Former Rangers chief Sandy Easdale has claimed the Ibrox club are years away from catching Celtic.
The bus tycoon insists his old side will continue to lag behind the Hoops as Dave King lacks the financial clout to catch up with the champions.
The one-time Rangers chairman knows the legions of Light Blues fans are desperate for glory with many backing Steven Gerrard to deliver the title next season but is adamant the club’s coffers “can’t finance the ambition”.
Easdale said: “Steven Gerrard can only do so much. It all boils down to finances. They have a lot of on loan players but they need to get that real financial backing behind them. I don’t know if Dave King has something lined up but they are buying shares at 20p a share.
“They aren’t going to catch Celtic today or tomorrow. They need a lot of money. Catching Celtic is a good couple of years away. Rangers fans - like Celtic fans - are ambitious but at the moment, they can’t finance that ambition.”
Former football board chairman Sandy Easdale, 49, and his brother James, 46, were ousted from the Rangers board of directors by Dave King’s takeover. The pair, part of the deeply-unpopular regime of Mike Ashley’s man Derek Llambias, are said to be willing to take up King’s court-ordered offer to buy out smaller shareholders.
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The South African businessman, 63, made the mandatory offer of 20p per share after a court ruled he had acted “in concert” with fellow investors in the Three Bears group. This was when they took control of the club from the board of directors, including the Easdales, in 2015.
But the deal may not go through unless other shareholders agree to sell.
Sandy Easdale said: “There just isn’t enough money in Scottish football. Even winning the SPL (sic) means that a team gets a million or two whereas in the England, you are talking £130m or more.
“A lot of people were unhappy went Brendan Rodgers left Celtic but business is business, he is going to go where the money is. Will he be more successful there? I am not so sure but he has to go.”
Easdale trolled club legend Ally McCoist as he announced the purchase of 26 new buses to serve Glasgow and the west of Scotland in a major investment worth £4.75million for his Greenock-based firm McGill’s.
He joked about Ally McCoist’s recent blistering attack on former Rangers owner Craig Whyte. The former Gers boss revealed he would struggle to restrain himself if the pair met again.
The Ibrox legend, 56, branded the tycoon a “chancer” who “didn’t give a s***” about the club he bought for just £1.
And Easdale said: “They should hire out Hampden and get the gloves on and slug it out. I am sure Ally would get a full house. Although last time I saw him Ally was looking a bit unfit but he is definitely game enough.
“I am sure I am not the only one who would pay good money to see that fight.”
Easdale was once the fourth biggest individual shareholder in the club. Together the brothers hold 6,450,000 shares.
Their involvement with Rangers began when the club were left on their knees financially in the wake of the Craig Whyte takeover.
