A little-reported story is what Rangers shareholders indirectly learned when notified of next month’s AGM and voting their shares.
Like most Rangers groups Ibrox Noise are indeed shareholders, and like most others chose to vote our shares regarding director elections for the upcoming meeting which we’re sure will have a tonne of booing.
But the small story that no one picked up on is that John Gilligan may well be on Rangers’ board now for the long run, after confirming his intention to stand for re-election alongside George Taylor and Julian Wolhardt which means despite his returning as interim chairman, he isn’t intending to depart any time soon.
The whole Gilligan story is definitely a fine illustration of how a hero becomes a villain overnight, despite doing absolutely nothing wrong, based on the climate.
In 2015 Gilligan was a hero for being part of what usurped the Mike Ashley era, one of the Three Bears as he was alongside Dave King and Paul Murray.
But his return a couple of months ago saw him now branded a spiv, purely because the current board sought his services and guidance, and he gave them his support.
Now Gilligan is cast out as the bad guy, as bad as all the rest, in a classic reaction from fickle fans – the only one who seems immune from this no matter what he does is Dave King, who is a master of manipulation and can remain the good guy anything short of wearing a Celtic short and yelling ‘up the ra’. And we’re sure some would justify that one too.
But Gilligan intends to hang around – is he a long-term solution in general? No? He doesn’t intend to have this role for a long time, but he is a good guy who has Rangers’ interests at heart – he always did.
Just because he doesn’t speak especially eloquently doesn’t make him stupid, his lack of sounding ‘upper crust’ didn’t stop him becoming extremely successful in his previous roles.
And while Ibrox Noise would not declare him the saviour of our club, there are worse people who could have their hands on us.
One of whom Gilligan (used to) call his friend – Dave King.
Endgame is Gilligan will do what he can, just like ex-chairman John Bennett did – and he’s certainly hanging around at least beyond the AGM. Maybe he deserves a little more respect and slack than he’s getting.
Probably won’t get it though.