THE three main Rangers supporters' organisations have given a cool welcome to Craig Mather's decision to hire public relations firm Media House.

Ibrox chief executive Mather has enlisted the help of media guru Jack Irvine to spearhead a fightback against investors who want to oust him.

A group of shareholders backed by Jim McColl have called for Mather, financial director Brian Stockbridge and non-executive director Bryan Smart to be removed.

They want former director Paul Murray along with former PricewaterhouseCoopers executive chairman Frank Blin appointed to the board.

But the Rangers Supporters' Association, Assembly and Trust have revealed they are "saddened" to hear the Glasgow club's former PR consultants have been employed.

In a joint statement, they said: "We are saddened to hear of the return of Media House to Ibrox considering their spectacular failure to defend the reputation of the club and the fans during their previous tenure despite being specifically hired for that purpose."

Irvine, who already represents shareholders and Greenock businessmen James and Sandy Easdale, has vowed to fight against the "reprehensible" behaviour of the shareholders who are calling for change.

He said: "The board felt they were not successfully articulating their defence against the vicious and, at times, underhand, tactics of Jim McColl, Frank Blin and Paul Murray.

"The board also felt that there are huge public misconceptions about the financial realities of the club and once again this was a failure of communication.

"I, and many other observers, am staggered by the arrogance of men who have invested nothing in the club yet feel they can dictate to directors who have sunk substantial sums into the venture.

"They have done little but damage to the club."