Fraser Thornton asserts that Rangers have been in decline for the past decade, criticizing their “horrendous” away form while also making a remark about a protest banner.
The new Ibrox chief unexpectedly addressed affluent supporters in a hospitality lounge, sharing insights into future plans.
New Rangers chairman Fraser Thornton claims the club has been struggling for decades, criticizing their poor away form under Philippe Clement as “horrendous” while also joking about recent fan protests during a speech to hospitality clients.
Speaking alongside CEO Patrick Stewart at Ibrox before Rangers’ win over Aberdeen, Thornton, a qualified chartered accountant, did not hold back in addressing past failures and ongoing challenges, especially in away matches in the Scottish Premiership.
Earlier in the week, Thornton appeared at a media conference led by former Manchester United executive Stewart, who reaffirmed the club’s support for Clement despite mounting pressure as Rangers trail Celtic by 13 points. The next day, the Union Bears ultras staged a walkout in the 55th minute of the St Johnstone match in protest of the club’s leadership.
Before the midweek game against Aberdeen, a message inspired by the late legendary manager Walter Smith was displayed, reading: “Rangers FC – do not enter unless you’re ready to put yourself second, and that should be the one and only time second is good enough for you.”
In his speech at the Thornton Suite, Thornton addressed the banners while defending the decision to back Clement. He stressed that Rangers’ issues run deeper than just the manager, pointing out that the club has lacked a team capable of consistently competing domestically for the past decade—despite their unbeaten title-winning season under Steven Gerrard in 2021.
Taking the microphone, he said, “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I apologize for interrupting the festivities, but Patrick and I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your continued support of the club—it truly means a lot to us, despite what the banners on Copland Road might say!”
He acknowledged that results have been far from acceptable, particularly away from home, and admitted it would be easy to simply replace the manager. However, he emphasized that the club’s struggles span multiple seasons, not just the current one.
“If you take a step back and reflect, it’s been season after season of underperformance—10 years, not just one or two. We haven’t had a team capable of winning consistently and challenging for titles. This isn’t just about the manager; there are bigger issues at play.”
With that in mind, he explained that under Stewart’s leadership, the club is conducting a thorough review of its football operations to address these long-standing problems.
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