THE multi-millionaire Rangers fans who were thwarted in their attempts to buy the Ibrox club last year were today urged to return to the fold.

Former Rangers chief executive Charles Green has told the club board he wants to sell his shareholding to Greenock bus operator James Easdale.

But former director Dave King has also revealed he is interested in investing in the club he supported as a boy growing up in Castlemilk. He is "information gathering" on the institutional investors in the club and hopes to open talks with some of them soon in a bid to gain a controlling interest.

And other figures who emerged this time last year when former owner Craig Whyte put Rangers into administration have been encouraged to get involved.

Glazing magnate Brian Kennedy, motoring tycoon Douglas Park and entrepreneur Jim McColl all expressed a serious interest in taking control of the club.

John Macmillan, general secretary of the Rangers Supporters Association, is optimistic more wealthy Rangers fans will show their hand soon. He said: "If someone is a supporter and can show they have been a supporter for some time then I think it helps the situation.

"It shows they are not just in it for the money. It shows they are in it to help the club. Fans are going to have reservations about anybody who comes in that is not a fan given what we have been through in the last 18 months or two years.

"I gather there are businessmen watching the situation and waiting to make a move. I would not be surprised if one of the group that comprised McColl, Park, King or Kennedy came back in.

"We certainly appear to be in a better position than we were a year ago. We have to be careful and we have to get the right people in, people who are able to take the club forward."

Meanwhile, Macmillan expressed hope that the investigation into Charles Green's take-over of Rangers is completed swiftly.

For he fears fans may be reluctant to snap up season tickets for the 2013/14 season – and over 38,000 of them did so this season – if there is any doubt over who is running the club.

He said: "The investigation into the alleged links between Charles Green and Craig Whyte is going to continue. I hope that is concluded as quickly as possible. We are coming up to the time when season books are renewed soon – the renewal forms normally come out in the first and second week of May – and it is very important to get the fans to support this.

"The fans have been magnificent this season. If there is still uncertainty off the field they may not put their money into the club. There needs to be calm if the club is to move forward. Hopefully there will be."