Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson has agreed to meet representatives of the Tannadice support to gauge their views over the Rangers newco crisis.
Thompson will sit down with fans next week to take on board their points and concerns ahead of the vote on whether or not to allow the transfer of the SPL share from the, by then, liquidated Ibrox club to the new company that will be formed in the days ahead.
No date for the big vote which will involve all 12 top-flight clubs including the Light Blues has yet been confirmed and it is unlikely to happen for at least two weeks.
That will give Thompson and the rest of the United directors time to take the temperature of opinion among the Tangerines’ faithful.
If the words of Derek Robertson are in any way representative then it appears there is little or no sympathy among the supporters for letting a newco Rangers into the league.
The former Tannadice director and now chairman of fans’ group ArabTRUST has accused those running and speaking for the Ibrox club during the debacle of turning backers of the other SPL teams against them by using ”bully-boy tactics”.
He also called for clarification from broadcasters Sky over whether or not the TV deal will survive a no vote, sympathising with club chairmen including Thompson who will be voting without knowing the full consequences of their decision.
”I welcome the fact the chairman has agreed to a further meeting with supporters’ groups next week to continue the dialogue on this subject,” said Robertson. ”You would be hard pressed to find any Scottish football supporter sympathetic to readmitting a newco Rangers straight back into the SPL.
”Any sympathy that might have been out there has been lost due to the continued revelations and the unapologetic bully-boy tactics employed by them in recent weeks.
”It has been a classic example of how not to win friends and influence people. The whole thing has been handled terribly and it has been a PR disaster from start to finish.”
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”The lack of humility has been astonishing and it has certainly made the mood among people very bad. The level of sympathy towards Rangers, because of the way they have conducted themselves, is going rapidly.”
Robertson added that the ”elephant in the room” as far as he is concerned is Sky’s position, which has yet to be clarified by the TV company.
”It is going to be hard for the clubs to vote on something when they don’t know if the major broadcaster will continue,” added the ArabTRUST chairman. ”From a club like Dundee United’s point of view, the elephant in the room is Sky.”
Elsewhere, St Johnstone chairman Steve Brown is monitoring the situation closely while on holiday and the Perth club’s position will be clarified when he returns.
Inverness Caley Thistle chief Kenny Cameron has pledged to consult their fans.
Cameron has refused to make a ”snap judgment” over any newco bid and expects the SPL to call a meeting to update clubs on the situation.
He said: ”It is never good to see a Scottish club going into liquidation and it is a pity that Rangers have come to such a position. As to what happens now at SPL level, as far as our own club is concerned this is a time to consult and to take stock.”
Meanwhile prospective Rangers owner Charles Green continues to talk with the Scottish football authorities.
”We are still negotiating with the SFA and SPL to reach an amicable conclusion to the benefit of Scottish football,” he said. ”We need to carry on talking sensibly and get something that works for everyone.”
The SPL again refused to comment on the issue.