Rangers Suspend Trio

Photo by Jeff Holmes Rangers have suspended Derek Llambias, Barry Leach and Sandy Easdale "pending an investigation". Chief executive Llambias and finance director Leach are both close associates of shareholder and Newcastle owner Mike Ashley and were both voted off the board on Friday. Easdale is chairman of the football board at Ibrox but was never on the plc board. Dave King, Paul Murray and John Gilligan were all voted on to the board on Friday, although the former is awaiting fit-and-proper clearance from the stock exchange and football authorities. A club statement read: "Rangers Football Club announce today that Derek Llambias, Barry Leach and Sandy Easdale have been suspended from their duties pending an investigation. "It is also noted that Mr Llambias and Mr Leach, along with Sandy Easdale, have been advised that a resolution to remove them as directors of the company has been received by the company. "A meeting may be required for this purpose but it is hoped that this will not prove necessary. "Acting chairman Paul Murray, fellow directors Douglas Park and John Gilligan, and the club's head of football administration Andrew Dickson have been appointed to the board of the company." In response to Rangers' announcement, Easdale's spokesman Jack Irvine issued a statement through Press Association Sport which read: "We are surprised at the announcement as you cannot suspend a director under the law of Scotland. "We also note that they talk about an investigation. Sandy Easdale welcomes that as he has absolutely nothing to fear."