Club's delight at cash boost

The football club launched their new "250 Club" on Friday and received an amazing early boost when the unidentified supporter bought half the tickets.

The fan, who wishes to remain anonymous, phoned Rangers chairman Jon Downing over the weekend to buy up the tickets for £25,000.

The club has envisaged 250 fans loaning the club £200.

The scheme has been launched to try and keep the club afloat and enable the £50,000 owed on temporary seating to be paid off.

The bill must be paid by July 7.

A bank last week turned down a bid by Rangers for a loan to cover the sum.

Rangers chairman Downing said today that the anonymous fan's gesture had come as a great relief.

"I had the phone call at 10am yesterday," he said. "It was the first piece of really good news we'd had for six months.

Mr Downing said the Board was doing all it could to keep Rangers afloat.

"I'm now more confident we'll achieve the £50,000 target by the deadline of July 7. We've turned to our supporters and sponsors and they are responding.

"This is opening the door for the road to recovery, but we're still a long way off. It's looking promising, but we're not out of the mire yet."

There are still 100 club tickets available and anybody wishing to get one should contact the club on 01785 602430.

Once the £50,000 target has been reached, the Rangers board plan to move ahead with new projects.

The £50,000 they owe for the hired seating must be paid by July 7 or the club could face possible court action or even go into administration.

How the £200 loans system will work is like this: during the new season a weekly 250 club draw will take place with the winner drawn being repaid their £200. This will go on for five years until everyone is paid back.

Mr Downing added: "Rangers have been through a lot of woes off the pitch and come through them over the years. I'm optimistic we can go on. I love this club to bits and can only think positively."