Chris Graham of Union of Fans has been appointed as a non-executive director of Rangers.

His appointment follows an announcement from the Ibrox club that Derek Llambias, Sandy Easdale and Barry Leach have been suspended from Rangers - while a resolution is prepared that aims to remove them as directors.

Former chief executive Llambias and finance director Leach exited The Rangers Football Club plc board as directors after a landslide victory by Dave King and his allies at an extraordinary general meeting on Friday.

The decision to appoint Graham appears to be an indication of how the current board of Rangers International Football Club plc want to have fans represented at the highest level of the club.

The 38-year-old who also acts as Rangers Supporters Trust spokesman is joined on the board by John Bennett, director of European Equities at Henderson Global Investors.

Meanwhile, James Blair, who has been a solicitor for more than 30 years, has been appointed Company Secretary with immediate effect.

Mr Graham said the move showed that King was serious about giving fans more say in the running of the football club.

He said: "There has been discussions over the last few days with the three nominee directors.  The board said they were keen to have fan representation on the board, so we had some discussions, and yeah, I am very honoured and delighted to have taken that up.

"They are very serious of taking forward larger fan representation.

"I am very pleased that they were not just paying lip-service to fan representation in the run up to the EGM. They have been very committed to moving this forward.

"I think the landscape has changed considerably and there is a wish to see that the things that happened recently never happen again. 

"It is a statement of intent by the board, and hopefully I will be able to contribute to the club itself, not just as a fan rep, but also in other areas."

Non-executive directors have the same legal duties, responsibilities and potential liabilities as their executive counterparts. According to the Institute of Directors, their role is to provide "a creative contribution to the board by providing objective criticism".

IoD say they should take responsibility for monitoring the performance of executive management, especially with regard to the progress made towards achieving the determined company strategy and objectives. They are also responsible for determining appropriate levels of remuneration of executive directors, and have a prime role in appointing, and where necessary removing, executive directors and in succession planning.

Mr Graham as a representative of Union of Fans was an outspoken critic of the current board.  A boycott of season tickets, backed by the Union of Fans and Dave King, had seen sales slump in protest over the financial management of the old board.

 

UoF  launched a website for supporters to pledge season ticket money which was to be withheld until Rangers directors handed over the security to Ibrox. Ibrox 1972 Ltd was been set up by ex-Rangers player Richard Gough and former director Dave King as custodians of the security if it is granted.

Paul Murray, interim chairman, said: "We are delighted to announce the further strengthening of the RIFC Board following Friday's General Meeting.

"John's corporate and financial experience and track record will prove invaluable, whilst Chris and James have been appointed in accordance with the board's commitment to meaningful fan representation and in order that they can use their abilities to contribute to the company."

Dave King managed to obtain around 85 per cent of the vote to support his Ibrox revolution at the club's EGM which saw Paul Murray, Douglas Park, John Gilligan appointed to the plc board.

It has been confirmed that Murray, Park, Gilligan and head of football administration Andrew Dickson have been recruited to the operating company board.

A club statement says: "Rangers FC announce today that Derek Llambias, Barry Leach and Sandy Easdale have been suspended from their duties pending an investigation.

"It is also noted that Mr Llambias and Mr Leach, along with Sandy Easdale, have been advised that a resolution to remove them as directors of the company has been received by the company. A meeting may be required for this purpose but it is hoped that this will not prove necessary.

"Acting chairman Paul Murray, fellow directors Douglas Park and John Gilligan, and the club's head of football administration Andrew Dickson have been appointed to the board of the company."

Llambias and Leach will not operate as chief executive and finance director while the suspension is in place.  It is understood they have agreed severance settlements.  

King has said it would be "challenging" for Mike Ashley, the owner of Newcastle United, to request two places on the board as part of a deal struck to provide a potential £10m of loans. King has also said the money is in place to pay back Ashley should he wish to reclaim the £5m the Sports Direct mogul has lent so far.

It is understood the investigation that has led to the suspensiosn will examine financial management in recent months including how a loan by Mike Ashley was favoured over King's £16 million takeover bid. 

The Three Bears group of  Park, George Letham and George Taylor also had a £6.5m loan offer rejected in favour of two tranches of £5m that were made available to Rangers' through Ashley's Sports Direct group.

As part of the loan agreement, Ashley's Sports Direct became the "ultimate controlling party" of Rangers Retail instead of the club plc and gained security over many of the club's precious trademarks.

Sports Direct also has security over Murray Park training ground, Edmiston House and Albion Car Park as a result of the loan.

The deal also gave Sports Direct the right to two representatives on the the board of the holding company Rangers International Football club plc. Llambias, a trusted lieutenant and Barry Leach, the chief executive of IBML, Sports Direct's licensing division has been seen as Ashley representatives until they were removed.

Phoenix Suns basketball team owner Robert Sarver also had a £20 million takeover offer turned down in January.

The directors have begun a forensic investigation into the club's accounts for evidence of what exactly has been going on since Craig Whyte paid £1 to Sir David Murray for the business in May 2011 and led it into eventual liquidation.

New Rangers director  Park has said there is an attempt to uncover the reasons why the club has spent £70m over the past four years.

Fans have previously raised concerns that Mr Easdale, who owns McGill's bus company, had influence over 26 per cent of the shareholding and the voting rights at Ibrox. This was reduced before the EGM to around 20%. It is understood he abstained during the EGM.

Mr Easdale's voting rights together with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley would give them power of veto over crucial decisions facing Rangers.

Sandy Easdale, who is chairman of the operating company, had remained in position after his brother and business partner James resigned the plc board and all subsidiaries nearly two weeks ago.

James Easdale said at the time: "I personally feel to remain on the board even after securing shareholder backing once more, would be a hollow victory for me without the fans' support to help the club go forward.

"I want to see Rangers flourish again with both fans and shareholders working in harmony.

"To help achieve that objective, I think it is in the best interests of the Club that I step aside and resign from the board of Rangers FC."

In response to Rangers' announcement, Jack Irvine, adviser to the Easdale family said: "We are surprised at the announcement as you cannot suspend a director under the law of Scotland.

"We also note that they talk about an investigation. Sandy Easdale welcomes that as he has absolutely nothing to fear."