The moment of Struth

[North Rd 2,860]

Matthew Lindsay Sports Journalist

Monday 30/09/2013

THE high regard Bill Struth is held in by Rangers fans is not just due to the success he enjoyed in his 34-year spell as manager.

Rangers fans make their feelings known

Struth is still, with a staggering 73 trophies to his name, the most decorated manager in British football history despite retiring back in 1954.

Yet, it is perhaps how the one-time stonemason carved the future of the Ibrox club in the first half of the last century for which he is most revered.

A strict disciplinarian, Struth demanded high standards of conduct in those who represented the Glasgow institution both on and off the field of play.

The ideals he instilled in those around him helped to ensure Rangers became the most successful club in Scotland and one of the most successful in the world.

There could, then, be no better man for the protest group demanding honesty and integrity at boardroom level to be named after.

Sons of Struth, or SoS, organised the demonstration during the SPFL League One game against Stenhousemuir at Ibrox at the weekend.

A variety of banners were held aloft throughout the packed stadium in the 18th and 72nd minutes - the significance of this being that Rangers was, of course, founded in 1872 - of the match.

Chants of "Sack the Board" and "Get out of our Club" - among others more unsavoury - were also belted out as Ally McCoist's team romped to a resounding 8-0 victory.

It was a reminder for the directors that, as the publication of annual accounts draws ever nearer and an eagerly-anticipated AGM edges closer, nothing less than complete transparency will do.

Who ends up holding power at Rangers when the AGM is finally held, those currently at the helm or the shareholders demanding change, remains uncertain at this juncture.

However, with such disharmony clearly existing among such a large number of paying customers it would be foolish business practice, suicidal in fact, to dismiss their concerns when they do.

McCoist, whose team remained five points in front of Dunfermline thanks to their biggest win of the 2013/14 campaign, is concentrating fully on football matters.

And he is optimistic the growing unrest in the stands will not have any negative impact on his players' performances for however long it continues.

He said: "We would ask the fans again to keep on giving the team their continued support. I keep saying, and I make no apology for saying it again, that in the last couple of years the fans have kept the club going.

"They have been absolutely fantastic and their support of the team is all we can ask for.

"There were issues at the weekend which I am certainly not going to get involved in after the result we had. I think it would be wrong of me to do so.

"The team and the players and the fans deserve all the credit for the performance."

While the Rangers support remain firmly at loggerheads with those in positions of authority, progress is being made on the park.

The victory at the weekend, in which striker Jon Daly netted four goals for the first time, maintained the team's 100% record in the league in some style. McCoist's side has now won all seven of their games in their division this term.

They have scored 32 goals and conceded just two goals in the process.

The manager is pleased with the progress his new signings have made in a short space of time and with the way the Light Blues fans have taken to them.

He said: "I think it is terrific we are now getting players who are striking up bonds with the fans.

"Whether it be Bilel Mohsni, Ian Black, Nicky Law, Arnold Peralta or whoever. There is definitely something building which is important for us.

"All we can do is prepare the team as professionally as we can and hope they can go and play in the most professional manner they can. That will always be the case as long as we are here."

McCoist welcomed Ian Black, who has now completed his ban for gambling offences, back into his team against Martyn Corrigan's side.

It proved to be a shrewd call. The central midfielder was one of his side's best performers throughout an admittedly one-sided 90 minutes. Some fans were deeply unhappy with the punishments meted out to the player, who admitted betting against Rangers to win, by the SFA and his club.

If he continues to perform in the highly-impressive manner that he did against Stenhousemuir then he will continue to be a leading light for Rangers as the campaign progresses.

McCoist agreed: "He has been terrific for us all season and he just picked up where he left off. It was great to see the reaction he got from the crowd.

"Our fans are intelligent. They know he has made a mistake and he has been punished and they want to support him now." The same cannot currently be said of the Rangers board.

[North Rd 2,860]

If we had European Cups back in Struth's time, how many would we have won? The Man's record is awesome.

[dummiesoot 16,288]

If we had European Cups back in Struth's time, how many would we have won? The Man's record is awesome.

That is the big argument without a doubt we were in the highest echelons of the game. I think selliks shitey claim of having won the big one and we haven't is down only to timing with european football not conceived in Mr Struth's time.

[ForeverBlue_Since91 2,895]

If we had European Cups back in Struth's time, how many would we have won? The Man's record is awesome.

Funny you should mention this as i was thinking about that last night. I'm not one for looking back at things like this but it came into my head last night.

[North Rd 2,860]

Funny you should mention this as i was thinking about that last night. I'm not one for looking back at things like this but it came into my head last night.

When we went to Canada and USA during the early Struth years, we had some team, with seeing that record of his today, Struth would have lifted a European Cup as Manager if it had been played for in those years, Awesome Record.

[ForeverBlue_Since91 2,895]

I doubt anyone will ever manage a team for 35 years ever again. Has any manager if stayed with a club this long apart from Bill Stuth?

Surely that must be another record for us?

[North Rd 2,860]

Fred Everiss spent 46 years as manager of West Bromwich Albion (1902 to 1948).

[RM Monitor And Standards Officer 112,902]

I doubt anyone will ever manage a team for 35 years ever again. Has any manager if stayed with a club this long apart from Bill Stuth?

Surely that must be another record for us?

Auxerre manager was there some 30 odd year iirc

[ForeverBlue_Since91 2,895]

I have been lucky — lucky in those who were around me from the boardroom to the dressing-room. In time of stress, their unstinted support, unbroken devotion to our club and calmness in adversity eased the task of making Rangers FC the premier club in this country.

To be a Ranger is to sense the sacred trust of upholding all that such a name means in this shrine of football. They must be true in their conception of what the Ibrox tradition seeks from them. No true Ranger has ever failed in the tradition set him."

Our very success, gained you will agree by skill, will draw more people than ever to see it. And that will benefit many more clubs than Rangers.

Let the others come after us.

We welcome the chase. It is healthy for us.

We will never hide from it. Never fear, inevitably we shall have our years of failure, and when they arrive, we must reveal tolerance and sanity.

No matter the days of anxiety that come our way, we shall emerge stronger because of the trials to be overcome. That has been the philosophy of the Rangers since the days of the gallant pioneers.

[Al.G.S.Gow 27]

73 trophies and a Stonemason.

Gotta love this guy.

[choochooblue 342]

Auxerre manager was there some 30 odd year iirc

very true. He was a player for 12 years, manager for 44 years albeit less than 1 year of that was as general manager.