49ers viewed Rangers as a 'clown college' as Simon Jordan tears into American owners with finance concern raised
Ibrox chairman Andrew Cavenagh outlined the Americans’ eight-figure investment plan earlier this week
Simon Jordan has directed criticism in the direction of Rangers' new American owners after revealing season ticket prices will be raised as part of their £16m investment plan.
Ibrox chief Andrew Cavenagh’s US-based consortium - including 49ers Enterprises - are set to inject more funds into the Govan giants via a share issue that will involve the other major investors.
An open letter from Cavanagh to the fans earlier this week stated that further cash could also be made available, depending on the outcome of this season’s Scottish Premiership title race. In return, punters have been asked to plough more money into the Light Blues with adult season-ticket prices due to increase by 6.5 per cent.
But Jordan has warned those in charge that their grand masterplan could backfire as he spoke out on his own experiences. Asked by talkSPORT host Jim White this week if supporters will accept a price hike as long as improvement is made to Danny Rohl’s squad over the summer, the ex-Crystal Palace chairman replied: “No, because they'll tell you how to spend your money.
“I took great delight in raising season ticket price in fan meetings, when I was being told how I should spend my money; Being told by them my shortcomings, or where the team hadn't been strong enough, or what investment was required.
“I would say to the fans with great glee 'I am going to raise your season ticket prices them, because if it's your club like you have just told me, you won't mind spending more money on your club'. When the fans started to cluck I would say 'it's not your club now, it's my club'. So, it's a trade off.
“What the fans will say 'is that's fantastic, as long as you deploy it wisely'. And wisely is subjective isn't it because beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
Jordan also highlighted that some fans will be worried at the rise in ticket prices as he insisted the NFL giants investment wing - who also own Leeds United - viewed their early days in Glasgow a “clown college”.
Jordan continued: “Now, the fact that they have new ownership at Rangers, and the fact they have ownership that has deep pockets, and the first thing they have done is come in and raise ticket prices might raise the eyebrows of certain fans because they have only been there five minutes, and they are commercialising it.
“Ideally, they might win the league and they might get away with their original rick, because they were a farce at the beginning.
“They recruited a manager that I defended against the mob, because I don't like mob rule. They got it wrong. The had a chief executive that I didn't think was capable of doing the job, the abdicated.
“These people that run Leeds, who have plenty of money, the 49ers, came into Rangers and their first impression was they are clown college. They have got themselves together, and now they are raising the season ticket prices.
“I have no problem with them raising the ticket prices if it brings an outcome for the Rangers fans that is better, but it is the commercial reality.”
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