funding he made available to the club at the end of January.

It remains to be seen what, if any, hitherto unknown clauses can now be enforced but his move at the end of another day of drama has hardened attitudes against the Sports Direct tycoon among Rangers fans and shareholders still further.

Ashley’s move will have no impact in terms of regime change at the club, with King and allies Paul Murray and John Gilligan ready to sweep into power within 48 hours. Even if Ashley’s move gives him the power to appoint two new directors they are likely to be marginalised,

ostracised and outvoted by King and Co.

Any immediate hopes of a peaceful accord between the Newcastle owner and the South-Africa based businessman have been shattered, with sources close to King revealing he is ready to take him on, lucrative retail deals and all.

Ashley’s move, revealed via a Stock Exchange announcement at 5pm, dampened the joy of many supporters after King bullishly declared victory in the general meeting just four hours earlier.

Investor Kieran Prior, one of the biggest individual shareholders in the club, rounded on the Cockney businessman and his associates and called on King to hold firm and challenge recent Ashley moves in court if necessary.

Prior said: “Clearly, unlike others who have worked for Ashley, Llambias and Leach are not advocates of the zero hours contract or else they would have left without a penny.

“I don’t know how they have the gall to make this move. They are lower than snake oil salesmen and acting out of spite and self-interest. Their behaviour is abhorrent.

“They have clearly given up the fight for boardroom control and this move smacks of them poisoning the wells as they make their retreat.

“We don’t know the terms and conditions of the £5m to be drawn down but it clearly entrenches Ashley’s position as a lender and you have to wonder if there are certain clauses included, such as an early repayment charge to be met by the new board.

“They are trying to scaremonger fans into believing this is cash the club needs but that’s insulting.

“Llambias and Leach’s actions suggest they are working on behalf of Ashley, their boss, rather than the greater good of Rangers. I have sympathy for King. He must hold his ground and I urge him to rip up all the contracts signed with Sports Direct and Ashley and fight the Rangers corner in court. It’s time for Ashley to get his nose out of the Rangers trough.”

The board said it would require the loan “in order to meet its cash requirements for the third week of March” even though payday is more than three weeks away.