Ex-Rangers director Dave King’s strategy is very clear and clever

Dave King’s statement has created a testing situation for all the men in charge at Rangers.

It is easy to see why the Rangers Board were angered by Dave King’s statement. Any way you cut it, this was a big, big blow to them.

At the time of the AGM, I commented in this column that Rangers had passed their first of two big tests.

The second would be the launch of the season-ticket sales for the 2014-15 campaign. Up until the middle of last week, things were looking good for the directors.

The club are cantering to the League One title, as we all knew they would. More than that, though, they are enjoying conspicuous success in the cup competitions.

They have a Ramsdens Cup Final against Raith Rovers to look forward to. And in the Scottish Cup, only Albion Rovers stand between Ally McCoist’s side and a semi-final tie to be played at Ibrox.

All of which has increased anticipation for what looks set to be a highly-intriguing Championship next year. But Kings’ words have seriously undermined their position.

Fans, following his arguments, are demanding to know why the Board went for a “soft” loan with such a high return of interest.

The sum of £150,000 is admittedly not a huge one in football terms. Half a week’s wages for Wayne Rooney.

However, when finance is as tight as it at Rangers, why would they choose to pay it when King would have provided the same loan interest-free?

Of even greater concern will be his guidance that supporters withhold their season-ticket money in the form of a trust.

This is a clear strategy and, in my eyes, a very clever one. He is not urging fans to deny the club their support, either vocal or financial.

But by asking them to drip feed the latter, he is asking them to put a large spoke in their wheels.

For without the working capital provided by the annual season-ticket revenue, they will be unable to meet the club’s sizeable running costs.

That being the case, the Board will have no choice but to look for money from elsewhere. And where is it going to come from?

One place and one place only from King himself or a consortium led by King.

The situation is a test for all the men in charge of Rangers and, especially so, for Graham Wallace.

The Chief Executive has generally made a favourable impression over the last few months as someone working hard to get the club back on the right financial footing.

Now, though, he finds himself in a very difficult position.

Where he is simply an employee of the club, King is a Rangers man who has already put £20 million into the club and come back looking to invest more.

It is a distinction that can make a big difference. And when it comes to who backs who, potentially 40,000 of a difference.