A leading Rangers insider has branded a Daily Record story which claimed the Union Bears threatened police with a “riot” on Trophy Day as “utter nonsense”.
Heart & Hand host David Edgar did not miss as he took aim at the newspaper which continues to attach negative stories to both Rangers and the club’s supporters.
In this particular piece, the Record cites Police Scotland communications with the Scottish Government which allegedly claim:
“The Rangers risk group known as the Union Bears requested police to facilitate a mass procession threatening a ‘riot’ if this request was not granted.
“The request was denied and engagement continued.”
Speaking as part of the Daily Update for 12/07/21 – available to Patreon subscribers to the service – Edgar was clear that these accusations are false and that this patently did not happen.
Edgar believes this has been incorrectly framed by the Record and brands the suggestion “offensive”, adding that this has been done to “slander” Rangers supporters.
“There’s a story today (12/07/21) in the Daily Record, and I know what you’re thinking, ‘enough said’ but still,” said Edgar.
“The headline reads ‘Rangers Union Bears threatened cops with “riot” if title celebrations march in Glasgow was blocked’.
“That was not what happened; the Union Bears merely pointed out that it was better to have an organised procession rather than have thousands of people going off doing their own thing.
“This was common sense and for this to be presented three months later in the way that it’s being presented, is just a lie.
“You can have your opinion on the Union Bears, I don’t care. But they didn’t do this, in fact, their behaviour that day was exemplary.
“They did lead the crowd – the reason why we haven’t seen any videos of this co-called non-stop sectarian singing is because there was none.
“It was positive, pro-Rangers stuff and the idea that they said that ‘we will riot if you don’t do this’ is nonsense, it did not happen.
“What they said was ‘look, there’s more chance of risk if people are out on their own’ which to me seems eminently sensible.
“When a group that went out of their way to make it more positive and engage fully with the club and the police – and I know that for a fact as I was in some meetings with them – to then be painted like they went in there demanding things and were thuggish about it is absolute B.S.
“It’s offensive, it’s done to slander them, it’s done to slander Rangers supporters, and if anyone has read that and thought that was the case – and as I say I know this as a fact through interacting at meetings – that did not happen that way, it did not.
“Utter nonsense.”
These comments come at a time when Rangers are reportedly charging press outlets for the privilege of working with the Ibrox club this season.
One old school journalist has also risked the ire of Rangers fans after an analogy regarding chairman Douglas Park spectacularly backfired.
