DJ: Chair is filled but seats around Rangers top table may remain empty after AGM

On the one hand, the Ibrox club is correct to get somebody in to oversee their recruitment of new directors and a new chief executive.

At the moment, there are only two men on the board, James Easdale and Brian Stockbridge, and that is not enough to run such a large organisation.

Rangers need to do something soon. They need to bring in individuals who can help restore unity and drive the club forward.

So, in a sense, they are right to bring in Somers - who seems to have an exemplary track record in business - to lead this crucial recruitment drive.

But the fact the Rangers AGM will finally be held at Ibrox on Thursday, December 19, does seem to complicate matters somewhat.

Shareholders will have the chance to vote on who they want to serve on the board at what I believe will be the most important AGM in the club's history.

If new directors are brought in by Somers between now and the AGM, could they almost immediately be voted back off? It seems so.

And what of the chief executive? With Somers last night revealing he had already spoken to potential replacements for Craig Mather, does the new man get put in place before the AGM?

If Paul Murray, Malcolm Murray, Scott Murdoch and Alex Wilson are voted on then they will want to bring in their own man.

That group, which is being backed by Jim McColl, has lined up Christian Purslow, the former Liverpool chief executive, for the role.

He is certainly a good name. He has worked at a big football club before and knows exactly what is involved.

We have one set of people saying they will do one thing at Rangers and another set saying another.

If Somers does identify a candidate who the club want to be chief executive, surely the first thing he would ask is: "Am I only going to have this job for a few weeks?"

I think most individuals who were approached to be directors would, if they had any sense, hold off until after the AGM.

I suppose Mr Somers can sound out possible candidates between now and the AGM. Once the meeting has been held then the club can move on. But, for me, it would be foolish to appoint them when directors will face votes on their re-election just next month.

Nor do I think it would be wise for Rangers to offer a new chief executive a contract until after the AGM has been held.

The club paid out too much money to various club officials in the last year or so as they have left Ibrox.

If they appoint a new chief executive now and then there is a change in regime next month, then they could have to do that once again. Too much money has been wasted on too many people to take that course of action.

McColl stated last week his group has investors lined up who are prepared to put cash into the club if a settled board has been put in place. Rangers, it seems, are going to run out of money midway through next season, and it has been suggested, by Dave King and others, that two more significant injections of funding will be needed to take the club back to where they were.

So I think the McColl group has to be looked at seriously. I think the shareholders will certainly be very interested in that. For me, it is a no-brainer.

But I would like to see all of the interested parties working together here. It is the fans who effectively own Rangers. If they are unhappy with who is running them and stop turning up, then there is effectively no club.

It is very difficult to run any organisation without a chairman and a chief executive, and I therefore hope permanent appointments can be made soon.

If Ally McCoist wants to bring any players in who does he go to? At the moment, there is nobody there to speak to. Now, I am not saying that Ally will strengthen in the transfer window. But if a bargain becomes available then he may want to move for him. Who does he turn to? Rangers need to do something soon.

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