THE Rangers board have held discussions with several supporters groups over a proposal that would bring together the various organisations under one umbrella.

Ibrox director John Gilligan and Stewart Robertson, the recently appointed Managing Director, met with fan representatives last month and a consensus has been reached that could see the Rangers Supporters Trust, Rangers Supporters Assembly, Rangers Supporters Association, Rangers First and Rangers Fans Board come together rather than continue to work as separate bodies. The proposed new organisation would have two representatives from Rangers on board but would be independent from the club and be in a position to buy shares, contribute towards capital expenditure projects and comment on issues in public.

Further discussions are set to take place later this month as the details of the blueprint are fine tuned but the groups have already started gathering feedback from their members over the idea.

A spokesman for the RST told Herald Sport: "The initial discussions are very positive with regards to the existing groups being happy to essentially form one democratic body, voted in by all of its membership, and to try and move away from having so many bodies.

"We saw with the Union of Fans that these groups can work together successfully. The fan groups can work together but this is more about formalising the relationship between the fans and the club.

"The groups have different strengths. Some work well with the Supporters Clubs, the Trust has a history of being more robust in the media and, like Rangers First, have a substantial shareholding as well.

"It is effectively, if you were starting again, coming up with a model that works for everybody."

The move to bring together the various organisations would signal a significant shift in the way the Rangers support is mobilised going forward after several groups have come to the fore in recent years. Representatives from across the supporters spectrum were critical of the previous Ibrox board before they were ousted from power in March and the new regime are keen to build bridges with fans once again, with the discussions between Gilligan, Robertson and the supporters organisations are another step in the right direction in regards to relations between the boardroom and the terraces.

The board will require the financial backing of supporters this term as they attempt to sell 45,000 season tickets and fans now have a chance to ensure their voice is heard.

"We need to be careful that we don't assume that just because everything is fine at the moment with the current board that we can rest on our laurels," the Trust spokesman said. "There has to be a degree of criticism because there will be things that the fans don't like. It is important that the group remains independent.

"Right now, it is about getting it in place, making sure it is good for the fans and for the club. There are various ways in which it could contribute to Rangers. When the fans and the board are on the same page, there is a huge opportunity to create something unique. It is the right point in time to try and do it. It is early days but it is a positive start."