DJ URGES BOARD TO GIVE FANS A VOICE

DEREK JOHNSTONE has called for the Rangers hierarchy to consider appointing a representative from Club 1872 onto the Ibrox board.

The fan organisation became the second largest Light Blues shareholders last month when they clinched a £1million deal to purchase half of the stake held by Mike Ashley.

The remainder of the shares were bought by Julian Wolhardt as Ashley quit Ibrox just days after chairman Dave King revealed a new merchandise deal had been struck

with Sports Direct. Club 1872 have seen a boost in membership numbers in recent weeks and now own almost 11 per cent of RIFC plc.

Funds raised through monthly subscriptions are split to be used either for share purchases or projects that are voted on by members.

The organisation is run independently from Rangers but Light Blue legend DJ believes there should be a place at the top table to give the fans a stronger voice at Ibrox.

He told SportTimes: “The Rangers fans have turned up in their thousands year after year, through the good, the bad and the indifferent without an awful lot being said by the club at various stages.

“Once again, the supporters are putting their money where their mouths are and they are buying into and investing in Rangers in a number of different ways.

“The number of fans that are joining up is great and I hope more do that. The support Rangers get from the fans is phenomenal.

“I think they have got to be heard and there has to come a time when there is a representative on the board.

“Club 1872 are the second biggest shareholders and they deserve a say in what is going at Rangers.

“Whoever is on there would speak on behalf of the fans and what their needs are and they deal with the supporters. There should be someone there to deal with the club and be heard.

“Times are changing and the club have got to be listening to what the Rangers fans are saying. I think someone from Club 1872 should be on the board.

“The members have to decide and they can vote on it. That person then acts on behalf of the support and I think that would be fantastic.

“If anybody deserves praise, it is the Rangers fans for what they have had to go through over the last few years.

“I think the club have got to sit down and look at what the supporters have done and are doing and find a place for them going forward.”