Goram: King is perfect for Rangers

Photo: Jeff Holmes

Andy Goram has pleaded with the Scottish FA not to block Dave King's Rangers revolution.

The nine-in-a-row goalkeeper insists King is the "perfect'' man to lead the Light Blues back to their former glories.

But he believes Hampden chiefs could put the entire Scottish game at risk if they ban Johannesburg-based King from taking up the reins at the Glasgow giants.

The Castlemilk-born millionaire has already forced chairman David Somers and director James Easdale to accept defeat and resign in the face of mounting shareholder opposition.

The club's remaining board members - Mike Ashley's placemen Derek Llambias and Barry Leach - face being ousted at a general meeting this Friday.

However, King has yet to convince the SFA he is a fit and proper'' person to run the club.

He will have to explain why he was forced to hand the South African Revenue Services a cheque for £44million in 2013 in a bid to stave off a tax investigation.

SARS claimed King owned £149million but he was spared jail after accepting liability for 41 lesser charges in relation to income tax laws.

The ex-oldco director will also have to detail his boardroom role in the weeks leading up to the club's 2012 liquidation disaster.

But former Scotland number one Goram said: For the good of Rangers and Scottish football in general, the SFA need to give Dave King the green light.

It would be damaging if they stood in his way because it would mean the present board would still be there, and we've seen what they have done.

He has already said he is confident of passing the fit and proper test. There is investment there from King and the likes of Douglas Park - they are willing to put their money forward.

Yet it is all loan deals from Mike Ashley. Under him, the club is just going back into debt. With King, you don't have that problem, so it must be the right way forward.

We need Rangers back up in the top flight as soon as possible, but in the right way. We obviously can't fast-track them back to the Premiership.

But if Dave King comes in and gives the manager money to spend, then it can only be good for the Scottish game. You will have a strong Rangers and a strong Celtic - it will be perfect.''

Retired Light Blues favourite Goram, speaking at the launch of former Celtic striker John Hartson's charity golf day, believes fans who have boycotted the club's home matches will flood back if King assumes command.

Dave is definitely the right man to lead the club forward,'' he added.He has waited six or seven months to make his move and now is the right time.

He has got the right backing in people like John Gilligan and they are the perfect people to run the club.

Once Dave gets in he will clear the place out, he will look into the shareholders and find out who has got what.

And he will get more people to back Rangers too. With the people he knows, I think you will find him persuading more and more investors to put their money into the club, so it's all looking good.

The fans will respond too. There is no doubt in my mind that you will see a full Ibrox again a week on Tuesday against Queen of the South once Dave King gets control.''

Somers quit on Monday morning but Goram is worried Ashley - who still holds security on many of the club's major assets, including Murray Park, after handing over a £10million loan - will continue to play a part in the Gers' future.

He said: Dave King is supremely confident that he will win Friday's vote, so it didn't surprise me to see Somers walk.

But it doesn't seem like there is much point of the EGM going ahead if there is only going to be two directors left. They should resign now and let King get on with it.

Even if they do that I'm not sure that will be the last we see of Ashley's presence at the club though. I've heard that Ashley is still allowed to nominate two directors to the board so if Llambias and Leach go, two more will come in.

I'm not sure how tight that deal is but I don't think is right.''