David Murray has emerged from his self imposed silence to savage three of his fellow Rangers directors for spreading scare stories about the club’s financial position.
Douglas Park has been quoted in the wake of revelations about a tax probe into Rangers dealings with Murray accusing the motoring giant of trying to destabilise the club.
Four years since he first attempted to sell the club Murray appears to be no closer to selling Rangers but that hasn’t prevented him from attacking some of his fellow Ibrox directors.
Speaking to his favourite newspaper, The Daily Record, Murray said: “If Douglas, Dave King, Paul Murray or anyone else wants to buy the club they all know what to do.
“Stop saying why you wouldn’t buy it. What’s the point continually trying to undermine Rangers when it’s clear finances are improving?
“If you care about the club would you endeavour to undermine it by making the kind of statements we’ve read from Douglas? One can only wonder why.
“Is it an attempt to weaken the club in the hope of getting it at a cheaper price?
“If Douglas, Dave King or anyone else wants to buy Rangers they all know what to do. But please, stop undermining what has been a tremendous effort by everyone at the club during very difficult and trying times.”
Murray added: “I seem to recall Douglas Park got in touch a couple of times. Two years ago he called Mike McGill, the finance director, and offered to buy the club for £1.
“Then he said he’d like to take over the running of the club but we felt that wouldn’t have been in Rangers’ best interests. I think it’s time Douglas stopped shadow boxing and got into the ring.
“If he or anyone else wants to buy let them make their play. They do the due diligence and see where they are but there’s nothing to hide here.”
Tellingly Murray makes no mention of next season’s playing budget which is expected to be finalised in the next fortnight.
With Walter Smith without a contract and desperate for a loosening of the influence of Lloyds TSB on the club’s playing budget Murray has been unable to provide the Rangers boss with any hope of a realistic budget for the new season.
Despite two years of Champions League money, amounting to close to £30m, a new tighter budget is expected to be applied for next season scuppering Smith’s hopes of re-signing six out of contract players as well as a new deal for the Ibrox boss or his assistants.