10 Aug 2026 11:41:38
Warning - longest post ever:
Shareholder meeting 10 August 26.
Panel: Fraser Thornton, Andrew Cavenagh, Paraag Marathe, Jim Gillespie.
Very positive engagement. All panel spoke honestly and openly. Took a mix of pre submitted and questions from the room. They even took mine. 90 mins with no limitations. General consensus and my opinion is that there is a genuine will to be successful and the long term will deliver this. Bumps in the road still but there's a plan which will be realised. Gillespie was very impressive, all four were extremely credible and clearly want us to return to successful times.
The key points:
AC:
Sustained winning, winning sustainability
More optimistic than a year ago, but words are cheap. We're not where we want to be on the pitch.
1. Jim, Fraser and Derek as leadership.
2. Culture - we've got used to finishing 2nd or worst over last 15 years.
3. The squad. More work to be done and will be addressed in this window with ins and outs but believe squad is better than a year ago. Won't be a finished job this window.
Paraag Marathe:
1. Desire to win. Win or die trying. We're pissed off losing right now.
2. Not afraid to make change. Leadership will translate into the pitch but takes time. More confident in the new CEO, Manager and Exec Director (Thornton).
3. Trying to bring in more leaders.
Jim Gillespie
1. Working 24 hours.
2. The history, culture and standards of the club are so important to him as a lifelong supporter.
3. Realigning resources to maximise value to allow investment in success.
Submitted questions and from the floor:
1. £16m raised through share issue. Capital being used for squad to mitigate ins and outs and risk of no Europe.
2. More capital will be required.
3. More investment in the squad needed and improvements to the stadium.
4. Shares will be available to supporters in the next round. There is demand for shares.
5. Stadium feasibility study complete. Keen to avoid supporter disruption. Work will therefore take a few seasons. Plans unveiled shortly including lowering pitch for 5-6k seats, additional hospitality.
6. Maintaining the atmosphere is key so works can't diminish that.
7. Affordability and value is essential.
8. Match day experience is to be improved but not take focus away from the match.
9. Expanded fan zone coming shortly.
10. Relationship with SFA. Rangers want to lead the process. Show leadership. We want a constructive relationship with SFA and SFPL but we'll also hold them to account. Don't want to be all talk and no action. A lot of closed doors conversations to keep things professional. Our voice will be strong and always in the club's interest. Don't think that if the press aren't reporting, there's not action being taking.
11. From the floor - Are we the victims of cheating? "You're not wrong." - Marathe.
12. The squad. We wanted more leadership. Bias for Scottish and SPFL experience.
13. We've signed three captains. The window is clunky and isn't a supermarket. Things take time in certain areas. So many chains in place affect us. We will be active with 3-5 coming in and a number leaving this window.
14. Recruitment team only a part of signings CEO, manager, physios, Chairman all part of the recruitment process.
15. Merchandising deal with Castore. A change was made at Leeds two years ago. Experience of change at 49ers. Club has frustrations with a Castore and they're aware of this. Things could change if no improvements.
16. Who's in the in the consortium? Not everyone wants to be public. Usual names with others under the radar.
17. Where is the manager today? Focus is at training centre today. Future plans for fan engagement will follow.
18. Celtic tie and allocation. We didn't want to give the full broomloan. Forced by SFA historic rules. Independent review wants all parties to be held fully to account.
19. Supporters group wants as many shares available for supporters who don't have any. No resistance to this but don't want to burden fans.
20. Poor scouting and recruitment. Martin, Purdy and Thelwells criticised. What's improved and who is accountable? Collaborative approach for all appointments and all signings.
21. Chermiti bid and why was he risked when a club record fee was offered. Unsolicited but bid was made. Be careful with media sources though. We aren't reliant on the sale and unless money can be reinvested quickly. Board will do whatever is best for the club and will seek maximum value.
22. Supporters feel 6/7 players are needed. Need a new defence, why was focus on midfield? We don't want to panic buy and get the best possible players available. We're selling the club hard to potential signing. We're in the market for wingers but won't rush in if not the right profile.
23. Retail is poor. Pricing and quality. Acknowledged. 8 year Castore deal includes merchandise. Castore open to evolving and improving offering over next 12-18 months. Club wouldn't have signed deal unless we had confidence in ability for longer term delivery. Every metric has to improve.
24. Women's team: needs further investment and specific sponsorship. SFA have World Cup money and need to invest some. Potential is big and more time and resources are needed to realise potential.
25. Academy. Priority is to produce top level first team quality players. Top talent in academy need to play regular men's first team football. Loans and partnership agreements will be used. Need a clear pathway players can see so we're an attractive option for top talent. Some will feature in first team match day squad. Want to retain our top talent.
26. Operating structure changes in the business. All about delivering success. Income is c£90m. Number of staff have left, others have been moved in so we're a lean organisation with more resources for where it's needed. Shareholders don't take dividends or take money out of the club. Significant efficiencies have been made to help resource success on the pitch.
27. DM appointment. Being a Rangers man is great but does it go deeper? A Klopp type approach (!) with an aggressive attacking approach. Previos CV was considered and there was a list of options. DM was the only consideration and unanimous choice. Board believe in him, will back him and confident that he'll bring success. Good fit in management structure. Passion for club demonstrated. Very in depth process before he was appointed and a lot of questions in both directions.
28. VAR - killing the game. Decisions including yesterday have been baffling. SFA have been approached last night for clarification on penalty decision. Club say VAR can be an asset but refereeing standards are very poor. Have asked SFA for strategy for improvement and are willing to help resource success. Feel some decisions have been 'dodgy' at best.
29. Mygers being reviewed and needs to evolve.
30. Paraag: the player really need our support. Get behind them. If they fail, Board will take responsibility.
31. Culture. Not currently playing like a Rangers team. Last ten years, team has been playing not to lose, as opposed to going to win. Team identity needs a strong captain and evident leaders on the pitch. The manager knows this and this is why DM was appointed.
10 Aug 2026 13:03:22
Great post, Ibrox, thanks for taking the trouble to share. 👍
10 Aug 2026 13:08:40
Excellent information. 👌
10 Aug 2026 13:12:03
Thanks for doing that, Ibrox4me. All sounds very impressive, and I think we are in better hands than we have been previously, but I am sure these guys would acknowledge. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Keep the faith.
10 Aug 2026 13:13:36
Appreciate all the effort to type that out, bud, especially for all of us who couldn't attend.
10 Aug 2026 13:24:52
I've contacted Guiness Book of Records, Ibrox. They may well be in touch with you. Thanks for posting all that. Means a great deal to those that can't attend to have someone do that. Much appreciated.
10 Aug 2026 13:29:16
Was typing as I was listening! Apologies for a few typos.
10 Aug 2026 13:37:48
Nowhere near as long a post of most of Stig's.
10 Aug 2026 13:44:58
Yeah, great post, Ibrox. Glad we are questioning the penalty yesterday, it goes on at every corner free kick they were both at. Imagine it went against the Tims.
10 Aug 2026 13:48:08
Thanks for doing this for those of us unable to be there. Still a lot of believe it when I see it stuff due to the past. Squad is definitely not better than last year.
10 Aug 2026 13:51:29
Ibrox, well done and very accurate, keeping posting, my friend.
10 Aug 2026 13:56:49
Cheers, Ibrox. Great post.
10 Aug 2026 14:00:56
Ibrox, thank u very much for going to the trouble of doing that mate.
10 Aug 2026 14:17:43
Great post, Ibrox4me. But do we have a strong captain or leaders on the park? We have a long hard road ahead. 🇦🇺🇬🇧
10 Aug 2026 14:23:15
Stigs' good morning posts are longer than that. 😂
Thanks for keeping us up to date, Ibrox, really appreciate it mate.
10 Aug 2026 14:27:10
Stig currently raging his title of - Longest Post - has been beaten. 🤣
Great info. Cheers.
10 Aug 2026 14:52:04
Cheers Ibrox, for me good rundown.
Only thing I ask, are they saying they went with a Klopp type manager or against a Klopp type manager? DM is not a Klopp type manager, that is why I am asking.
He is defensive minded, and I think that is part of the problem. I wish they had gone for a Klopp type manager. But, hey ho, will we follow on.
10 Aug 2026 15:00:19
They explained it as the type of style we'll be looking to play. Kind of caught me by surprise that one.
10 Aug 2026 15:18:26
Ibrox, thanks for that detailed update, appreciate the time taken to post that. 👍🏻
10 Aug 2026 15:25:02
Thanks Ibrox. 👍
10 Aug 2026 15:39:30
Very good information post of everything that happened at the shareholders meeting earlier, Ibrox4Me, and very much appreciated, mate, the time out you took to enlighten us to all that happened, cheers for that. 👍 I couldn't make the meeting today unfortunately as I had a family appointment to deal with. 🤔 Ibrox4Me, I'm really relieved and happy with what was said by Andrew Cavanagh, Paarag Marathe, Jim Gillespie, etc.
👍 I get the feeling that Rangers will change our kit manufacturers/merchandise deal with Castore/Umbro within the next year or two. 🤔 I've always thought that deal will end early before 2030, which is the year the kit deal with Castore/Umbro is due to expire. 🤔 What's your own personal thoughts on that, Ibrox4Me, and other posters? 🤔
10 Aug 2026 15:40:30
Thanks, Ibrox, appreciate keeping us up to date with club workings.
10 Aug 2026 15:40:47
A pleasure. I'll keep reading now and again, but wanted to make sure everyone had a chance to hear what was discussed and presented.
Here's to better times, hopefully.
10 Aug 2026 16:06:24
Talk is cheap, of course the businessmen want the business to be successful, that's no shock.
They have made mistake after mistake.
McInnes has until Christmas to turn it around or he will be gone and the rebuild starts again.
Too many jobbers in the squad, not enough genuine talent.
10 Aug 2026 15:58:43
Top broke Ibrox. Really apreciate that as it probably distracts u from taking in the meeting properly
10 Aug 2026 16:24:32
Excellent post.
Enjoyed reading and being updated. 💙
10 Aug 2026 16:37:13
Cheers, I4Me. Much appreciated.
10 Aug 2026 19:39:43
Great post, but as usual all we are getting are catchphrases, the transfer strategy is hopeless for the second summer in a row. The political responses to the refereeing and the SFA in general is not what we want to hear, we can't be leaders in improving things, they won't let us. We are getting cheated on a regular basis on the field and nothing is ever done, sorry we made a mistake is not good enough anymore.
Type to become the thorn in the SFA's side. Anybody ask why we have replaced the Interim Head Of The Academy with another interim and are now 2 years without a permanent one. The club is a shambles on and off the field.