McCoist’s financial backing for Charles Green

Ally McCoist has been named as a surprise shareholder in Rangers with a 4.5% stake in the club.

In a carefully leaked article to the on-message side of the BBC, not Mark Daly, some of the mysterious backers in Charles Green’s consortium have been revealed.

News of McCoist’s financial involvement will no doubt be celebrated by Ibrox supporters but goes a long way to explain the change of stance from the Sevco manager.

While close friends Walter Smith and John Brown went public with their fears over Green taking control of the club McCoist took a back seat steering clear of the argument.

At a supporters meeting dominated by Brown demanding to see the title deeds McCoist withheld his backing for Green saying that ‘to be honest he couldn’t ask supporters to buy season tickets’.

Once Green’s charm offensive took to the airwaves supporters were won around with the current Ibrox boss finally giving his backing to the desperate campaign to shift season tickets.

Last week the former Question of Sport skipper stated: “As time goes on we’re learning more about each other and we have the same interests and the same target, which is to take the club forward. As long as we share that we have a chance.

“Charles has never hidden the fact he wants the club to do well so he can make money. The one thing our fans deserve is honesty and they’re getting that.

“We had a disagreement – and we’ll have a few more, the way things go – but I don’t mind that and neither does he.

“We didn’t really know each other before and I believe the relationship between the manager and the chief executive is far and away the most important one at any club.

“Like any relationship it has to be given time to flourish and blossom but I don’t anticipate any problems. With Charles, what you see is what you get.

“He has his own opinions and he’s going to be forthright about them but I don’t have a problem with that and it’s healthy that I don’t see us agreeing on everything.

“I get on better with Charles than the previous regime. There is far more dialogue with him regarding players and he has a better idea of what needs to be done.”

According to the BBC report the largest individual shareholder is Dubai based Arif Naqvi whose firm Blue Pitch Holdings own 18% of the club.

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