Scottish whisky industry veteran Billy Walker has expressed his interest in potentially investing in Rangers.
Walker, renowned for his expertise as the Master Distiller at GlenAllachie, has made it clear that while he is keen to be involved amid a board reshuffle at Ibrox, he does not envision himself as the primary investor in the storied club.
Instead, the 79-year-old emphasises the importance of having a voice in shaping the future direction of Rangers.
A lifelong supporter of the Glasgow giants, Walker has an impressive track record in the whisky industry. His career highlights include significant contributions to the development of notable brands such as Ballantine’s, Inver House, and Burn Stewart distilleries. In 2003, he founded the BenRiach Distillery Company, which garnered substantial acclaim and was sold to Brown-Forman, the parent company of Jack Daniel’s, for a staggering £285million in 2016.
Under Walker’s stewardship, GlenAllachie has also flourished, recently surpassing the £20million turnover mark, showcasing his acumen in business and brand development.
His potential involvement with Rangers comes at a time when the club is actively seeking fresh investment to bolster its ambitions within Scottish football and in Europe.
Current interim chairman John Gilligan has reassured fans that new financial backing is on the horizon, aiming to revitalise the club's fortunes and prevent city rivals Celtic from dominating.
Former chairman Dave King previously indicated that an investment of around £50million would be necessary to achieve the short and medium-term objectives of the Scottish Premiership powerhouse.
As discussions unfold, the prospect of Walker’s investment could signal a new chapter for Rangers, blending his successful business insights with a deep-rooted passion for the club.
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“Running a football club must be extremely difficult as there is so much uncertainty,” he told the Rangers Review as he discussed whether Gilligan was the right man for the role. “You have to put a lot of trust into the managerial team and you have to oversee the inside of the business and make sure the club is on the right track.
“You’ve got to have people with a football knowledge and you’ve got to trust the manager that he’s going in the right direction.
“The reality is the board has the fiscal responsibility to make sure all the correct financial levers are in the right places and they can see a future, that’s very important. It’s really important to see past the next week and certainly the next five years and determine where the club is going.
“In reality, would I like to invest? Yes, if the circumstances were right. Would I be the principal investor? No. That would be for somebody else.
“I’ve had conversations in the past but in parallel with what’s happening in the football world, there’s also what’s happening in my own business world. There’s always demand. You’re always asked questions when opportunities come up and that’s life.
“I wouldn’t be against investing in the club. John Gilligan is an excellent man, he’s a top businessman. Any time there is a call to arms, John has been prepared to step up.
“But sure, I’m a Rangers fan, if the environment’s right, probably yes why not? But if I was investing I would want to have a say about the direction of where the club is going.”
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Walker believes the current Rangers squad are lacking more quality Scottish talent, particularly people who are willing to dig deep in order to see their team win football matches.
“I think the team is missing some Scottish warriors,” he said. “I was talking to my son about it last week and said, ‘What would you do now for a Stuart McCall or an Ian Ferguson?’
“We have to win the battle early on and then let the most skilful players impact the game. I think we’re missing that a wee bit.
“I feel a little bit sorry for the manager in a sense that I think he’s built a team that is probably relatively comfortable playing in a European environment but Scottish football is different. You need to build a team equipped for Scottish football and take it from there.”
Despite Rangers trailing both Aberdeen and Celtic in the title race, Walker remains optimistic about the future under boss Philippe Clement.
“I always think Rangers are going to win,” he confessed.
“Last Sunday [vs Kilmarnock] was very disappointing, alarmingly disappointing. But you know what, you wake up in the morning and you’re still a Rangers supporter and there’s always the next game.
"You’re always optimistic. I’m the eternal optimist. Let’s see where the journey goes.”
