One of the most inauspicious tenures in the history of the Rangers boardroom has come to an end, with the club’s chairman David Somers confirming his resignation to the stock exchange on Monday morning.
In doing so, Somers has taken a swipe at the “rules and codes of behaviour” involved in football and sought credit for keeping Rangers from another insolvency event.
Somers’ exit is pertinent as it appears yet another precursor to Dave King and his allies succeeding in their extraordinary general meeting request to have the Rangers board removed and replaced.
That event is scheduled for Friday but the result of proxy voting, which is likely to be in King’s favour, should be known as early as Wednesday. Somers has become the second Rangers board member within a week to resign, following the lead of James Easdale.
Somers, who took office in 2013 and has therefore presided over yet another turbulent and acrimonious spell at Ibrox, infuriated shareholders at the club’s recent annual general meeting. Responding to repeated requests for questions from the floor to be properly answered, Somers said: “When you are chairman of Rangers, you can do it your way.”
Now, upon a departure which will be widely welcomed by Rangers’ fans, Somers has offered another broadside. He said: “I have resigned as chairman of Rangers International Football club plc. I have worked in the city of London, the world’s greatest financial centre for decades and enjoyed considerable success.
“When I was approached about the chairmanship of Rangers, friends warned me that the world of football has different rules and codes of behaviour. I now know that is a gross understatement. I am a non-confrontational man and have always tried to bring harmony to boardrooms and with stakeholders.
“At the risk of antagonising my army of critics I would point out that Rangers managed to pay its bills and avoid going under during my tenure. These critics might not agree with how we achieved this. I look forward to alternative solutions from whoever is running the club in the future.
“Despite the personal attacks on me from various sources I genuinely wish the club the very best in the future and I am confident that with such a passionate and vociferous fan base they will be restored to their former glories.”
King, who will have questions to answer from the Scottish FA should he complete his power grab because of previous involvement at the club, is seeking to have two Mike Ashley allies – Barry Leach and Derek Llambias – voted off the Rangers board. King, as well as Paul Murray and John Gilligan would subsequently take on directorships.
Ashley will, however, retain his firm grip on all commercial affairs at Ibrox and his Sports Direct firm could be due up to £10m in loan repayments. There has been no indication whatsoever that Ashley has an alternate agenda to recouping everything he believes due to him via merchandising and sponsorship agreements.
