George Overhill

Wed 5 April 2023 12:55, UK

Keith Jackson has given “the great non-communicator” Douglas Park an unfavourable assessment after his surprise exit as Rangers chairman.

The 72-year-old suddenly stepped down on Tuesday (4 April) with vice-chair John Bennett moving into the role, in a move that nobody outside the boardroom saw coming.

Despite the 55th SPFL title win and the run to the Europa League last season the Park reign has been characterised by disputes, and Jackson doesn’t believe that reflects favourably on him.

In his Daily Record column Jackson wrote: “Park can reflect on a reign of moderate domestic success with one outstanding, historic high water mark left on the continental game.

“But whatever baubles and tit-bits he can lay claim to on the pitch, the fact of the matter is that, over these last three years, it was his running of the club from the command centre which left so very much to be desired.

“This long running game of hide and seek with his own supporters has created a disconnect with fans growing increasingly weary and frustrated with an apparent lack of dynamic, transparent leadership from the top. No wonder.”

His feuds with the SPFL and the sponsors, former chairman Dave King, and Celtic over Old Firm away fans are held up to show Park “could start a fight in an empty Blue Room”, while the latter Hoops issue, which will be effect this weekend, is summed up as “that one is on Park”.

Jackson added: “Also, rather curiously, Park seemed unable or unwilling to deal with, far less accept, any hint of criticism and the more his relationship with the club’s support deteriorated, the more estranged he became from the cash paying core. What an odd way to run a business, especially given all his years and experience of making millions from the motor trade.”

Shades of grey

As with most things in life Park’s time in the top chair at Ibrox isn’t black and white, and it won’t be entirely clear where his place in Rangers history is until some years have passed.

Given where the club was when he arrived at the club, and some of the successes since he became chairman, he has a lot to look back on and be proud of.

But he also departs with regular fan protests ringing in his ears amid a domestic situation that has seen Celtic quickly get back on top and the finances at the club making it a tough task to overturn that.

Millions have flowed into the club over the past year given the sales of players such as Calvin Bassey, and the Europa League final was quickly followed by the mythical return to the Champions League group stage.

That campaign was dismal and helped cost Giovanni van Bronckhorst his job, but despite the cash it brought in there are fears that the club can’t compete fully in the market.

Perhaps that is a necessary evil for a club that is only coming to the end of its first decade from complete oblivion, but most fans would be none the wiser on the basis of the minimal information that has been given.

Park presided over some major successes, but he also leaves with a lot of questions unanswered and the effects of less favourable episodes still being felt, as the Gers head to Parkhead on Saturday (8 April) with no supporters in tow.

In other Rangers news, the club have been tipped to succeed in bringing a quality player to the club with the help of a well-placed former favourite.