Skip to content

James Easdale resigns as a director of Rangers

Image: James Easdale (left) with his brother Sandy (right)

Rangers have announced that James Easdale has resigned as a director of the club.

Easdale, whose brother Sandy is the Ibrox club’s chairman, was one of four directors Dave King was looking to oust at next month’s EGM.

However, he has decided to quit ahead of that meeting at Ibrox "in the best interests of the club".

I think it is in the best interests of the club that I step aside and resign from the board of Rangers FC.
James Easdale

Announcing his departure, Easdale said: “When I joined the board of Rangers Football Club I knew this wasn’t just another business. In reality it is so much more to many people all around the world.

“After what the fans have been through with previous owners and managements it is hardly surprising they are heartily sick of the whole affair and they now seek another way forward.

“I drew great comfort from the shareholder votes in my favour at the AGM on December 22 – almost 90 per cent – however it was clear that this cut little ice with the fans who attended Ibrox on that day.

“However, I personally feel to remain on the board even after securing shareholder backing once more, would be a hollow victory for me without the fans’ support to help the club go forward.

“If a pragmatic solution is not achieved we will see this endless acrimony continue and it would make the job of attracting fans back to Ibrox even more difficult. The club requires big match day attendances and big investment to thrive, or in turn the performance on the pitch will continue to suffer.

“I also want to dispel any remaining doubt that I received any remuneration from Rangers. I did not. Instead I chose to work for free to benefit the club.  I want to see Rangers flourish again with both fans and shareholders working in harmony.

'Journey'

“To help achieve that objective, I think it is in the best interests of the club that I step aside and resign from the board of Rangers FC.

"I have formally tendered my resignation to the chairman and I would like to thank all the shareholders and fans who gave me their support and I look forward to seeing Rangers becoming once again the force it should be in football and supporting them on the journey.”

Easdale's depature leaves just three members remaining on the current Ibrox board ahead of the EGM on March 6.

Chairman David Somers, Barry Leach the finance director and chief executive officer Derek Llambias will run the financially-troubled Championship club at least until Friday week.

Then South Africa-based businessman King, who holds a 14.5 per cent stake in the club and was a director of oldco Rangers, is looking to replace them with himself, fellow-oldco director Paul Murray and Glasgow brewery boss John Gilligan.

It's a battle won but the war has not been won yet and we need to keep our focus on removing the rest of the board.
Chris Graham, Rangers Supporters Trust

And Easdale's decision to step down has been welcomed by Rangers Supporters Trust whose spokesman Chris Graham said it finally gives the fans 'something to celebrate'.

Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ, he said: "We have obviously wanted the removal of all the board members and we are pleased that James Easdale has gone but there is still a job to be done.

"There are another three directors on the plc board and his brother still sits on the football board so it's a battle won but the war has not been won yet and we need to keep our focus on removing the rest of the board."

Around Sky