Fans group gives King a vote of thanks

Rangers fans have issued a vote of thanks to departing chairman Dave King.

Johanesburg-based King announced on Friday he had vacated his Ibrox throne to focus on guiding his South African businesses through the coronavirus crisis, leaving it to Douglas Park to lead club’s board on an interim basis.

The Castlemilk-born tycoon proved a controversial figure during his fiveyear reign, but fan group Club 1872 say they will not forget his role in wresting control away from the loathed Mike Ashleybacked regime previously in charge at Ibrox.

In a statement, the group said: “Following the announcement last Friday of Dave King’s departure as chairman of Rangers Football Club, Club 1872 would like to take this opportunity to address everything he has done for our football club and for Club 1872.

“Rangers supporters and everyone connected to the club owe a huge debt of gratitude to him for stepping up, along with other current investors, at a time when our football club was in great danger from a group of people intent on running it into the ground.

“Had it not been for his decisive action the outlook for Rangers would have been very bleak.”

King along with his allies Park, George Taylor and George Letham – known as the Three Bears – seized control in 2015 and went on to bankroll the club’s return to the top tier of Scottish football a year later.

The statement added: “Over the five years of his chairmanship the club has dramatically improved both on and off the pitch.”