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Beattie on Scotland: Dave King could be the man to put Rangers back on track

An Ibrox man to his core, the South African-based businessman seems a good choice as chairman, but his task won’t be easy, writes Douglas Beattie

The impending arrival of Dave King at Rangers looks like heralding a much-needed period of stability. OK, hang on a minute — nothing is so straightforward at Ibrox.

Supporters who have mounted highly visible protests at recent games have welcomed King’s renewed commitment to the cause. They see him as a Rangers man to the core, one who is determined to relieve their torment.

Yet they should not ignore the fact that the latest in a long line of suitors was deeply involved in the high vanity of the David Murray era which ultimately led, via Craig Whyte, to liquidation.

It is undeniable that King comes with a fair degree of baggage. There is the matter of a long-running and bitter tax dispute (now settled) with the South African authorities.

That King pleaded guilty to more than 40 charges relating to the country’s income tax law may yet prove a serious impediment to his return to the fold as chairman, at least in the eyes of the London Stock Exchange.

However the general feeling is that he will advance Rangers as a business and by extension Scottish football. Make no mistake, he is a realist and that is something which has been badly needed at Ibrox for too long.

It will be noted that the Johannesburg businessman is certainly solvent with a personal fortune estimated by some to be in excess of £200 million.

Even after losing £20m of his own cash when the club went bust he is prepared again to put his hand in his pocket.

Not a moment too soon, it seems, with finance chief Brian Stockbridge admitting that Rangers are likely to be down to their last million by the end of this financial year.

The board has stressed that they are a long way from dire straits, but for all that, interestingly, they are willing to accept a fresh injection of capital.

Have no doubt, given his desire “to be prepared” for a return to the top flight (and his cold hard cash) King will expect to be calling the shots.

He clearly wishes to act as a unifying force, but that is easier said than done. Look no further than Monday’s court victory by shareholders seeking directorial changes which has scuppered the club’s AGM planned for later this month.

One thing the Rangers board has not been of late is settled and there is every probability that yet more blood will yet be spilled before peace finally breaks out in Govan, with or without King.

 

World Cup woes are behind us and Scotland can dare to dream again

For Gordon Strachan the phoney war is over. Tuesday night’s tussle with Croatia at Hampden closed the curtain on a lamentable attempt at World Cup qualification.

Gone but not forgotten are the woes of Group A which extended a barren run going back to this same month 16 years ago.

Then a 2-0 win at Celtic Park against Latvia — goals from Kevin Gallacher and Gordon Durie — sealed passage to the finals of France 98.

Since that afternoon another three World Cups and four European Championships have come and gone at which we have contributed precisely zip.

Strachan has told his players and the wider public that we “need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves” and he is right to concentrate on the future alone.

With a year to go before the qualifiers kick off for the Euros of 2016 in France he has time to build his squad and get it working the way he thinks befits those players at his disposal. He will certainly know a good deal more after the qualifying draw in Nice next February and we would be foolish to underplay the importance of that occasion on the French Riviera.

Were the Scots to be placed in a reasonably favourable section expectations may rightly start to rise once more.

For the first time there will be 24 rather than 16 sides at the finals. Also a revamped format is set to allow some teams finishing third in the opening groups to progress to the knock-out rounds. The mouth waters.

Strachan, a fine performer in his national colours, knows all too well the heartbreak of failing to make it to the latter stages on such occasion (just ask him about draws with the Soviet Union in 1982 and Uruguay four years later).

Tantalisingly France offers real opportunity for Scotland but only if — and a big if it remains — they can make it there. Over to you then, Gordon.

 

Edinburgh turn corner with Munster victory

Edinburgh provided a welcome fillip by ups-a-daisying the might of Munster at the weekend with a fine home win in the European Cup.

Perhaps it was all the sweeter because almost no-one saw the victory coming.

Even with 10 minutes remaining the 29-23 result hardly looked on the cards.

After all the bottom side in the Pro 12 had been skelped by the same Irish outfit in the league only last month.

No-one is suggesting Greig Laidlaw and the boys will now go on to be the first Scottish winners of the grand European competition or even get close to their memorable semi-final appearance of two campaigns ago.

Yet it does feel as though they have turned a corner and a few heads both at home and abroad.

 

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