Simon Jordan has questioned the Rangers leadership of Douglas Park and the ‘low level thinking’ at Ibrox which has led to furious fan protests.
The outspoken former Crystal Palace chairman was speaking on TalkSPORT’s White & Jordan (13/01) after Rangers fans staged a walkout in the 3-1 victory over St Johnstone.
Simon Jordan has personal experience with the Rangers boardroom and has eviscerated former chairman Douglas Park as being ‘weak and inept’.
Simon Jordan eviscerates Douglas Park
Simon Jordan visited Rangers at the start of the 21/22 season when Filip Helander bulleted a header past Celtic in a 1-0 win at Ibrox.
At the time Jordan hailed the Rangers support as ‘phenomenal fans’ but had some choice private words for Jim White about the Ibrox leadership.
On TalkSPORT, Jordan eviscerated Douglas Park and insists that decisions like Michael Beale’s appointment back his initial gut feeling that the then Rangers chairman was not very ‘impressive’.
“The question for Rangers is, ‘what have they done with the money that they generated?’” Jordan asked.
“If it’s wasted or it’s not been spent or it’s been trousered by the ownership.
”And the Celtic situation; Celtic have generated far more revenue than Rangers and questions have to be asked, is that a degree of competency from the board?
”I would suggest appointments like Michael Beale suggest a type of thinking. I don’t think Michael Beale is a Rangers manager.
”I think (Philippe Clement) is more of a Rangers manager and I know that sits in a controversial moment because they’re not agreeing with him and obviously the team isn’t in great nick.
“In Europe they’re doing well and they’ve just beaten Celtic 3-0 for the first time in his tenure and for the first time in a long time.
“I do think they’ve been weak and inept. I think the outburst from Dave King highlighted how inept they were in their thinking.
”I don’t think you can be (impressed by the Rangers board).
“With all due respect to Douglas and his son, I don’t think they were particularly impressive.
”Arguing about shirt sponsorship because your car dealership ultimately prohibited the league from having a shirt sponsorship or a ground sponsor because one club has it.
”The low level thinking of what’s going on in the boardroom at that time.
”Deliver better. The transparency side of things, you can pick up their accounts and see how much money they get, is about the clarity of thinking.
”Impart a message and bring them with you.
“‘We’re not standing for Celtic’s domination no longer, we’re going to raise more money, we’re going to spend it wiser, we’re going to be more economic in our thinking, this is our vision’.
”It’s not difficult to do, it’s only difficult to translate it if you don’t have any charisma and you can’t sell it.
”They’ve got a wonderful fanbase, wonderful opportunity.”
Later Jordan added: ”Right now if you look at Rangers and you look at Celtic, well why are Rangers where they are? Who is running it?
”And you see the people that have sat there and run it and you think, well they’re not very impressive.
”And they should be impressive to be in those positions of influence with football clubs of that magnitude.”
Simon Jordan on Rangers fan protests
Simon Jordan also had a word or two about the Rangers protests which marred the 3-1 victory over St Johnstone.
The Union Bears staged a 55th minute walk-out and flew a number of banners which were aimed at the incompetence of Rangers’ leadership since lifting the club’s 55th title.
The moment has split Rangers fans, with several booing the walk-out within the stadium, and Philippe Clement has acknowledged fan frustrations.
Simon Jordan has mixed feelings on the Rangers fan protests and once again referenced the incompetence which has fuelled frustrations amongst the Ibrox support.
“I think football clubs are very unique businesses and the lifeblood of them are the fans,” said Jordan.
”Opinions are prevalent. The economics that fans bring, whether it’s through the broadcast revenues or the attendances that come into the stadium, are all part and parcel of the mix of how a football club moves forward.
”If they’re not being destructive in the way that I’ve seen certain fan groups be destructive in the past, there’s nothing wrong with them.
”In this instance what they’re saying is ‘we don’t accept the way this football club is being run, we don’t think you’re competent’.
”It’s obviously been fuelled by Dave King serving up his particular agenda through the media. You’ve seen the incompetence that some of those board members have exhibited at times.
”So I don’t have a massive problem with it. I don’t like it. I think this it’s the ideal scenario for a progressive club.
”But it might concentrate quite a few people’s minds.”
