I remember the meetings I was at in the early days of discontent with Sir Duped's "custodianship". Seems like a million years ago. Mark D, Davie Edgar, The Gub, John Glass etc. a dozen or so of us trying to figure out how we could shine a light on this charlatan and the damage he was inflicting on Rangers that would some day come to pass.
We took some serious shit from "our own" (the erudite Edgar in particular) and the media before it dawned on most, and by that time it was too late. I recall some of our number being ejected by a publican of some renown in this parish from his establishment with him and his acolytes singing "One David Murray, There's only One David Murray" as we left, heads shaking in despair. The irony of being in the vanguard of "Rangers First" would no doubt have escaped him and his friends. It was tough sell to the success sated average Rangers supporter.
What we have done collectively as a support in recent years to raise our Club from the embers of Murray's mismanagement and malfeacance, and the subsequent snake oil salesman that his actions bequeathed the Club too is remarkable. We still have long way to travel though, as the events of the past week have shown.
I believe it will take us a long time to recover from his stewardship of Rangers( if we ever do). We lost our standing to many in the game and to the wider society in Scotland and beyond. Due to ill health in recent years and family bereavement I took a step back from "the politics". After attending a meeting when Charles Green spoke, I said to MD, "this guy is a shyster and will f.uck us".
Subsequently I decided that I could not pay money to watch this guy rape our Club and I decided to give up my season ticket with a heavy heart. As someone who grew up in my formative years of watching Celtc win 9iar and following everywhere, anywhere during the fallow years of the early eighties, undaunted in my passion for all things Rangers, those painful years were nothing to this decision I made. Sitting in the house/pub while The Rangers were playing was more painful than any defeat I witnessed.
As soon as Dave King etc gained control, me and my mates are all back sitting together cheering on The Rangers and that's the way it will remain until my dying day. We have many battles ahead of us on and off the park. The battle we must never loose is avoiding another Murray, Whyte or Green stepping up the marble staircase.
PS Please spare me the "what about the trophies we won under Murray" replies. We could have achieved the same and more under a figurehead with less hubris and more fiduciary responsibility.