A former Daily Record sports writer who quit the paper to become PR chief at Rangers has warned football journalists to be “very careful when talking or writing about” the club.
James Traynor’s comments were made in an article posted on the club’s website yesterday on plans to restructure Scottish football, in which he bemoaned the fact that Rangers was not invited to take part in talks on the game’s future.
“This club accepted their sanctions and moved on but too many others have been unable to do the same,” he wrote.
“They continue their assaults and while the deranged, who are using social media sites as conduits for their twisted agendas, should be ignored there are more than a few in the mainstream still maligning the club at every opportunity.”
Traynor highlighted a BBC radio debate at the weekend in which one pundit said in a "matter-of-fact manner" that the club’s chief executive Charles Green speaks with “forked tongue”.
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“No attempt to explain or justify the statement, just as no explanation was offered when another radio voice claimed there was a dishonesty about [former manager] Walter Smith when he went public with a late bid for the club,” added Traynor.
“Word of advice gentlemen. From now on be very careful when talking or writing about this club.
“To paraphrase something said about another club, Rangers will not be treated less than others. And although there is no desire to pick fights, be assured that no one will attack Rangers with impunity.”
When Traynor left the Record in December after 37 years he bowed out with a withering attack attack on rival journalists and bloggers over their coverage of the Rangers FC tax case.
He wrote of a “rabid desire to help bring down Rangers” among some journalists in Scotland, telling readers: “…my conscience won’t allow me to stay in our profession”.
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