The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Souness doesn’t fancy going down Green road
Graeme Souness has dist anced himself f rom Charles Green’s consortium but urged the Yorkshire businessman to “take care of” a nd “love” Rangers.
The former Rangers player- manager’s name was mentioned on Sunday when former Sheffield United chief executive Green spoke to the media after his group agreed a deal to buy the Ibrox club.
Green aims to take Rangers out of administra- tion through a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) by early July with his consortium, of which little is k nown, pledging £8.5million for creditors.
Souness would have returned to Govan if his friend, Sale Sharks owner Brian Kennedy, and the Blue Knights had been successful in their bid to buy the club, buthewillhaveno involvement with Green.
“I certainly met Charles and he ran past me what his intentions were,” said the former Liverpool, Galatasaray and Blackburn manager.
“But I’ve known Brian Kennedy for a long time, we are from the same part of Edinburgh, more or less, and I was very happy to get involved with someone I knew the strength of and completely understood where it was going.
“Anything other than that, it just wouldn’t be for me. Glasgow Rangers is a unique football club and, like any other supporter, I am deeply concerned with where it’s goingandwhatis going to happen to it.
“Whoever controls and whoever is in chargeofrunning the football club has a duty to every single supporter and a duty of care to what the club means and I can’t emphasise enough what it means to people.
“It is more of an institution than a football club.
“Theyhave totake care of it, love it and manage it to the best of their ability and hopefully leave it in a better position when they do go, than how they found it.”
Souness pointed the finger of blame for the Govan club’s demise at former owner Sir David Murray.
Theedinburghbusinessman took over Rangers in 1988, two years after Souness joined, and stayed in control until last May when he sold his 85% shareholding to Craig Whyte.
“Obviously mistakes have been made,” said Souness.
“Davidmurray is a friend of mine as well and I think he will be the first one to hold his hands up.”