FRUSTRATED Rangers ­supporters have welcomed plans to hold the club's annual general meeting next month and hope the showdown will put an end to boardroom upheaval.

As reported in late editions of yesterday's Evening Times, the Ibrox club also confirmed ­that accountant David Somers had been appointed as acting chairman of the board.

Rangers fans and shareholders will still have to wait weeks before the club's AGM will take place.

The Ibrox club announced that the date for the long-awaited meeting at Ibrox Stadium is Thursday, December 19.

But supporters supremo Drew Roberton is relieved a date for the AGM has finally been set.

Mr Roberton, Rangers ­Supporters' Association ­general secretary, said: "To be honest, I don't know anything about David Somers, I don't even know who is.

"But the most important thing is that the AGM can finally go ahead.

"Getting the AGM done and sorted, as soon as possible, is the main thing. We need to be able to move on."

Mr Somers, 65, has been tasked with finding a "high calibre" chief executive after Craig Mather quit last month.

Earlier this week, supporters demanded to know why there had been such a delay in holding the AGM, given that it was originally due to take place on October 24.

Paul Murray and Jim McColl - the men behind the group trying to seize control of the club - successfully stopped Rangers from holding an AGM last month.

Since the court ruling, a ­series of resignations have left only James Easdale and Brian Stockbridge on the Rangers board.

Many Ibrox fans had been banking on Dave King to return as chairman to bring calm to the strife-torn club and end the boardroom battles.

Rangers announced the ­appointment of Mr Somers as acting chairman and independent non-executive director to the London Stock Exchange yesterday.

In a statement, the club said: "Mr Somers will oversee the current process of appointing a high calibre chief executive officer and further ­independent non-executive directors. He spent all his career in fund management and in addition has considerable experience in matters of corporate governance."

The club said it hoped Mr Somers would "form a unified board and provide stability for Rangers".

The statement went on to outline Mr Somers' current partnerships and directorships with Ace Europe Life Ltd, Europe Arab Bank plc, and FRS Pension Trustee Company.

rebecca.gray@eveningtimes.co.uk