Dave King’s return causing alarm at Ibrox

News that Dave King is back in Glasgow and meeting with Jim Traynor set off alarm bells for Ibrox fans last night. 

The South African based criminal is a hero to many fans but over the last two years he has been gently eased out of the picture by the current regime who had to stump up £5m plus interest earlier this season. On the back of losses of £23.5m in the year to 30 June 2021 it was a payment that they could do without. 

Traynor and King go back a long way with the former Ibrox director seeing at first hand how the media protected and promoted Dave Murray. When it came to second helpings Traynor was always at the front of the queue, in 2011 he had a memorable rammy with Chic Young live on Radio Scotland over who was the biggest sycophant and cheerleader. 

King and Traynor walked away from Ibrox within a couple of months of each other in early 2021, with the SPFL title won last season, whatever the circumstances, they both missed out on the adulation and approval that they crave second only to money. 

Since King walked away his shareholding in the club has been diluted 17 times as shares are issued in repayment for a variety of loans, within the last week 4m shares were issued. 

Rumours of an £11m bill plus costs to Sports Direct won’t go away while new boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst has lost nine points over seven matches while Celtic have a 100% record this year in the SPFL. 

Whether it is a rerun of 2019 or 2012 it will feel uncomfortable to King and Traynor as they traded gossip less than two miles from Ibrox.  

Despite the boasts of Stewart Robertson to the unquestioning at Sky Sports finances remain bleak, helped slightly by an extended run in the Europa League. If that is at the cost of the SPFL title crossing the city with a Champions League invite it will prove very costly. 

Transfer guru Ross Wilson has proved to be a major disappointment. Other than a moonbeam deal for Nathan Patterson lapped up by the hard of thinking he has failed to bring in a worthwhile transfer fee while adding no-marks like John Lundstram, Amad Diallo and Aaron Ramsey to the wage bill. 

It remains to be seen if King is denied a seat in the Directors Box for today’s match with Motherwell, pictured there or with rank-and-file bears in the Main Stand it is another unwelcome situation for former DUP councillor Dave Graham to find a positive spin to apply. 

Connor Goldson, Allan McGregor, Steve Davis, Leon Balogun and Scot Arfield are out of contract in May. Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and Joe Aribo are out of contract in May 2023.