Rangers boardroom battle puts manager Ally McCoist under more pressure

Consequently, once the dust has settled this week, it should become much clearer who wields the greater influence at the troubled club. And, should that prove to be Green, then it would appear that manager Ally McCoist will soon be looking for alternative employment.

After a period of relative calm, it all kicked off again on Friday when it was revealed that Green, who had resigned as chief executive in April while his business dealings with former owner Craig Whyte were under investigation, would be returning to the club as a consultant.

Shortly afterwards a statement was issued to the Stock Exchange and posted on the club’s website.

It said: “The board of Rangers confirms that, on Aug 1, 2013, it received a notice requisitioning a general meeting of shareholders. The requisition puts forward resolutions for the removal of [chief executive] Craig Mather, [financial director] Brian Stockbridge and [non-executive director] Bryan Smart as directors of the company and the appointment of Paul Murray and Frank Blin as directors of the company.

“The board is verifying whether the requisition is properly constituted and further announcements will be made as appropriate.”

Jim McColl, who was part of a consortium (along with current chairman Walter Smith) which failed to buy the club last year, is understood to be behind that proposal.

Ironically, the constitution of the Scottish Football Association would prevent Murray being reinstated to the board at Ibrox.

Murray served as a director during the dog days of Sir David Murray’s ownership, resigning when Whyte assumed control of the purse strings in May 2011.

Rangers were plunged into administration just nine months later and Article 10.2 (j) in the SFA’s Articles of Association would specifically prevent Murray from returning in an official capacity.

Part of the SFA’s “fit and proper” criteria, it states as one of the reasons for refusing to approve appointments: “He has been a director of a club in membership of any National Association within the five-year period preceding such club having undergone an insolvency event.”

On Saturday morning, an interview with Green appeared in Scotland’s biggest-selling tabloid, in which the Yorkshireman claimed that McCoist would have “a problem” if he did not win one of the two major national cup competitions as well as promotion to the Championship this season.

Before Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Forfar Athletic at Station Park, chief executive Mather issued a statement condemning the recent “frenzy” of negative comments about the club, insisting he was fully behind McCoist and attacking those shareholders who are seeking to remove him.

“Again there are those attempting to bang down the doors simply because they feel they should be inside before any others and for no good reason other than self-gain and arrogance,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter to them that they have not invested or helped the club, or that they failed to make even a remotely credible attempt to save this fantastic club in its darkest hours.

“Not a single one of them stepped forward willing to invest their own money. Yet now they think they can waltz into the club.”

Shortly afterwards, Rangers were beaten by the part-timers of Forfar and the humiliation of the loss was intensified by the fact it came after extra time, when the superior fitness of McCoist’s players ought to have proved significant.

The manager subsequently blamed Green’s pre-match comments for the defeat, describing the consultant as “devious” and “an embarrassment”.

Cynics regarded that reaction as a deflection tactic from McCoist following an eighth successive early exit from cup competitions under his stewardship.

They wondered why it had taken so long for McCoist to reach those conclusions when most observers, with considerably less access to him, had arrived at those opinions much earlier.

Last summer it was McCoist’s endorsement of the then chief executive which convinced sceptical supporters to bankroll the new regime with season-ticket purchases. He may now have outlived his usefulness to Green, however.

McCoist did well to hold the club together during their descent into liquidation last year. He proved to be a figurehead supporters could rally round and his “We don’t do walking away” speech helped to keep Green’s investment safe. By and large, he coped well with that pressure and that, along with his legendary status as a player, has bought him time.

Even allowing for the trials and tribulations he has endured, though, there is no shortage of critics. They point to the loss of the 15-point lead his team held over eventual champions Celtic in 2011/12 and of the financially disastrous domestic and European cup defeats. Even winning the third division by 24 points did not prevent complaints about the quality of the football being played by his team.

John Greig was voted the Greatest Ever Ranger in a fans’ poll in 1999 but, 16 years earlier, he had been hounded out of Ibrox after failing to win a championship in five years as manager.

One of his last signings was McCoist, who was also a target for the boo boys at that time. He went on to prove his critics wrong then but the odds are lengthening on him being able – or allowed – to repeat the feat.

Taken from telegraph.co.uk