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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Liam Bryce

Brian Laudrup torn over Rangers fans protests but legend confesses Celtic friendly set alarm bells ringing

Brian Laudrup has pleaded for unity at Rangers after some fans staged a weekend protest against the board.

A section of the travelling support launched tennis balls and toilet roll onto the Dens Park pitch on Sunday as they hit out at the controversial friendly with Celtic in the Sydney Super Cup.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side are due to travel Down Under for the exhibition tournament in November, although Record Sport revealed last week Ibrox bosses are considering pulling out.

The protest repeatedly disrupted the weekend clash as Rangers chased the game with their hopes of retaining the title hanging in the balance.

Keeper Allan McGregor appeared to mouth "f*****g a*******s" as the stunt unfolded and club legend Laudrup admits he's torn.

The Dane believes supporters have the right to question the club - and admitted the friendly set alarm bells ringing for him - but fears the discord could "destroy" Rangers' hopes of a historic season as they compete in the Premiership, Scottish Cup and Europa League.

Laudrup wrote in his Daily Mail column: "I can understand Giovanni van Bronckhorst urging Rangers fans to strike a balance after they disrupted Sunday's 2-1 Premiership win at Dundee.

"You could see the reaction of Allan McGregor as well. It was documented that he was a wee bit upset by the hold-ups caused by tennis balls and toilet paper being thrown on to the pitch in protest against the planned friendly against Celtic in Australia in November.

"But I think you have to understand both sides of this dilemma. As fans, they are upset about decisions made by the Rangers board and the only way they can show that is at games.

"It could have ended really badly for their team at Dens Park, though.

"And I understand from a manager and player's point of view that it would have been very annoying having these delays within a game.

"It disrupted Rangers getting into a rhythm, especially in a match where they were not playing at their very best and they were chasing three very important points.

"It's not nice what is going on off the pitch just now at Rangers because you want to be united at this point of the season when there is so much at stake. There are clearly some problems there.

"It's a very sensitive subject and it's difficult because I don't live in Scotland but I know Rangers and I know Glasgow.

(PA)

"A sentence with 'Old Firm' and 'friendly' in it does not ring too well in my ears. I also think a lot of people are quite upset about the decision being made without talking to some fans and seeing what the reaction would be.

"Sometimes, the only way for fans to get a reaction is to protest within games but it could destroy Rangers' chances of having a really, truly historic season if it carries on.

"If Rangers had lost at Dundee, that could have been it but, thankfully, they are still very much in the title race.

"Hopefully, that kind of protest was a one-off. We will see in the next couple of games. But it's not going to make the players or the results any better. The ideal way to do it is for the fans to protest without affecting the football and impacting their team."

Since the weekend protests, fans group Club 1872 released a statement accusing the board of "developing an extremely unhealthy disdain" for fans as they took aim at the running of the club.

That prompted Rangers to blast back in a scathing response, vowing to address the "propaganda war" at the end of the season.

The statement said: "The rest of this season is arguably one of the most crucial periods in our illustrious 150 year history.

"The Men’s First Team and Women’s Team are competing for major honours, both domestically and in Europe.

"It is deeply regrettable that the same small rump of 'supporters' remains intent on causing damage to our club. It is particularly concerning to note the timing they have chosen to launch their latest attack.

"It is lost on nobody that those intent on creating maximum disruption are those who have either enjoyed, or craved, a role within our club.

"The collective desire of our board, management and players, is to have unity of purpose over the coming months. Rest assured, we will address the disruptors and their propaganda war at the end of this season.

"For now, nothing matters but results on the field. Together, we are stronger."

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