Green makes pledge to Rangers fans: I will not abuse your money in takeover — Daily Mail

PUBLISHED: 16:06 EST, 8 June 2012 | UPDATED: 16:06 EST, 8 June 2012

Pledge: Prospective Rangers buyer Charles Green

Charles Green has told Rangers fans he will not ‘abuse’ their money and insists he will not use cash from season ticket sales to fund his takeover.

The former Sheffield United chief executive — who is leading the consortium in place to buy the administration-hit club — was responding to comments made by Ibrox director Dave King.

King urged fans to reject the Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), which will be voted on by creditors next Thursday, while calling on supporters not to renew their season tickets until Green reveals the details of his plans.

Craig Whyte completed his own takeover of Sir David Murray’s majority shareholding last May with money from the sale of future season ticket income to investment firm Ticketus.

Green told Rangers’ official website on Friday night: ‘On the basis the receiver is already holding cash and we haven’t put the season tickets up for sale yet, I struggle to see how I can use season ticket money to buy the club.

‘The season ticket renewal letters are actually going out today and I have already deposited money with the administrator to buy the club.

‘We have provided the money to buy the club and we have documented the fact we are going to raise another 20-30million on top of that.

‘The important thing — which is in the letter I’ve sent out to fans — is that season ticket money, when it comes in, will actually be sat in an account specifically to hold it there.

Takeover turmoil: Rangers future hangs in the balance

‘For legal reasons, there is a 28-day cooling period after next Thursday should the CVA go ahead.

‘Until that period ends, any monies that come into the club are held in a secure account and I have no access to that money.

‘The season ticket money is crucial. The very suggestion we would be using it to buy the club is ridiculously untrue.

‘The more season tickets any club sells, the more that can be invested back into the club and into players.

‘If we are looking and speaking to the real, true Rangers fans, I’d say to them if there was ever a time to support the club it is now.

‘They will know for the first time in many, many years that their money will not be abused the way it was before.’

Green is adamant his consortium will complete its purchase of Rangers, whether the CVA is accepted or whether the club has to opt for a newco route instead.

He added: ‘We said from day one that our intentions were to acquire Rangers and the CVA was always the preferred option.

‘I have no control over that. Only creditors have and next Thursday there will be a meeting and either the CVA will go ahead or it will be rejected.

‘If it is rejected, we will immediately default into a newco route.

‘There is nothing anyone can say on the outside to change the fact my consortium will acquire the business next Thursday.’

Green says King’s comments were ‘disruptive’ at a time when he is attempting to gain the trust of a disillusioned Rangers support.

He said: ‘Dave is someone I’ve never met but I contacted him last Friday in South Africa and we had a conversation.

‘I sent him a copy of the presentation we’ve made public to tell him what our vision was. He owns 5% of the club and I felt it was important he had a chance to buy into it.

‘I was expecting some reply but clearly the comments he made were outrageous and I’m disappointed.

‘I have great difficulty where someone purports to be acting in the best interests of the club then recommends creditors should vote down a CVA. That is exactly what the club doesn’t want.

‘Real fans want to keep the tradition but what Dave King is saying is that the history and tradition of Rangers is of no consequence.

‘It’s not helpful to hear his thoughts and I think it is disruptive because the fans are getting mixed messages.

‘We’ve said consistently because of what has happened historically at the club that there’s a lack of trust and we have taken that on board.

‘I understand the nervousness of fans, particularly after the issues of the last few years, but my upbringing was to treat someone as you find them and we’ve not let anyone down.’

However, he did agree with King’s claim that Green — like Whyte — will not last a year at Ibrox.

He added: ‘He’s absolutely right on that because the minute I finish doing my job here I will leave the club.

‘My job is to remove the debts, get Rangers on a sound footing and put 20-30million in the bank. Once that is done, I’m of no use to the club at all.’