THE Rangers Supporters Trust (RST) last night welcomed the share purchases made in the last few days by Dave King and the so-called Three Bears consortium and urged the club's rank-and-file fans to join the bid by this bloc to command more than half of the club's shares.

King became the club's ­largest single shareholder when he purchased 14.6% of shares from fund managers Artemis and Milton on Friday night, the revelation following the news that wealthy fans, Douglas Park , George Letham and George Taylor, had bought 16% of the club's stock from Laxey Partners to take their combined total to 19%. And at least one of those groups is thought to be looking at increasing their shareholding imminently.

With support from the RST's existing shareholding, backing from the likes of Walter Smith, Ally McCoist and Malcolm Murray, and other individuals, that would see them collectively closing in on the 51% mark which could see them exert the whip hand in club matters.

Sandy Easdale controls around 26% of the stock, and Mike Ashley, who was blocked in his requests to expand his stake by the SFA, just under 9%. An extraordinary general meeting could be called at the end of the month, where changes to the board of directors could be proposed.

"The RST is delighted that around 35% of the club's ownership is in the hands of trusted, Rangers-supporting businessmen," a statement read. "It is our belief that the fans have a huge part to play not only in supporting the club financially but also in overseeing its well-being through a substantial shareholding. The time has come for grassroots fans to shape the direction of our club with wealthier supporters."

Caretaker manager Kenny ­McDowall was last night unable to guarantee that more players would not follow Lewis Macleod out of the club. "I don't want to lose anybody, but the state we are in at the moment that is not my decision, so I will just keep my fingers crossed," he said.