Rangers’ board and Union Bears in massive Ibrox standoff

Ibrox Noise

·16 November 2024

Rangers’ board and Union Bears in massive Ibrox standoff

Recently Rangers’ ultra group the Union Bears released a strong statement condemning Rangers’ board for a lack of cooperation nay downright resistance at helping the organisation with their tifos.

The statement read:

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“The Union Bears have always took immense pride in producing our Remembrance Day display. Unfortunately this year, due to sanctions imposed on us by the board, our preparation and ability to carry out the hundreds of man hours required to produce such a tifo were severely hampered. These sanctions were imposed by board members who appear to believe that punishing a vocal element of the support will cover up their continuous shortcomings in the boardroom.

These sanctions forced us to seek alternative venues to create Sunday’s display, presenting a significant challenge to produce an extremely detailed display in a limited time frame. This display turned out to be one of the most challenging tifo’s to date. Even on Sunday morning whilst attempting to complete the tifo outside the stadium, we were informed on arrival that the group were not permitted to gain access to the stadium footprint pre match. On our arrival at the stadium for kick off, in yet another attempt to curtail the tifo, the access of the tifo was initially knocked back then delayed to the point that the setting up time available for the display became near impossible. Due to its significance, we felt it was essential to complete this by any means necessary to ensure it was displayed in the Copland pre match.

The club also restricted access to our pre match stall, which significantly impacted our merchandise sales during a month we were raising funds to order the material required to carry out our preparations for a 125th Ibrox anniversary tifo. Unfortunately due to financial constraints caused by lost revenue and a lack of opportunity to seek alternative venues at short notice, to facilitate such a display that we would consider appropriate for commemorating such an occasion, we will not be commencing with our plans for an Ibrox anniversary tifo.

In recent years we believed we held a sustainable relationship with the club. However in recent months, through yet another power shift, we have yet again become the focus of an ego driven campaign by select board members who solely want to harm the group and limit our match day capability.”

Aside the bad grammar, their message is strongly-worded against the board.

And we at Ibrox Noise at best are neutral, and at worst take the side of the board completely, sorry guys.

While most fans probably side with the UB, we cannot endorse the actions of a group who frequently cause mayhem for our club, not to mention cost it repeated fines with money.

A group who, aware our club’s finances are drastic, set off stupid flares and missiles at matches, leading to UEFA fines costing the club even more money it can’t afford.

Who ends up paying for this? Their fellow fans! The fans pay for it through increased prices over the board for merch, tickets, digital services and even an Ibrox pie!

We don’t deny Rangers’ board has made mistakes, and without naming him the UB are clearly targeting Graeme Park with this, but it’s hard to actually have sympathy for them.

They have harmed the club, so the club is trying to harm them back. And that’s a petty fight between two groups who seem more aligned with their own self-interests than those of the club.

It’s a set-to the club and wider fanbase could do without, but the UB chose to go public and air dirty linen.

Be that on their heads.