30 June 2003
Where There's a Will....

Where there's a will there's a way as the saying goes. Now there is a way to ensure your assets pass on to your loved ones and help the Rangers Supporters Trust at the same time. The RST has teamed up with a legal consultant, who just happens to be a Trust Member as well as a season ticket holder of nearly 30 years standing, from Scottish Legal Services to provide a range of services to RST members and their families and friends. In return, 10% of fees will be donated to the Trust.

The latest figures available show that 71% of the population have not made a will, yet to die "intestate" can lead to distress for your family ("partners" are particularly vulnerable) as the law will decide how your assets are distributed rather than you. SLS also has a wide range of other products connected to estate planning from which members can derive great benefits and savings on 'High Street' prices. The Consultant will visit you, by appointment, so you can make decisions in the comfort of your own home.

If you already own shares in Rangers and you have no family to leave them to, or perhaps your family are not particularly interested in the Club, then why not bequeath them to the Trust? If you do this, the Consultant is prepared to offer a free basic will.

If you want more information please contact christines@blueyonder.co.uk or telephone free on 0800 018 6907 quoting reference number 3201.

15 June 2003
3-2 majority in favour of a full plc listing

Our latest poll, although showing nothing like the landslide witnessed on the Premiership debate, nevertherless still produced a fairly decisive verdict in the context of web polls. Some 60% of those responding though that Rangers should seek a full plc listing - a clear message, at a time of a (still) depressed Stockmarket, and all indicators pointing towards the football bubble having burst.

The verdict delivered, which will be further debated at our AGM in August, clearly demonstrates just how seriously our Members view the current level of debt hampering our great Club, as well as a desire to invest cash for a greater say in the future of Rangers.

12 June 2003
Sharesave Scheme Latest

Our Trust Secretary has advised that the Sharesave Scheme is likely to commence operation by the end of this month.

12 June 2003
New website poll on share flotation

Whilst the time for informed debate on this subject will come at our August AGM, we are inviting members to vote as to whether they would support a full plc listing which would involve the issue of millions of Rangers shares available to the public. There are clearly pros and cons to this question, and we are deliberately refraining from listing them here, as we wish to guage opinion, which, after all, members are free to change in the light of further information which becomes available both before, and at, our AGM. This poll, however, will give us a valuable snapshot, so vote now!

11 June 2003
"Down the Copland Road" Contest winners announced

The answer to the question of which Rangers goalkeeper had the nickname "Half-cap" was Billy Ritchie, and we only received 4 correct entries, 3 of which were from England, and 2 of which won prizes in our last competition!

As this would have left only one correct entry not to receive a signed copy of this brilliant book, the author, Ronnie Esplin, has kindly donated a fourth signed copy as a prize, so all the correct entries have won. This gesture by the author was/is much appreciated by the Trust, who are happy to endorse the book as an excellent read if you are interested in Rangers fans as much as the players. "Down the Copland Road" by Ronnie Esplin - available from Argyll Publishing (ISBN 1 902831 14 4).

Our congratulations, along with a signed copy of the book, go to

-George Lappin of Gourock, Renfrewshire
-Dean Scambler of Ashton-under-Lyme, Lancashire
-Alan Kettlewell of Cleveleys, Lancashire
-Graham Clark of Poole, Dorset

We promise to make our next Contest somewhat easier - watch this space.

09 June 2003
Trust members vote overwhelmingly for Rangers to seek early entry to the EPL

In a web poll run by the Trust over the last six days, an astonishing 85% of all respondents voted in favour of the Club seeking "by all means possible, early entry into the English Premiership." Some members of the inaugural Board felt that an inconclusive result might be potentially damaging, so the huge majority in favour will undoubtedly see this adopted as Trust policy. Despite some public proclamations to the contrary, we have never accepted that the door is firmly and permanently closed, and once our great Club start to engage us in meaningful dialogue, we shall be doing everything in our power to help achieve such change. Our members have spoken.

05 June 2003
Trust releases first Quarterly Newsletter - The Blue Spirit

The Rangers Supporters Trust has released the first issue of The Blue Spirit, the new Rangers Supporters Trust quarterly newsletter. A newsletter will be sent to all Trust members four times a year. We will send the newsletter electronically to all members who have an e-mail address. Those members without e-mail shall be sent their newsletter via mail. The newsletter will also be available for download here and from the downloads page:

The Blue Spirit - Issue 1 - Adobe Acrobat Format (137K)

04 June 2003
Trust membership cards and share certificates

Membership cards and share certificates for our first 200 members are being dispatched this week, with the next 100 also due to arrive with members next week. Members whose numbers are above 300 will have their's posted out probably around the end of this month in order to minimise costs.

02 June 2003
Treble Congratulations from the Trust

The Trust today congratulate Rangers on three counts - firstly on winning the Scottish Cup for a 31st time, secondly for winning the Treble for a seventh time, and thirdly for winning their 105th trophy. This success must vindicate Barry Ferguson's decision last year to stay with the Club - despite tempting offers from elsewhere - and we all wish the captain a speedy and successful recovery from the surgery which he undergoes today.