SANDY EASDALE wanted a guarantee that he and his brother would keep their power base at Rangers if Dave King's consortium won control of the club.

That was the claim last night from former Ibrox director King as the war of words continues to escalate in the fall-out from Mike Ashley's Ibrox power grab.

The tycoon saw his £16million bail-out package knocked back by the Light Blues hierarchy earlier this month.

The South Africa-based businessman now claims football board chairman Easdale sought the assurance for him and his brother James, a director of Rangers International Football Club plc, that they would keep their boardroom places in the event that King's plans won shareholder approval.

King said: "When I spoke to Sandy on my recent trip to Scotland his main concern was whether, after investment by our consortium, he would still be able to stay involved with the club.

"He indicated that Mike Ashley would look after him if he assisted Ashley in protecting his commercial rights. The new investment proposed by Paul [Murray], George [Letham] and I was seen as a threat to Sports Direct's desire to extend its influence over the Rangers brand in all its forms.

"After discussion with Paul and George, I confirmed by email to Sandy that we had no immediate intention to remove him or his brother from board involvement at Rangers. This concession was clearly not enough to gain his support and the board approved the inferior offer presented by Ashley.

"Furthermore, in my meeting with the Rangers board I confirmed that I could give proof of funds within 24 hours of the board accepting our proposal in principle. I was never asked to do this."

King's latest jibes at Easdale come after chairman David Somers outlined the reasons why Ashley's offer was accepted earlier this week after Brian Kennedy retaliated on Wednesday night by laying out the details of his £3m loan package.

Easdale accused King of upsetting and destablising supporters with a 'phantom bid' and again hit back at the former Ibrox director as the ill-feeling continues from both sides.

His spokesman Jack Irvine said: "There was no conversation between him [Sandy] and Mike Ashley about being "looked after" or about Mr Ashley's "commercial rights".

"There has been no discussion between Mr Easdale with Mr King on the matters mentioned in his latest statement.

"If Mr King has any proof of such a conversations and when and where they took place he should produce it and if he is suggesting any improper conduct or motive he should make his position clear.

"Anybody who knows Mr Easdale would find it risible that he would have adopted such a subservient tone with Mr King."