We've all had enough of the McLeish talk to last us a lifetime, so I won't go into that just yet (it's coming, though)
Well, Minty, let me tell you this, there has been a considerable number of Rangers supporters who have refused to give this man their blessing as quite simply put, they do not believe that he is the best man for Rangers. They do not believe he has the ability to take a club of our size and stature forward and they believe that his remaining is to the detriment to the greater good of Rangers Football Club. That's all it is, there is no vendetta because Alex played for Aberdeen all of his career, there is no personal problem between these supporters and Alex McLeish. The reason that he is not wanted by a large number of the support does not stretch beyond his managerial ability.
So who died and made you 'Supporter-in-Chief' Mr Murray? I'm not saying you don't have any affinity with Rangers now that you've been with us for so long, but I'm really struggling to follow why a group of people who share a view that differs from your's and that of the zombies amongst our support that hang on your every word are not 'true supporters', so I'd love it if you could enlighten me further on this.
It would be quite easy for me to say thta I believe people who back Alex McLeish to remain as Rangers manager are doing so to the detriment of Rangers Football Club's prosperity. It's not deliberate, but that's exactly what they are doing in my eyes.
What should be worrying more people here is not the decision itself but the dangerous precedent that David Murray has decided to set here. Forget your own individual view on the McLeish matter, the stance taken by Murray in which he questions YOUR support if you don't agree with the decision is insulting at best, degrading at worst. These comments would make Kim Jong-Il look democratic to some people.
The sad thing is though that an all too large number of our support are only too happy to accept this and would happily take the same stance as David Murray has should you call the decision into question. There is a 'ripples in the pond' effect that comments from David Murray have on many Rangers supporters. The first effect, is that these fans will take his words as the gospel truth and any questioning of the words said or the decisions made will result in a cry of 'How can you say that after all he has done for this club?' swiftly followed by a rousing 'Get behind the team! I didn't agree with the decision either but there's nothing we can do about it'.
I'll once again lay this down in simple terms, David Murray IS NOT Rangers Football Club, Alex McLeish IS NOT Rangers Football Club. Rangers Football Club is one of the most successful in world football, and has had a variety of different chairmen and manager's over the past 132 years. Chairmen and Manager's come and Chairmen and Manager's will go, but WE will all STILL be here when David Murray and Alex McLeish have departed. We are the most loyal fans in the world and will stand by the club through thick and thin .... BUT ..... it would be sheer folly to stand back and allow the people who take care of Rangers on and off the field to carry on with their duties if we have genuine concerns about the jobs that they are doing. Just because Daivd Murray is top of the tree of the field as Alex McLeish is top of the tree in the dug-out, it doesn't mean that there statements are gospel and their decisions are absolute. Last time I checked, there was no iron curtain on Edmiston Drive.
Despite the fact that the club is pushing their decision to keep McLeish like propaganda amongst the masses with their ludicrous 'Have Your Say' section on the official website, where 'supporters' join in the fun with Big Minty in his quest to 'Out' those who don't approve of him or Mr McLeish as 'not true supporters', we must STILL make a point of asking questions if we simply want clarification or we vehemently disagree with a decision or action that has been taken. It doesn't matter how hard or fast lies or fictous scripture such as that of the 'Have Your Say' section on the official site are peddled to us. The authority of David Murray is not absolute, the fans ultimately decide the fate of managers and this situation is no different. Indecently, I hear that when this 'new investment' is announced quite soon that will see Rangers become 'Big Hitters' once again in the transfer market, David Murray will also be splashing out on some new script-writers for said section of the Rangers website, the whole thing will be a razzle-dazzle affair produced and directed by Steven Speilberg. It's more than coincidental that these 'fans' listed in the 'Have Your Say' section appear to be 'The Phantom Menace', if you catch my drift.
So whilst no-one wants it to get to the stage of car-park demonstrations and displaying banners at the front door of the Main Stand, the supporters voice should not be ignored to the degree that it has done. Whether it's about Alex McLeish, the price of pies at half-time, the condition of your seat in the stadium, issues with merchandising or strip quality or poor service from any of Rangers/Murray's companies that we need to deal with whilst supporting the club, it's about time some people realised that it's not wrong to speak up or ask a question if you disagree with something. Freedom of Speech is a wonderful thing, and it's nothing to be ashamed of. If the uber-fans want to sit back and tell anyone who will listen that we shouldn't voice our displeasure 'As we shouldnae gee thaem (Sellick) the satisfaction', perhaps they should consider this.....
If embarrassment off the field has to be endured to make sure that embarrassment on the field is not, I, for one, know exactly what my choice would be.
BdTS