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Murray rules out quick exit from Rangers
Scotland - 24 August, 2007
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Scottish Rangers owner, Sir David Murray, insists he does not have an exit strategy from the Premier League club. Speaking before hundreds of shareholders in the main stand at Ibrox during the club's 108th AGM, Murray admitted that he had come close to selling Rangers, but felt it was not in the best interests of the club.
"Over the last year two or three people have spoken to me about buying the club and we did have one particular group which came very near, and I have to watch what I say because we are a PLC, but I wasn't happy it was at the right moment for the club," Murray said.
The 54-year-old Chairman, who bought Rangers in 1988 for GBP 6 million, confirmed his intention of selling the Old Firm club - blaming demands of his other businesses as a major factor. However, he insists that any prospective buyer must be able to maintain or increase the level of support that he had shown during his 20 years in lead, and added that he will refuse selling the club to asset strippers who intent on flogging the land or selling star players.
"I do not wish to do this for the rest of my life. "It has been an honour to be chairman, but this is my 19th AGM, I've never missed a board meeting, rarely miss home games and I have a huge business to run," Murray explained. "I have no wish for a quick exit."
"Running a football team is not for widows and orphans, it is a heavy investment and I reiterate that I would only sell to someone I believe genuinely has the best intentions - someone who would not look to strip out the club, take out the assets, sell the land, sell the best players, do a sale or lease-back with the ground or sell the training ground," Murray added.
Murray has also promised supporters they will have a representative on the club's board within the next few months. "I can confirm that we have no problem with this and when we sit here next year, you will have a 100% truly elected supporter on the board," he response to a question from one shareholder about the issue.
"Over the last year two or three people have spoken to me about buying the club and we did have one particular group which came very near, and I have to watch what I say because we are a PLC, but I wasn't happy it was at the right moment for the club," Murray said.
The 54-year-old Chairman, who bought Rangers in 1988 for GBP 6 million, confirmed his intention of selling the Old Firm club - blaming demands of his other businesses as a major factor. However, he insists that any prospective buyer must be able to maintain or increase the level of support that he had shown during his 20 years in lead, and added that he will refuse selling the club to asset strippers who intent on flogging the land or selling star players.
"I do not wish to do this for the rest of my life. "It has been an honour to be chairman, but this is my 19th AGM, I've never missed a board meeting, rarely miss home games and I have a huge business to run," Murray explained. "I have no wish for a quick exit."
"Running a football team is not for widows and orphans, it is a heavy investment and I reiterate that I would only sell to someone I believe genuinely has the best intentions - someone who would not look to strip out the club, take out the assets, sell the land, sell the best players, do a sale or lease-back with the ground or sell the training ground," Murray added.
Murray has also promised supporters they will have a representative on the club's board within the next few months. "I can confirm that we have no problem with this and when we sit here next year, you will have a 100% truly elected supporter on the board," he response to a question from one shareholder about the issue.
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