CLUBS IN CRISIS
1 Ally backs King as ideal solution for Rangers’ woes
ALLY McCOIST has given his full backing to the potential return of Dave King to Rangers — insisting the former director would be the perfect man to help the club.
Ibrox chief executive Craig Mather f l ew to South Africa earlier this week for discussions about an investment proposal that could see King assume a prominent place on the Rangers board.
The Johannesburg-based businessman ploughed £20million into the club during Sir David Murray’s time in charge and, despite losing that money, has not hidden his desire to become involved at Ibrox again.
Figures released for the 13 months to June 30 showed Rangers had made a £14.4m loss, with further finance being sought to complete a rise back to the top level of Scottish football.
Manager McCoist would be delighted to see lifelong fan King renew his links with the club and feels Mather has taken a positive step by holding talks.
‘I believe the board deserve credit for making such an effort to attract someone like Dave King back to the club,’ said McCoist.
‘I think this is a clear message that they are trying to do their best for Rangers.
‘Someone like Dave King has already invested vast sums of his own money into Rangers and that tells
me he’s the kind of investor we need at this club again. ‘The recent accounts have been well documented and the fact of the matter is we will need reinvestment at some stage in the future. ‘If we are going to get reinvestment, then it would be good to get it from someone who has definitely got the best interests of the club at heart. ‘Dave King has, and clearly the board also believe that to be the case. ‘From my point of view, the fact that a member of the current board has flown to South Africa for talks would indicate they also feel it would be hugely beneficial to have Dave back on board. It can only be a good thing for Rangers. ‘The board have a difficult and important job to do and it is encouraging to think we are talking to someone who could help move the club forward. ‘I think it would be a great thing for us all.’ Telephone discussions between Scotland and South Africa have continued over recent days as both sides try to work towards an agreement. Should that come to pass, King does not believe he would have an issue in passing the SFA’s ‘fit-and-proper-person’ test. He paid £45m in August to settle a long-running tax case with the South African authorities, who withdrew all fraud allegations against him.