RANGERS fans have overwhelmingly given their backing to the formation of the Club 1872 supporters organisation.
The Light Blue legions cast their votes on the proposal over the last week and the results of the poll have been revealed today.
Members of the RST voted 98% in favour of the plans, while it was given 91% and 94% backing from RF members and Ibrox season ticket holders respectively.
A statement read: “Rangers First (RF) members, Rangers Supporters Trust (RST) members and Season Ticket (ST) holders have been polled over the past week on the Club 1872 - One Rangers proposal to unify the various supporters groups. We would like to thank the members of RF, RST and ST holders who voted in their thousands during that time.
“As the result is overwhelmingly in favour of unifying the supporters groups, as outlined in the Club 1872 proposal, the working group will now proceed to carry out the necessary steps for that to happen. Further details of that work will be communicated to all Rangers supporters in the near future.”
As part of the move, the Rangers Fan Board and Rangers Supporters Assembly will be dissolved as supporters look to create a “pioneering scheme for a British football club” and “reach a point where we have over 50,000 members all engaged with each other and the club.”
The group will be run and controlled by supporters and be independent from Rangers as they look to increase the shareholding in RIFC plc controlled by fans to 5%, then 10% and finally 25% plus one share to give fans a key voice at Ibrox.
The core principles of Club1872 are defined as independence, shareholding, financial contribution, standing up for supporters and engagement and a seven person board will now be elected on a one member one vote basis.
Fans who already pay into the BuyRangers scheme will automatically become members of Club 1872 and then, on expiry of their payment arrangement with the RST, they will be asked if they wish to continue their membership of the new organisation.
Rangers First will follow the same methods as their members are migrated over to Club 1872 to create a several thousand strong fee-paying group.
Existing funds – around £800,000 - held by the RST and RF will be ring-fenced and used for increasing the fan-owned stake in RIFC plc, either through a share issue or by making market purchases in the future.
Members will have a choice of three monthly subscription levels of £18.72, £10 or £5 per month and all decisions will be taken on a one member one vote basis.
All cash that is raised will be split into three sections, one for buying shares to increase fans’ say at Ibrox, one for Club 1872 projects that would be beneficial for Rangers, for example a fan zone or museum at Ibrox, and which could also include shares if fans wish, and a small proportion that will be set aside for administration to provide support to members.
Former Ibrox stars Richard Gough and John Brown and SportTimes columnist Derek Johnstone have spoken positively about the chance for fans to come together under the Club 1872 banner in recent weeks.
And supporters have now voted in favour of the plans as the Gers fan base gets set to take a new shape for the future.
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