Rangers takeover after elections, says Burnside

ULSTER UNIONIST politician David Burnside will work on a potential Rangers takeover plan after his latest election battle.

Burnside has held preliminary talks with associates in the City of London over forming a consortium to buy out Ibrox chairman David Murray.

But the Northern Ireland Assembly member claims his interest has been blown out of proportion and the group will only move if Murray puts the club up for sale.

When asked yesterday if he planned to approach the Rangers chairman, Burnside said: “David Murray stated what his position was.

“I’m very busy with the election on Wednesday. I want to get that out of the way. I am going to London next week and will spend a bit of time on it then.”

The Rangers fan has cited the potential of the club’s worldwide brand as a prime reason for his interest.

The news emerged days before the Stormont elections, but the former public relations director has dismissed allegations the story was a publicity stunt.

Murray, who took over at Ibrox in 1988, hinted recently that he would step down when a worthy successor emerged.

Rangers, who have reduced their debt from more than £70million (€102.7m) to around £6million (€8.8m) in recent years, refused to comment on the matter yesterday.

Burnside began his career as press officer for the now-defunct Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party in the 1970s before moving to London.