By Mark Dingwall
Rangers are engaged in a search for a new Chief Executive. I’m going to suggest we need someone who is a little more than a money maker.
We operate in a hostile environment – one club has filled the two main football governing bodies with their place-men and place-women – both in elected positions and in staff members. Many of the other clubs are hostile to us – some through hate, some just don’t want dragged into the frenzy of hate that motives You Know Who.
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Scottish football is political – very political. To negotiate these dangerous waters I would suggest we also need someone who can be seen and heard – our directors are mostly based out of the country or simply aren’t comfortable with the media spotlight. Our former Chief Exec for eight years – Stuart Robertson – literally appeared like a startled rabbit in front of a microphone or a camera. And this was during our recovery fight from the happenings of 2012.
We lost great opportunities because of it. We lost power and prestige. We lost someone to rally and direct the fans. We lost a great chance to weld the club and the support as one.
Much of the background you and I accept is alien to someone like the recently regarded Bisgrove – and why should it be to an outsider? – it’s not normal, which is why we need someone who appreciates all of the background issues. It will save time and, if he has the bottle, a lot of energy.
The ultimate aim of the club must be to ensure fairness in the governing bodies. I freely admit that it will not be easy to erase the legacy of poison which infects the game. Until it does we will not get fair treatment and the game in Scotland will not flourish as it should.
I’ve been surprised over the years that many of our directors appear blind to this – that they regard these things like the weather – it exists but you can’t influence it.
The first prerequisite is of course that it’s someone who knows how to make money. But I believe its absolutely essential that they know the background and are committed to changing it. Without being completely parochial – that entails them being Scottish or of Scottish descent.
The next step to overcome is to make sure we don’t go for one of the usual suspects. There are chief execs and football governing body employees who are Rangers fans – but we need to ensure these are not those who partake of milk and water. People infected with the status quo are not the best to change it.
We have missed so many opportunities and made so many mistakes over the last 12 years which a properly competent Chief Exec would have spotted coming and sidestepped. I’m not advocating bringing back Charles Green! But he had flair and was a ringmaster – we need a real leader who intervenes in the media when needed and can enthuse the support.