Rangers slam ‘propaganda war’ after hitting back at Club 1872 for accusing Ibrox board of fan ‘contempt’ and criticism of three key figures

The supporters group are the eighth largest shareholders in RIFC plc and insist that fans are well within their rights to question the ‘judgement’ and ‘competence’ of key employees at the club
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Rangers have hit back at a Club 1872 statement that accused the Ibrox executive board of treating supporters with ‘contempt’ and raised serious concerns over the running of the club.

Three of the Light Blues high-profile individuals which include managing director Stewart Robertson, James Bisgrove and David Graham, the heads of Rangers’ commercial and communications strategies respectively, have come under criticism from the fan shareholders group.

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The Gers board have vowed to address their ‘propaganda war’ at the end of the season as they called for unity ahead of a crucial month for the club, with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side in the latter stages of three competitions.

Play was stopped for the third time in the match at Dens Park on Sunday when Rangers fans again threw toilet rolls into the goalmouth. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)Play was stopped for the third time in the match at Dens Park on Sunday when Rangers fans again threw toilet rolls into the goalmouth. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)
Play was stopped for the third time in the match at Dens Park on Sunday when Rangers fans again threw toilet rolls into the goalmouth. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)

The row comes after Rangers fans staged various protests against the club board’s decision to accept an invitation to take part in the controversial Sydney Super Cup, which will see them face off against rivals Celtic in the friendly tournament due to take place during the Qatar World Cup this November.

A club statement read: “The rest of this season is arguably one of the most crucial periods in our illustrious 150 year history.

“The Men’s First Team and Women’s Team are competing for major honours, both domestically and in Europe.

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“It is deeply regrettable that the same small rump of “supporters” remains intent on causing damage to our club. It is particularly concerning to note the timing they have chosen to launch their latest attack.

“It is lost on nobody that those intent on creating maximum disruption are those who have either enjoyed, or craved, a role within our club.

“The collective desire of our Board, Management and players, is to have unity of purpose over the coming months. Rest assured, we will address the disruptors and their propaganda war at the end of this season.

“For now, nothing matters but results on the field. Together, we are stronger.”

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Earlier today, Club 1872 - the eight largest shareholders in RIFC plc - released a statement of their own insisting that supporters are well within their rights to question the ‘judgement’ and ‘competence’ of key employees at the club.

Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson was the subject of banners protesting against the Ibrox club's decision to take part in the Sydney Super Cup with Celtic in November. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson was the subject of banners protesting against the Ibrox club's decision to take part in the Sydney Super Cup with Celtic in November. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)
Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson was the subject of banners protesting against the Ibrox club's decision to take part in the Sydney Super Cup with Celtic in November. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)

It read: “In recent weeks, following the announcement of Rangers’ participation in the Sydney Super Cup in Australia, supporters have begun to publicly and vocally question the judgement of the Rangers’ Executive Team.

It is the opinion of the Club 1872 Board that not only are they correct to do so, but that it is crucial for the future health of the club that they do so.

“Unfortunately, the contempt shown to supporters over this issue is only the tip of the iceberg and has been ongoing, albeit less visibly to the majority of supporters, for almost two years.

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“It is a source of great regret that we are having to raise these matters publicly - having always attempted to engage privately and constructively with the club - but the current custodians of Rangers Football Club have refused to speak with us privately despite repeated attempts to do so.

“The experience of Club 1872 Directors, both past and present, is that Rangers’ Executive Team, led by Stewart Robertson, James Bisgrove and David Graham, has developed an extremely unhealthy disdain for the Rangers support and that inaccurate information has regularly been disseminated through the club’s own public statements, briefings to fan media and highly selective leaks to a small group of individuals within the Rangers support.

Happier times in Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson's relationship with Club 1872 as he helps launch the fan shareholder group at Ibrox in May 2016. (Photo by Ross Brownlee/SNS Group).Happier times in Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson's relationship with Club 1872 as he helps launch the fan shareholder group at Ibrox in May 2016. (Photo by Ross Brownlee/SNS Group).
Happier times in Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson's relationship with Club 1872 as he helps launch the fan shareholder group at Ibrox in May 2016. (Photo by Ross Brownlee/SNS Group).

“This conduct has not, in our opinion, been intended to advance the aims of the club, but instead to serve the interests of a handful of members of the Plc Board and Executive team and to protect them from healthy scrutiny and justified criticism.”

Club 1872 also claim the reaction from Rangers was ‘hostile’ when they attempted to represent supporters and raise concerns - in areas such as ticketing, safe standing and disabled access - with executives over a period of several months.

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The organisation have highlighted their misgivings regarding Rangers’ commercial deals, the MyGers membership scheme and the champions’ relations with supporters and the media.

The statement continued: “We have today written to Rangers’ Vice Chairman, John Bennett, Plc Board members Barry Scott, Alastair Johnston and Julian Wolhardt and major shareholders Stuart Gibson, George Letham and George Taylor, asking them to enter into dialogue with us as a matter of urgency so that we can present the information we have gathers on the issues raised above.

“The financial contribution that these individuals have made to the club is considerable and to be commended and we hope they will work with us to improve they way the club is being run.

“We have also extended an offer to a number of fan media outlets to meet them and outline the information in our possession which shows the way in which they have been manipulated by Rangers’ Executives.

Rangers have been accused of 'alienating' fans by agreeing to play Celtic in Australia by supporters group Club 1872. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)Rangers have been accused of 'alienating' fans by agreeing to play Celtic in Australia by supporters group Club 1872. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Rangers have been accused of 'alienating' fans by agreeing to play Celtic in Australia by supporters group Club 1872. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
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“Rangers supporters did not go through the events of 2012 to find ourselves back in a situation where individuals at the club put their own interests ahead of Rangers.

“April is a huge month for the club and the ongoing behaviour of the Rangers hierarchy and their refusal to engage properly with supporters is threatening to distract from important matters on the pitch.

“As supporters, we unconditionally support the team, the players and the club but the days of blindly following the club’s custodians when they are not, in our opinion acting in Rangers’ best interests are long gone.

“We sincerely hope that the required changes can be made sooner rather than later, that the club’s hierarchy can reconnect with supporters and we can move forward together.

“In the meantime, we would urge supporters to continue to critically examine all information released by Rangers Executives or their proxies.”

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