Rangers defend Comic Relief decision

Rangers Football Club have defended their decision not to donate a signed shirt for a Comic Relief competition.

The Glasgow club is the only one in Britain's two top flight leagues which is not handing over a strip for the Radio One event.

But the club says it is holding its own internet auction to raise cash for the charity on Friday.

Two of the station's presenters, Mark Chapman and Comedy Dave, are attempting to visit all the grounds in Scotland's SPL and England's Premiership leagues in 72 hours to collect the shirts.

Listeners are being invited to call a number and register their name with one being picked out to win all 31 strips.

On her breakfast show, Sara Cox said: "Rangers have still refused to give a signed football shirt. Every other Premiership football team in England and Scotland are giving away lovely signed shirts for Comic Relief apart from Rangers.

"No offence to any Rangers fans listening - it is nothing to do with you - it is the execs. Rangers - come on, sort it out."

Cox is the second Radio One DJ to highlight the club's stance, with Chris Moyles criticising Rangers in his show yesterday.

But a spokeswoman for Rangers said: "By our own volition the club offered assistance for Comic Relief to the BBC regional office in Glasgow.

"The club are also planning to hold a 'Blue Nose Day' auction on March 16 on the official website. All the money goes to the same charity."