THERE is much, not even his most vociferous critic could disagree, that Douglas Park will be able to look back on with pride as he reflects on his time at Rangers in the years to come.
When Park and his associates George Letham and George Taylor – a trio who were dubbed The Three Bears in the media – collectively bought a 16 per cent stake in the Ibrox club on New Year’s Eve in 2014 it was a watershed moment in itself.
The purchase paved the way for the ousting of Sports Direct magnate Mike Ashley, whose involvement had resulted in angry fan protests and plummeting attendances, at an EGM a few months later.
Since becoming chairman in 2018, Park has presided over a Scottish title triumph, an unforgettable run to a European final, a Scottish Cup success as well as Champions League qualification.
The Glasgow giants - who finally, after years of heavy losses, recorded a profit of £6m in their last financial results – are in a far, far better place both on and off the park now than they were when he was first appointed to the board back in 2015.
When Rangers announced on their official website last night that the motoring tycoon had decided to step down from his role, there was an outpouring of heartfelt gratitude from supporters for everything he had done for them.
Where would they be now without his unwavering support and substantial outlay? He enabled them to continue as a going concern by, along with others, providing seven figure loans which were later converted to equity.
Yet, there were, at the same time, many among the fanbase who felt strongly that change was needed and welcomed the news of his departure yesterday.
Insufficient investment in the first team squad in the past two years and the failure to build on the 2021 Premiership victory – which have resulted in Celtic once again becoming the dominant force in the Scottish game - have led to growing rumblings of discontent down Govan way.
Steven Gerrard quickly grew frustrated at the lack of backing he received in the transfer market and departed for Aston Villa last season. His successor Giovanni van Bronckhorst did not have the quality or strength in depth which he required to cope with Ajax, Liverpool and Napoli in the Champions League group stages this term.
Dave King, the former Rangers chairman who remains the major shareholder, summed up the feelings of a sizeable contingent of the support when he revealed he would vote against his one-time ally’s re-election at the AGM last year.
“The way things are going at the moment, unless changes are made to the leadership of the board and the executive of the club, I fear we’ll be stagnating for a long time to come,” said King.
A very public fallout with the South Africa-based businessman did not, regardless of the reasons behind it, impress fans. Was that really the way to treat the man who had saved their beloved club from possible extinction?
There were many other aspects of his reign which left onlookers bemused and in some cases bewildered.
Park certainly won admirers when he publicly savaged the SPFL for their handling of the early curtailment of the Premiership – which saw Celtic awarded a ninth consecutive title on a points per game basis - following the Covid-19 outbreak in the March of 2020.
However, subsequent disputes with the governing body over the cinch sponsorship deal and the new Sky television contract have appeared petty and unnecessary.
The Old Firm branding which was plastered around Ibrox when Rangers played Celtic in a league game in April last year – the players even walked through an archway which read “The Old Firm” when they made their way out of the tunnel – was downright infantile.
Park is 72 now. The pressure he has been under and personal criticism he has been subjected to can not have been easy to take for a man of his age. Especially after all he has done. But a lot of fans yearned for a younger individual to step into his shoes, reinvigorate things and push the club forward. They have now got their wish.
John Bennett, the Glasgow-born supporter who has worked in the financial sector for the past 34 years and currently holds a 5.1 per cent stake, has stepped up from vice-chairman to chairman. Hopes are high that the 59-year-old can oversee a resurgence.
It will be interesting to see what changes he makes and the direction he goes in. Will Rangers heal rifts with the SPFL and work together with their top flight rivals to generate increased revenues from corporate backers instead of sniping at them both from the sidelines in future?
Stewart Robertson, the managing director, and Ross Wilson, the sporting director, have been targeted in banners in recent weeks as Rangers have proved unable to draw any closer to runaway leaders Celtic in the Premiership table. Will they remain now that Park has gone? Or will they too move on?
Ultimately, success at the highest level in football comes down to money. The Parkhead club are, thanks to years or shrewd stewardship and European involvement, operating at a different level from their age-old adversaries. It will take further outside investment, and a little bit of luck, to bridge the gap.
Bennett will have to draw on all of his professional expertise to emulate the achievements of his predecessor Park in the years to come.
