Sacked Rangers Chair Urges Fans to Pressurise New Owner

After refusing to resign from their posts, Scottish Premier League soccer club Rangers’ chairman Alastair Johnston and director Paul Murray have been sacked, with the former urging Rangers fans to “remain vigilant and continue to exert pressure” on new owner Craig Whyte.

Along with the high profile departures, chief executive Martin Bain and finance director Donald McIntyre have been suspended pending an internal inquiry.

Johnston said of Whyte’s plans for Rangers: “He needs to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.”

Johnston had indicated previously that he would step down at the end of the season which was later delayed with the agreement of Whyte, pending the disclosure of more details about the buyout to shareholders, information that is due on or before June 6.

New appointments to the Ibrox board are likely to be made within the next two or three weeks though, it is understood John McClelland and John Greig will not be asked to resign their positions.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Johnston added: “I’m not going to make any comment with respect to the current circumstances at the current time, except that I will say – as a lifelong Rangers fan and a real one – that the 26,000 other shareholders in Rangers, as well as the hundreds of thousands of other supporters need to remain vigilant and continue to exert pressure on Mr Whyte to support the club financially as he has publicly committed to do.

“As far as I’m concerned, the next time we see a photograph of him holding up the SPL trophy, let us all hope – especially me – that he has earned the right to do it.”