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DADO PRSO and Nacho Novo were partners in crime. Together as a duo they struck fear into the hearts of opponents.

Two hitmen in Light Blue. Two men who shared the passion of the supporters. Two men who shot Rangers to the title on that famous Helicopter Sunday almost a decade ago.

Prso and Novo were sinking the Easter Road outfit that day.

Yet as he looked at pictures from Friday’s game against Hibs he saw snaps of Novo standing outside the stadium with other disillusioned Ibrox heroes from the past campaigning against the board . Prso was stunned.

The Croatian doesn’t know the inside track on the boardroom battles but he didn’t have to.

Seeing his pal Novo outside instead of inside Ibrox told him everything he needed to know and he acted.

The Rangers Supporters Trust announced at the weekend that Prso has joined as a life member and Buy Rangers contributor.

On signing up defiant words from Prso accompanied the news in a statement which read: “I’ve said that when I was on the pitch I was like a soldier for Rangers, that I never gave up. Well the fans have been soldiers too and the RST have led that fight for many years. They have never given up.

“I am delighted to support the fans in their efforts to get their club back and I urge people to join the RST and help them do that.”

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When Record Sport caught up with Prso last night, however, there was a deeper sense of dejection as opposed to the defiance.

The images stunned him and he said: “To see Nacho standing outside of the stadium with other supporters before the game just sums it up for me.

“I spoke with him on Saturday and, when you see things like that and people like him, where they were, you know something is very wrong.

“Nacho and myself played together and we felt the passion of the supporters and we tried to have it in our play.

“We were like the people in the stands. We wanted to bring joy to the people because, I believe, the people are Rangers. All clubs are just their supporters.

“I have been looking at what has been happening with the club over the past years, even though I am not in Scotland now.

“Rangers will always be a part of me and that never changes even though I am back in Croatia.

“Rangers are a massive club and what has been happening in the past few years is terrible for the fans. I may not be close to the story and the exact movements but I see enough with my own eyes.

“As I say, the supporters and the people are Rangers.

“The players will change and move to other clubs, the managers will change and so will the chairman and the men in charge.

“I changed clubs when my time was up at Rangers but the people are the same. The fans will never change. They will always be there, no matter.

“When I talk about Rangers and the fans I get goosebumps. I am sitting here talking in Croatia right now and the goosebumps are coming on me.

“As I speak, inside my head, I am at Ibrox right now. The supporters are the heart of the club so it makes me sad to see the heart is being ripped out of the club.”

When Prso sees Ibrox these days he can scarcely compute the situation. Back in the early 2000s when he was starring, the Croat played in a bearpit. Ibrox was regularly sold out and the atmosphere was incredible.

Now swathes of empty seats look down on the players as they run out on to the pitch.

The only atmosphere within the stadium is one of disgust and apathy, at both the

shenanigans in the boardroom and the shambles on the field. Prso said: “When I played at Rangers we had full stadiums and one of the greatest atmospheres in Europe.

“It is incredible that many of those people are now outside of the stadium. When I played for Rangers I had the passion of the people. When I was playing for Monaco they asked me what was the best atmosphere I had encountered in the game.

“I said it was at Ibrox when I played for Monaco. It was unique. It felt incredible. It was amazing that I ended up playing there and being part of it.”

Prso, though, refuses to give up hope those days will return. Having joined the RST and the fight to get the club back on to a proper footing the Croat says he’ll be back in Scotland soon.

The situation won’t be mended by then but in time Prso believes he will again see Rangers flying high.

He said: “I want to do my bit to try to help with what the fans are trying to achieve. The

club deserves the best and so do the fans.

“I dream of the day when I can come back to Ibrox and see the place like I remember – filled with supporters and the club being successful and healthy.

“I’m sure that day will come and it will be sooner rather than later.

“The people will make sure of that I believe.”

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