Rangers fans tell Hearts they have a cheek to ask for fund-raising friendly with Ibrox giants

24 Jun 2013 07:58

Gary Ralston

JAMBOS boss Gary Locke admits he contacted Ally McCoist about a game to raise cash for the stricken Tynecastle club but the Rangers faithful insist they would have snubbed it.
Tynecastle Tynecastle

RANGERS fans have told Hearts they had a cheek to even ask for a fund-raising friendly at Tynecastle.

Jambos boss Gary Locke admits he spoke with Ally McCoist about playing a game to raise money for the stricken Gorgie club.

The Light Blues declined because they have already organised a full pre-season schedule of matches at home and abroad.

Ibrox supporters say they would have snubbed the game anyway because Hearts were the first SPL club last summer to deny their bid to play top-flight football amid their own financial woes.

Drew Robertson, of the Rangers Supporters Association, said: “It’s probably just as well the game isn’t going ahead. Rangers fans would not have supported it.

“Hearts had plenty to say about the position of Rangers last year. Now they are in the same place it’s a bit rich of them to expect a game.”

Gary Locke Hearts manager Gary Locke.
Craig Williamson/SNS Group

Mark Dingwall, of the Rangers Supporters Trust, said: “We have sympathy with ordinary Hearts fans but it would have been impractical to have played this game given the behaviour of their club towards us last year.”

Vladimir Romanov issued a statement last June in which he said the Ibrox club only had themselves to blame for their cash crisis.

The Jambos made it clear they would oppose all attempts by newco Rangers to play in the SPL – a stance quickly backed by almost every other club.

Romanov said: “The football mafia represented by former owners of Rangers FC ... are to blame for some of the worst problems to hit Scottish football and must not be allowed back in under any circumstances.”

Locke is at pains to stress he has spoken with several bosses informally about a friendly fixture.

He is still keen to arrange a match on July 20 – and reckons Hearts fans will fill Tynecastle no matter the opposition.

He said: “I touched base with Ally because we want to play a game that would fill the stadium. Mind you, I reckon we could play Bonnyrigg Rose and 14,500 would turn up.

“We’re keen to arrange a match and administrator Trevor Birch has excellent contacts in the English game. We hope to get something sorted soon.”

Taken from the Daily Record