Join thousands of fans who have signed up to our Rangers newsletter. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

THE heat generated at the Rangers AGM was welcome on a bitterly cold morning but the future remains to be fully illuminated for shareholders.

Ibrox fans angrily expressed their disgust at the performance of their board as they jeered, heckled and harangued directors for 90 minutes plus a few added on for injury to feelings.

It was unruly, bordering on ugly on occasions, but it was the language of the unheard, 1500 helpless souls howling their frustration and fear for the future of their club.

The board were appropriately positioned in a marquee manger at the corner of the Govan and Broomloan Stands and suffered a menagerie of insults from their audience, who labelled them donkeys and gorillas.

Llambias to the slaughter, all of them, and the biggest cheer of the day was reserved for John Brown who barked at the new chief executive: “I hope you are better qualified than those other rats at that table.”

Answers to probing questions, like the patience of the participants, proved thin on the ground as the board sat down at 10.30am to a cacophony of boos.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

The meeting was appallingly chaired by lame duck David Somers, who delighted in antagonising his audience with a string of insults and arrogant one-liners.

There is a gaping disconnect between the club and its followers but there was little sign of humility from the board’s frontman just days after the Rangers Supporters’ Trust approached nomads WH Ireland to plead for one question at a time to be taken, along with an appropriate follow-up.

Somers was having none of it, arranging questions in clusters of two and three before telling the crowd: “When you get to be chairman of Rangers you get to do it your way.”

He read a 15-minute chairman’s report that pointed the finger at the media, stayaway fans and anti-Rangers sentiment amongst the “football establishment” and referenced “legacy issues” nine times in the first five minutes.

He overlooked the fact one of those responsible for those legacy issues was sitting immediately to his right, James Easdale, who has been a director of the company for 18 months, since when 13 board members have come and gone.

Somers was guilty of treating the fans with contempt but they were not fooled by someone throwing a carrot in a cauldron of boiling water and telling them it was a pot of soup.

He assured them James Easdale was an excellent non-executive director because “I’m on the board of two banks and we’ve got an MP on one of them”.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

He told them he was “beginning to warm” to Blue Pitch and Margarita Holdings because “they’re nice quiet shareholders who have never emailed or called me”.

One fan demanded his resignation, another compared him with Captain Mainwairing from Dad’s Army, and all the time the boos and catcalls came. He was so far out of his depth they were throwing lifebelts over the main stand roof from the banks of the Clyde.

The Union of Fans handed out a flier before the game with nine questions they demanded answered, while the Rangers Supporters’ Trust came armed with a list of 20.

Chris Graham, who represents both organisations, won a concession from Llambias that he was not on the payroll of Mike Ashley or Sports Direct, which raised an eyebrow.

For the most part, however, the directors hovered on the stage near the touchline and put in bodyswerves down the wing that have not been seen at Ibrox since Davie Cooper was in his pomp. Llambias was one of nine men considered for the chief executive’s position, Somers confirmed, then refused to say how many were actually interviewed.

Llambias, clearly a sharp and shrewd operator, might have been better chairing the whole shebang and won a polite round of applause when he gave a short address, pleading for patience as he bids to turn round the fortunes of the club, as he did at Newcastle.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

However, he declined to comment on the extent of Ashley’s involvement ahead of a meeting with the SFA today and sidestepped when asked if Ally McCoist was put on gardening leave to avoid addressing the agm.

He said: “We respect what Ally has done and what the club is trying to

do now. Kenny McDowall will be in place until the end of the season – and maybe beyond.”

Unsurprisingly, nine-in-a-row defender Brown stole the show, demanding to know if Ticketus had a stake in the ownership of Murray Park or Ibrox. He also demanded to know what sway Charles Green and Imran Ahmad still held over Rangers.

He called the Easdales the “two stooges” and rounded on Somers for not having the decency to reference the efforts and commitment of Ally McCoist in his opening address.

Brown’s fears were dismissed by Somers while the “two stooges”, bookending the table, were taking none of the insults, although quite why Sandy was granted top-table status when he is not a member of the plc board remains a mystery.

One supporter rounded on James, accused him of being a Morton fan, and demanded he tell the gathering one positive contribution he had made to the club in the past 12 months.

Easdale said: “I’m a Rangers fan. Morton are my home town club. It’s no big deal, that’s the size of it.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

“The decisions I make are always in the best interests of Rangers and its shareholders.

“Despite what some have said I’m not a puppet - and I’m certainly not

a rat.”

Big brother Sandy brought an earthy charm to proceedings when he was asked to clarify his relationship with Blue Pitch and Margarita Holdings.

He stood up, looked his aggressive audience in the eye and didn’t flinch as he told them: “Settle doon. I don’t need to answer your question but I will.”

He added: “They have nothing to do with Green, Ahmad or any other former directors. They are a wealthy, foreign-based entity.

“They have never, ever been a problem and have never caused any problems. Can anyone even tell me what they’ve done wrong?”

Paul Murray had previously told the meeting Dave King’s investment was refused by the board because, ultimately, Ashley was the only man with whom they wanted to do business.

Easdale added: “I’m not here to dictate to anyone. I’m doing my best for free, I’ve put my money in when required. All I’m doing is trying my best for the club. I’m not on a gravy train and neither is my brother.

(Image: Daily Record)

“We’ve not taken a penny, I pay my own expenses. Believe me, trust me, I come from this area and don’t want to harm this club in any shape or form.”

He sat down to a polite ripple of applause as Somers called the meeting to a close, fending off a final volley of abuse for not allowing more time for questions from the floor.

His expression screamed relief it was all over for another year.