Rangers chief executive gives reaction to 'no to newco' decision

Ibrox chief executive Charles Green has insisted that Rangers will "come back and it will come back at the top" after six SPL teams announced their intention to block his side's league application.

Inverness, Aberdeen and St Johnstone announced in quick succession on Monday that they would vote against Mr Green's application when the 12 SPL clubs, including the soon-to-be liquidated Rangers, meet on July 4.

Dundee United, Hearts and Hibernian had previously made public their opposition, leaving Green with no chance of securing the 8-4 majority needed.

Speaking outside Ibrox, Mr Green said: "I'm obviously disappointed but I think it's something that, as CEO of Rangers, that we have to deal with the cards we've been dealt and it's unfortunate that people have come out and made those comments when my understanding was that there was going to be a vote next Wednesday — but you know I can't control other clubs."

Asked which league he thought Rangers would be playing in when the new season kicks off, Mr Green answered: "That's something we've got to work on over the next few days. First thing, we've got to get membership of the SFA ... then start speaking to the football league.

"I always want to play at the highest level and that's why we made an application to join the SPL — and whether you're a player, whether you're a fan or whether you're a director of a football club, you always want to see your club playing at the highest level. But cream always floats to the top and this club will come back and it will come back at the top — make no mistake."

Mr Green was asked whether the possibility of Rangers having to work their way up from Division Three could be seen as some sort of "redemption". He responded: "Well, of course, I accept that that's a view but what we also have to look at is Scottish Football is driven by two factors: Rangers and Celtic. And the income drivers, the generation, the media, the marketing is all about two clubs, and really I think what we have to do is start looking now at what's best for Scottish Football and we all have to now unite behind the club and make sure that the decisions we take going forward achieve that result."

The former Sheffield United chief executive insisted that the members of his consortium were not worried about not getting newco Rangers into the SPL. He said: "The consortium realise that if we went down the route where newco was the route, it was a risk. It doesn't alter their resolve. Those guys invested knowing these obstacles that were outside our control and the resolve's there to see this job finished."

Asked if he would be running Rangers in the long term, Mr Green replied: "I said at Murray Park on the May 13 that my job will be finished when we've got financial security, when the debts are paid, when it's floated on the stock market and that the fans have got the right and the opportunity to buy shares — and nothing has changed since May 13."

In a message to the Rangers support, the chief executive said: "We really need now to get behind the club because I think we can see both from what's been said by the SPL, what's been happening with the players, that really, really you need to unify and unite behind Rangers and let's now start moving this club forward.

"Stop the fighting, stop the disagreements, get behind the club — irrespective of whether I'm CEO, whether I'm not CEO. This is about Rangers. It's much bigger than Charles Green."

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