FORMER Rangers chairman Alistair Johnston insists there is no reason for the SFA to block Dave King and Paul Murray assuming control at Ibrox as they get set to topple the under-fire Light Blues board.

The former Gers directors, alongside businessman John Gilligan, hope to overthrow the reeling regime in the coming days.

That prospect is looking increasingly likely today, with chairman David Somers set to follow James Easdale out of Ibrox as the board come to terms with a seemingly inevitable defeat.

If, or now surely, when, King, Murray and Gilligan are installed as the new Light Blues powerbrokers, all three men will come under scrutiny from the Hampden hierarchy, with King, in particular, set to answer questions over his role at Ibrox during the disastrous Craig Whyte reign.

The businessman has repeatedly stressed his long-running battle with the South African tax authorities will not stand in his way of a place at the Ibrox top table.

Johnston served on the board with both men during Sir David Murray's time at the helm before a high-profile exit in the aftermath of Whyte's arrival.

And the former Gers chairman is confident there will be no impediments to King and Murray climbing the Marble Staircase once again.

He told SportTimes: "Paul and I refused to resign from the board on the same day, at which point they announced to the Stock Exchange that we were no longer welcome.

"I was on the phone and I was the first guy to tell Craig Whyte I wasn't resigning and Paul followed my lead in that conversation.

"Dave wasn't on the call and therefore wasn't there for the activity that took place thereafter.

"I am not sure why Paul will have any problem with the fit and proper test.

"He absolutely was off the board at the same time that I was, when we both essentially forced ourselves off by refusing to resign to highlight the fact that Craig Whyte was indeed an unfit and improper person. We were dead right on that.

"I don't imagine there is one iota of challenge that Paul would have.

"Dave, on the other hand, did stay on. He wasn't forced to resign and didn't offer to resign.

"He had his own very good reasons for staying on the board, in my opinion.

"I am very aware of what happened during that period of time because I kept in close touch with Dave after I had departed the scene but he was still involved.

"I kept in very close touch and I don't think there are any actions that he took and anything he did that wasn't in the best interests of Rangers Football Club and were consistently antagonistic to Craig Whyte.

"I can testify to that from experience dealing with him. When the SFA hear his case, I don't think there will be any doubt about him either."

The King camp have long been confident of their chances of assuming the Ibrox throne and they now have just two board members - chief executive Derek Llambias and finance director Barry Leach - in their sights.

Fans lost all faith in, and respect for, a deeply disliked band of directors, and Johnston is pleased to see two of his former board compatriots edging closer to the top table once again.

He said: "The board that I was privileged to be chairman of, the fans may have had a different view on some members, but I can tell you that during that era, everyone on the board, in terms of the Rangers appointed board, wanted what was best for Rangers Football Club.

"The Murray appointed board were obviously representing Murray.

"But the Rangers board, on which Dave King and Paul Murray were members, every one of them acted consistently and appropriately on behalf of Rangers Football Club. Dave and Paul will do so again if they get on.

"I asked them at the beginning, I told them that I wasn't going to be taking any compensation in my role and I said 'you guys make your own decision but I would assume you would make the same decision'.

"They did. Every one of them. It was about Rangers, not individuals."