For the first time in a long while, Club 1872 have re-emerged in the public spotlight. The fan-shareholding group confirmed it has held talks with new Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh and CEO Patrick Stewart, with discussions reportedly centred on building a new, positive relationship between supporters and the boardroom.
But should we, as Rangers fans, welcome their return? Or should we question whether they still have any place in the club’s future after years of silence, mismanagement, and a chronic lack of transparency?
Club 1872 were established in 2016 through the merger of Rangers First and the Rangers Supporters’ Trust, at a time when fan influence felt essential in the wake of the 2012 financial collapse and the chaos that followed under the likes of Charles Green, Mike Ashley, and the spivs.
Their mission was clear: protect supporter interests and ensure a meaningful fan voice in the running of the club.
In the early years, they made strong progress. They quickly secured over 5 percent of shares, later rising above 10 percent following a major purchase from Mike Ashley in 2017. At their peak, they were one of Rangers’ largest shareholders and a key part of the fan ownership movement.
But over time, Club 1872 have drifted from relevance.
In March 2022, the previous Ibrox board accused the group of launching a “propaganda war” over the proposed Sydney Super Cup Old Firm friendly, a fixture eventually cancelled after widespread fan backlash. The club labelled them a “small rump” intent on creating instability.
Club 1872 fired back with serious accusations of their own, claiming that club executives had misled fans, manipulated opinion through selective leaks, and pressured them to sign restrictive NDAs designed to stifle criticism, something they refused to do.
The relationship between the group and the former board deteriorated further from there.
Since then, Club 1872 have largely vanished from public view.
Most concerning has been their complete silence during some of the most pivotal moments in recent Rangers history, most notably, during the prolonged takeover process that culminated in new leadership at board level.
For a group built to represent supporters and hold power to account, their failure to communicate throughout 2024 until now feels like a complete abdication of duty.
Fans are right to ask: where were they when it mattered?
Critics say Club 1872 have grown passive and ineffective, no longer offering credible challenge or leadership. The influence they once held has clearly diminished, and it is now fair to question whether they have any real role in the club’s future under the new regime.
If Club 1872 are to return to the fold, it cannot be under the same leadership that ignored supporters, failed to respond to emails, and disappeared during critical periods. They let the fanbase down when transparency and advocacy were needed most.
Now, with a fresh chapter unfolding under the 49ers, Rangers fans should not simply allow the group to quietly slip back into relevance as if nothing happened. Accountability matters.
If Club 1872 want to regain credibility, it must begin with wholesale reform, not just warmed-over press releases and backroom talks.
That brings us to yesterday’s statement, published on the Club 1872 website:
"Club 1872 is pleased to inform contributors and the wider Rangers support that we held a very positive meeting with new Rangers Chairman and lead consortium member, Andrew Cavenagh, Chief Executive, Patrick Stewart and other senior club executives today.
"Since John Bennett became chairman in April 2023, Club 1872 has been meeting regularly with Rangers to find a way forward on a proposed funding model which would fit with the club’s strategy and allow renewed investment directly to the club for shares as well as funding key heritage projects of significance to the Rangers support.
“At each stage of those discussions, progress was made but then delayed by the regularly fluctuating situation with the senior leadership of the club. We have met with three different chairmen and two different chief executives over that time.
"We sincerely apologise to contributors for our relative silence during this time but we were dealing with those regular changes to the senior decision makers at the club and were mindful of confidentiality considerations and sensitivities in that ever changing landscape – particularly in recent months with a live takeover in play.
"We welcome this early opportunity to speak to Andrew Cavenagh and outline our funding proposal, the significant funds we have available to invest and to gain an understanding of the priorities of the new owners. We also had the opportunity to discuss the upcoming EGM, the change in the company structure and the investment strategy of our new owners going forward.
“It is our intention to find a way in which Club 1872 can fit into that strategy that all parties are comfortable with and we were encouraged by our initial talks in that regard.
"We will now continue those discussions with a view to presenting a proposal to contributors for their consideration in due course. In the meantime, we will shortly publish our poll for the upcoming EGM."
It’s a detailed and carefully worded update, but for many fans, it may come too late. Apologising for “relative silence” during one of the most turbulent periods in recent club history won’t erase the frustration of their absence.
Blaming leadership turnover and confidentiality may offer context, but it doesn’t justify the near-total lack of engagement.
If Club 1872 are serious about rebuilding trust, words alone won’t be enough. They must listen, reform, and prove they can represent fans with transparency, consistency, and courage, not just when it’s convenient.
Until then, the burden of proof remains with them. Rangers supporters deserve better.