ALEXANDER’S BATTLE OF THE BOOS AT IBROX

SHAMBLES. Virtually the first word out of Neil Alexander’s mouth, as he described the abandonment of Friday night’s snowstricken fixture at Ibrox. The Hearts goalkeeper could equally have been talking about the state of his former employers as the Rangers fans turned en masse against the board of directors before, during and after the suddenly irrelevant clash between the Championship’s top two teams.

Referee Bobby Madden’s decision to abort the match after 25 minutes was merely one strand of a farcical and, at times, ugly night, which began with shareholder Dave King submitting a demand for an emergency general meeting, saw protests at the board over plans to mortgage the stadium to Mike Ashley in return for a £10million loan and ended in some fan scuffles in the street with mounted police.

From his seat in the dressing room, Alexander could hear the chants and heckles from the few-hundred strong throng of supporters outside on Edmiston Drive — and he could sympathise with the sentiment of those who feel their club has been ripped away from them.

His empathy found its limits out on the slippery surface when he became the target for some of the excess bile being projected from the stands.

Stationed between the posts at the Broomloan Road end of the stadium, the keeper endured some choice remarks aimed at his character — and struggled to understand why.

He, after all, was a player who had shown loyalty to the club following liquidation in 2012.

He rejected the chance to exercise his rights under freedom of contract and instead went with Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE), handing his contract over to Charles Green’s Newco as the club rebooted in the bottom tier of the Scottish game.

For the next year, Alexander turned out for Ally McCoist in the old Third Division before departing for Crystal Palace.

His departure seemed amicable at the time, but it later emerged he was mounting a legal action against Rangers over a breach of contract. Last month, he won — with a court awarding £84,000 in lost earnings.

The 36-year-old admits the case might have contributed to the animosity but, given that his action was directed at the same people at whom the support is revolting, the logic seemed flawed.

‘I was getting pelters from the Rangers fans,’ he said afterwards. ‘I was booed every time I was on the ball and I don’t know why that was.

‘I couldn’t repeat what they were saying. I don’t think I deserved it as I always said I wanted to stay at the club. I never wanted to leave and I’ve not said anything controversial about the club.

‘I loved playing for Rangers — the five and a half years I had there was the best time of my career.

‘I got a great reception the last time. The Rangers fans I meet in the street are always complimentary. It was just a section (on Friday). The rest have been brilliant.

‘I’m a Hearts player now, we are top of the league and maybe that was to do with the booing.

‘The legal case was maybe one thing on top of 10 others and that’s not my fault. We went to court and they ruled in my favour.’

Failure to complete the fixture means the 13-point gap between the sides is sustained but the seemingly doomed quest for automatic promotion is now a side issue for the Rangers fans, who denounced the names of Ashley, chairman David Somers and directors James and Sandy Easdale outside Ibrox.

King’s aim is to oust Somers, James Easdale and executive directors — and Ashley allies — Derek Llambias and Barry Leach, replacing them with himself, Paul Murray and ex-Tennent’s managing director John Gilligan.

King believes he will be able to force change by gaining backing of half the club’s registered shareholders.

But, on Friday, there was little patience for due process. While many fans have drifted away and others consciously boycott Rangers’ games, a militant group mobilised on Friday, one not lacking in menace as doors at both the main entrance and Argyle House were besieged, forcing police to intervene. Reports also emerged of a Hearts supporters’ bus coming under attack.

Alexander and his team-mates eventually made an exit but only under police escort.

‘We could hear the fans from the dressing room,’ said Alexander. ‘It was horrendous and I feel for the players and the people I know at the club who have lost their jobs.

‘Hopefully, brighter days lie ahead and Rangers become the club everyone once knew.’

Alexander believes Hearts have proved that, with supporter unity and boardroom vision, it is possible to recover from financial calamity.

Forced into administration after Vladimir Romanov’s years of reckless spending left the Gorgie club insolvent, local businesswoman Ann Budge fronted a takeover, with a five-year plan to transfer ownership to the fans.

Rangers’ situation is more complicated, one that has provoked a criminal investigation — but King, Murray and Co retain the hope they can return the club into the hands of people who care about it.

Alexander hopes they succeed. ‘We are the prime example of a club which has gone into administration and recovered,’ he added.

‘We are getting bigger and better all the time and, if any clubs want to look at an example, I think Hearts have set it.

‘It can be done if you get the right people behind the club. Hopefully, Rangers get that.’

Alexander spent a year as back-up to Julian Speroni at Palace before returning to his home city in the summer.

Having started his career at Stenhousemuir and then progressed to Livingston, Cardiff and Ipswich before Rangers, he scarcely expected he would eventually end up at the club he supported as a kid.

‘I wanted to stay at Rangers but circumstances prevailed and I have ended up at Hearts. I’ve had a new lease of life and I’m enjoying the coaching side.

‘I’m learning a lot working with Robbie Neilson, Jack Ross and Stevie Crawford.

‘I supported Hearts as a boy and it’s great to see us go from strength to strength.’

Budge’s decision to install Craig Levein as director of football was hardly a surprise but Neilson’s appointment as head coach was less predictable. At 34, he is two years younger than his goalkeeper, but Alexander has been impressed by a coach who remains unbeaten in league football.

‘Robbie is calm and composed,’ he added. ‘He never loses his rag and that’s a great quality to have. He is always thinking and I have learned a lot from him.’

Alexander admits he was relieved when Madden made his decision to pull the players off on Friday night — and not just on account of the barracking he was receiving.

The keeper admits he has scarcely encountered such treacherous conditions on a football pitch.

‘The word shambles sums it up,’ he said. ‘Walking out for the warm-up, I couldn’t believe it was going ahead.

‘This was meant to be a showcase game for Scottish football with two of the biggest teams. To play in those conditions doesn’t do much for the reputation of the game.

‘The conditions were horrendous. In the end, the referee made the right decision but it should have been made 25 minutes earlier.’

I was getting pelters and booed. I could not repeat what they were saying