Dave King, the former Ibrox chairman, believes Rangers could leave Celtic for dust in the next 12 months in what he is describing as one of the most crucial periods in the club’s history.
The South African-based businessman, who stood down in March last year, is predicting the defence of the Premiership title and two Champions League qualifications will elevate the Ibrox club into a new position of power.
Rangers, of course, have major work to do to realise their Champions League dream as they need to turn around a 2-1 defeat in Malmo but King said: “This could be a pivotal period in Rangers’ history because they have the chance of another title and two Champions League qualifications which will bring in potentially £60 million to £70m.
“That money will go straight back into the team because you have shareholders who don’t take dividends.
“So, if you are able to win the league then you know from mid-May that you’re straight into the group phase and you can take your team to the next level. This is the most exciting season because there is so much potential and that will be huge motivation to Steven [Gerrard].
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“There is absolute certainty on Steven. He’s completely committed. He’s absolutely not looking to go anywhere. I think he is energised. He saw last season as a critical stepping stone and for him the endgame wasn’t to win one league title. The endgame is building on that and I would imagine the motivation for Steven will be very high this season.”
Speaking to the Rangers Connection podcast, he added: “If you look across the road there is that level of instability.
“When you’ve got a new manager coming into a new environment with probably not a lot of team recognition or player recognition, you’ve got changes to the executive structure, is there a director of football coming or not? It takes a long time for these things to work. It can never gel immediately.”
Rangers have written to fellow clubs explaining their position on the cinch sponsorship row and questioning why the SPFL pushed through the £8m deal when issues had been raised. The Ibrox club has refused to carry the cinch logo on its shirts, arguing that the SPFL’s own rules entitle it to do so because that would conflict with a prior deal it has with the car sales firm owned by its chairman, Douglas Park.
In correspondence to the clubs Stewart Robertson, the Rangers managing director, wrote: “One of the key rules that protects the commercial interests of all members is [SPFL] rule I7. We cannot breach an existing contract. Rangers has complied with and will continue to comply with the SPFL rules and fulfil all sponsorship obligations which do not conflict with our pre-existing contractual obligations.”