Rangers fan group leaders say it is time for the Ibrox faithful to match the moves made by Dave King and the Three Bears.

Both King and the Three Bears – wealthy supporters Douglas Park, George Letham and George Taylor – made surprise moves last week as they bought up huge tranches of shares.

They now face a difficult quest to oust Newcastle owner Mike Ashley from his position of power at Ibrox.

King is the club’s biggest single investor with a 14.57 per cent stake after he bought out the Artemis and Miton groups.

Park’s group, meanwhile, are now responsible for around 19 per cent after snapping up 13.3 million shares from Laxey Partners.

Combined, they are responsible for just over a third of the total Ibrox shareholding, meaning they could potentially call an emergency general meeting and force boardroom change.

Both the Rangers Supporters Trust and fellow fan-ownership campaigners from Rangers First have told ordinary supporters it is vital that they also sign up.

The RST said in a statement: “We are delighted with the news of the past few days which now sees around 35 per cent of the club’s ownership in the hands of trusted, Rangers’ supporting businessmen.

“With the shareholdings of the RST, other fans and individuals such as Ally McCoist, Walter Smith and Malcolm Murray, we believe that we are inching closer to the point where those who care about the club can command a 51 per cent shareholding or more.

“However, now is not the time to rest on our laurels. The club requires significant investment beyond the money that fans already contribute via ticket and merchandise income.

“We appeal to everyone with Rangers at heart to join the RST and work with us and wealthier fans to build a strong and vibrant community around our club – a community that can make sure that the damage done to the club over the past few years is never repeated.”

Scottish Premiership

Played yesterday
Dundee vs Ross County - 1-1
Inverness CT vs St Mirren - 1-0
Motherwell vs Aberdeen - 0-2
Partick vs Dundee United - 2-2
St Johnstone vs Hamilton - 0-1

Playing today
Kilmarnock vs Celtic - 21.00

Leading standings: Aberdeen 43; Celtic, Hamilton 39; Dundee Utd, Inverness 38; St Johnstone 29.

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