Dave King challenges Rangers board to let fans decide who's chairman in stunning EGM call

Dave King has sensationally challenged the Rangers board to let the Ibrox faithful decide who runs the crisis-hit club.

The South African-based millionaire revealed earlier this week he was ready to return as chairman after John Bennett was forced to stand down on health grounds. But his offer has been given short shrift by rival shareholders including Douglas Park and George Taylor, who remain deeply unhappy with the shock way King quit as Gers’ boardroom chief back in 2020 at the height of the Covid pandemic.

King, however, is refusing to give in and believes he has the support of the Light Blues legions having previously wrestled control of the club away from the clutches of Mike Ashley before appointing title-winning boss Steven Gerrard. Now the Castlemilk-born businessman - still the club’s largest shareholder with a 14 percent stake - has thrown down the gauntlet by daring his boardroom opponents to put the question of who controls Rangers to a vote at an extraordinary general meeting.

In a statement given to Record Sport, King said: “I completely understand why some influential board members don’t want me back. They know from past experience that I would not tolerate board members who are only in it for the ‘jacket and tie’ and don’t actually want to do any real work. If the board can, for once, set aside self-interest and put the supporters first, then I offer a challenge.

"Urgently call an EGM as I did to get Mike Ashley out and put yourselves up for re-election. I will in turn put up my nominations, including myself.

“None of the existing board members (who presently protect each other) can vote and neither will I. John Bennett and (significant shareholder) George Letham would also be excluded from voting for