David Murray savages fellow Rangers directors

David Murray has emerged from his self imposed silence to savage three of his fellow Rangers directors for spreading scare stories about the club's financial position.

Douglas Park has been quoted in the wake of revelations about a tax probe into Rangers dealings with Murray accusing the motoring giant of trying to destabilise the club.

Four years since he first attempted to sell the club Murray appears to be no closer to selling Rangers but that hasn't prevented him from attacking some of his fellow Ibrox directors.

Speaking to his favourite newspaper, The Daily Record, Murray said: "If Douglas, Dave King, Paul Murray or anyone else wants to buy the club they all know what to do. 

"Stop saying why you wouldn't buy it. What's the point continually trying to undermine Rangers when it's clear finances are improving?

"If you care about the club would you endeavour to undermine it by making the kind of statements we've read from Douglas? One can only wonder why.

"Is it an attempt to weaken the club in the hope of getting it at a cheaper price?

"If Douglas, Dave King or anyone else wants to buy Rangers they all know what to do. But please, stop undermining what has been a tremendous effort by everyone at the club during very difficult and trying times."

Murray added: "I seem to recall Douglas Park got in touch a couple of times. Two years ago he called Mike McGill, the finance director, and offered to buy the club for £1.

"Then he said he'd like to take over the running of the club but we felt that wouldn't have been in Rangers' best interests. I think it's time Douglas stopped shadow boxing and got into the ring.

"If he or anyone else wants to buy let them make their play. They do the due diligence and see where they are but there's nothing to hide here."

Tellingly Murray makes no mention of next season's playing budget which is expected to be finalised in the next fortnight.

With Walter Smith without a contract and desperate for a loosening of the influence of Lloyds TSB on the club's playing budget Murray has been unable to provide the Rangers boss with any hope of a realistic budget for the new season.

Despite two years of Champions League money, amounting to close to £30m, a new tighter budget is expected to be applied for next season scuppering Smith's hopes of re-signing six out of contract players as well as a new deal for the Ibrox boss or his assistants.

Distractions and side issues don't win points.

What a week it's been for Celtic and stories- or sidelines and distractions!

Tony Mowbray's appearance at today's pre-match press conference was apparently to discuss Sunday's match with St Johnstone but the agenda was far from McDairmid Park.

While it's been a tough week for Celtic in medialand the club has the opportunity to set their own agenda and use the conference to communicate directly with supporters.

Talking about how news is interpreted and reported is a side issue, it's tittle tattle and helps to fill spaces and time during quiet weeks.

For over a month now we've been bombarded with the news that Aiden McGeady is on his way to Birmingham City for £8m which would be 'good business' to some.

I think that it's probably odds against McGeady being a Celtic player next season but there is no prospect of Birmingham City or £8m being involved if he does leave Celtic.

Adding to the menu this week Mark Venus did a McCoist in previewing a Scottish Cup tie which seemed to upset some folk and allowed himself to get dragged off in other directions before the Scott Brown rammy emerged.

All the while at Rangers it appears that not a single offer has yet been made for any of their players. A year on from almost selling Kris Boyd to Birmingham against his wishes to raise cash the club's financial future is looking even more dodgy.

Almost five months on from David Murray's decision to stand down as chairman there is no sign of a buyer, hardly a surprise since Murray has been looking to sell the club for getting on three years- again without a flicker of interest.

Three months on from Walter Smith being corrected for claiming that the bank were running Rangers they seem no closer to finding a solution with only a mysterious Florida based billionaire and property developer Graham Duffy showing an interest with neither having a credible or even a cunning plan of action.

Rangers only in-coming transfer of 2009 has ended in tears with Jerome Rothen desperate for an escape after two months into his Ibrox 'career'.

There are serious and troubled times at Rangers, which are likely to escalate over the next week. Club's that are interested in players at Ibrox are likely to make bids on the low side towards the close of the transfer window which the club may be forced to accept.

Rangers' business model appears to require the income from the Champions League to break even over the course of a season, reducing debt through normal trading seems an impossibility.

Failure to sell any players this month will leave the wage bill bloated and cause further discomfort for the bank. On the park, whatever anyone's opinion may be, Rangers are clearly ahead of Celtic.

They have a settled team with a defence that doesn't give goals away cheaply and an ability to draw when they could lose and win when a draw could be expected.

Celtic seem to be the exact opposite. No longer is there any game that looks a banker win.

Away games are fraught with problems, two goals seem to be lost in every away match with home draws against Falkirk, Motherwell and Hearts sitting alongside three home defeats in European competitions.

If there is an area that deserves the attention and criticism from Celtic supporters it's the on-field performances and results. Anything else is a side issue.

The next week, on the field as much as off it, will determine which club is in the best shape for the run-in to the season.

Gossip, distractions and body language never win points. A winning run from Celtic on the park can build a momentum that even the 'strange decisions' as Andreas Hinkel described them will find hard to break.

In the bleakest of circumstances Celtic found eight wins on the bounce to retain the title in season 2007/2008- repeating that run would drive Celtic into a commanding position and send confidence and morale sky high.

David Murray speaks out: No interest in Rangers

Sir David Murray has broken a three month silence to admit what most people were aware of- No one is in the 'race' to buy Rangers.

After twenty years soaking up the attention and publicity it must be torture for Murray to find so much speculation about the crown jewels of his troubled empire.

Asked directly about speculation and bids from prospective buyers, Murray said firmly, "No – none", and that there was "no substance" to recent speculation.

Saturday's Scotsman has a taster for the full interview in Scotland on Sunday.

The constant Dave King speculation is revealed as without substance the mysterious 'Florida-based billionaire' has really upset Murray's ego.

Speaking to The Scotsman, about the mystery man revealed by their rivals The Herald Murray said: "When the speculation got mischievous was when people started talking about mysterious Florida millionaires. It was unbelievable."

Whether it was by choice or under orders the last three months have clearly angered Murray.

Initial speculation about buyers has died down with only an unlikely 'supporters buy-out' the only option on the table although that has as little substance as the other 'proposals'.

For whatever reason that he's been banished to the sidelines the old Murray fight and attitude hasn't been dulled.

While suggesting that the appointment of Donald Muir from Lloyds was his own idea the former Rangers chairman is clearly angry that other clubs in debt aren't getting the same treatment as Rangers

Murray added: "I find it amazing that a football club like Ipswich can have a greater debt than Rangers and it doesn't appear on the radar. Preston lost £10 million."

The former Rangers chairman is still very much alive and kicking, the five weeks till the January transfer window opens will decide whether or not there is any substance to today's claims.

Scotsman article

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