Legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson has lavished praise on Rangers supporters for "keeping their dignity" in the aftermath of the stormy 2012 vote which resulted in them turning out in fourth tier of Scottish football.
The Ibrox side started the 12/13 campaign in the Scottish third division after 10 of the 12 top-flight clubs voted against their admission into the top tier in the wake of administration which was followed by liquidation. And the former Rangers striker is utterly convinced that was the wrong call as he believes both the product on the pitch and attendances in the stands suffered. But Sir Alex reckons followers of the Light Blues covered themselves in glory with their behaviour during a tumultuous era in the wake of Craig Whyte's exit and the tribulations which followed under Charles Green.
Manchester United icon Ferguson – during a wide ranging interview with Rangers' in-house media channel – has for the first time ever taken aim at rivals who he claims weren't looking at the bigger picture during the vote which rocked Scottish football and sparked a four-year wait for Rangers to reach the top flight.
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Speaking to Rangers TV, he said: "I think it was a lesson to the ones who voted to put them out, because the crowds went down, they were missing the Rangers fans. I can't remember all the reasons why that happened but they could have found a better solution to it because at the end of the day the health of the game is derived around supporters and those supporters weren't there.
"But to get back, it was a long journey, it wasn't overnight. I was surprised about Rangers, after they got back in the
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