EXCLUSIVE: Louts who shame Rangers will be banned for life

RANGERS fans who shame the Ibrox club by singing sectarian songs are set to be banned for life – with no chance of a reprieve.

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Charles Green gave a zero tolerance warning to bigots
Charles Green gave a zero tolerance warning to bigots

That was the zero-tolerance warning laid bare in a no-holds-barred message by club chief executive Charles Green at a meeting at the weekend.

Green fears the hymns of hate sung by some fans could hinder the club's bid to attract vital sponsorship deals – and he desperately wants the fans to clean up their act. The Ibrox chief spelt out his blunt threat at meetings with fans before Saturday's 3-1 win over East Stirling.

And they were immediately welcomed by Rangers Supporters Association secretary John Macmillan.

He said: "I think that we as supporters groups should also do whatever we can to address the issue and stamp it out of football and out of our club.

"It may take time, but we should continue to work at it. Anything that can be done to help him and the club is welcome."

A section of the Glasgow club's fans hit the headlines nine days ago for their conduct at an Irn-Bru Third Division match in Berwick.

Satellite broadcaster ESPN apologised to their viewers on several occasions for the foul language picked up by the microphones.

And manager Ally McCoist afterwards admitted an element in the travelling support at Shielfield Park had let Rangers down.

Police are currently studying CCTV footage in the hope of identifying and prosecuting those responsible.

Now, at the end of a week in which the club announced lucrative sponsorship deals with Puma and Blackthorn, Green has vowed a zero tolerance approach to sectarianism.

Meanwhile, SFL chief executive David Longmuir has admitted Rangers could be fast- tracked into the second tier if plans for a 12-12-18 league structure get the go-ahead.

Stranraer were moved from the bottom division to the First Division back in 1994 when the 12-12-14 set-up changed to the current 12-10-10-10.

Longmuir said: "There will have to be discussions on where Rangers will play if they win the Third Division." Asked if they could be promoted to the second tier, he said: "That will be considered with all the other options."

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