Interim Rangers chairman John Gilligan has addressed concerns about the club’s leadership amid a series of high-profile departures from its management team.
Creag Robertson, the Director of Football Operations, is set to leave the club in the coming weeks to pursue new opportunities. His exit follows that of former CEO James Bisgrove, who left for a role in Saudi Arabia, and chairman John Bennett, who stepped down this season due to health issues. These departures have sparked questions regarding the level of direction within the club as several key positions remain vacant or temporarily filled.
In response to growing unease among fans, Gilligan emphasized the club’s stability, stating, “I can assure you that the club is in good hands under George Letham and myself, who have deep knowledge of business and our great club.” He added that he and Letham are “working tirelessly alongside our executive management team to continue to drive the club forward.”
Gilligan confirmed Robertson’s upcoming departure and thanked him for his contributions since joining the club in 2016. “We wish him well in his future endeavours,” Gilligan said.
Despite the leadership shake-up, Gilligan reassured supporters that plans are underway for the upcoming January transfer window, citing comments from Nils Koppen, the club’s Director of Football Recruitment.
The interim chairman also addressed another pressing issue: a €13,750 fine imposed by UEFA due to the use of pyrotechnics by fans during a recent Europa League match against Lyon. This fine follows a previous €19,000 penalty for a similar incident during a game against Malmo.
“After a fantastic result in Malmo, we were all disappointed with the Europa League result against Lyon,” Gilligan remarked. “However, I was proud to see the supporters staying with Philippe and the team until the final whistle. The biggest disappointment of that evening was the actions of a small minority of supporters, whose use of pyrotechnics has led to this fine.”
He stressed the need for an end to the use of pyrotechnics at matches, saying, “My message is the use of pyrotechnics must stop and stop now at all of our matches home and away! Not only could the repercussions become ever larger for the club, but many supporters have difficulty coping with the effects of pyrotechnics, whether that be the smoke or loud bangs they produce. It is desperately unfair for any Rangers supporter to come to a match and be affected in such a manner.”