Scottish Football Association

One way or another, this week will mark another notable milestone in the club’s history. The Daily Telegraph revealed that both King and his allies and the Rangers plc directors accept that the South Africa-based businessman has the voting support to force change.

However, King will also have to pass tests to satisfy both the SFA and the AiM market that he is a fit and proper person to be a Rangers director before he can appoint himself to the board. He has consistently expressed confidence that he will satisfy the criteria of both organisations.

Assuming that King passes both tests, the question is – can he and Ashley operate to mutual benefit as well as that of Rangers? understands that Ashley has not been impressed by King’s decision to requisition an EGM, but that King has also been angered by the Rangers board’s persistent references to his convictions in tax cases brought by the South African Revenue Service.

The pair have not met – Ashley avoided face to face contact when King tried to effect his takeover in October - and it is believed that Ashley calculates that he can proceed if necessary with his business at Rangers without engaging personally with King or his allies.

It's been a season of complete turmoil at Ibrox (GETTY IMAGES)

In the meantime, Rangers fans reacted with scorn to the parting words of Somers as he relinquished the position of chairman. In his statement to the Stock Exchange, Somers echoed Margaret Thatcher’s famous “where there is discord” quote when he said: “I…have always tried to bring harmony to boardrooms and with stakeholders.”

The Rangers Supporters Trust responded derisively to the 66-year-old Scarborough-born fund manager, calling him “inept and embarrassing” in a statement which read: “We are delighted that David Somers has finally resigned as chairman of Rangers.

“We note that his parting comments are entirely in keeping with his behaviour during his time at the club. His lack of ambition or ability, rampant self interest, contempt for shareholders and fans, and disastrous dearth of understanding of the position of responsibility he held will be his legacy.