FORMER Scotland international midfielder Michael Stewart believes Dave King is insulting Rangers fans’ intelligence with claims the club are on the brink of becoming the country’s dominant force.
The BBC pundit savaged the Ibrox chairman’s announcement as season tickets went up for sale for the new campaign.
Stewart insisted the comments were “utter, utter rubbish” as he slated the Govan supremo.
King insisted Gers are within “tangible reach” of overhauling Celtic who are heading for a phenomenal treble treble as they zero in on their eighth successive title while they have a Scottish Cup Final against Hearts on May 25 to look forward to with history only 90 minutes away.
Ex-Hibs and Hearts star Stewart has ridiculed King and branded his observations “absolute nonsense”.
CRASH…Odsonne Edouard fires in Celtic’s first goal against Rangers last month.
He told Sportsound: “Every season at this point when Rangers season tickets come out, Dave King comes out with some statement or an announcement to try and push season ticket sales – that’s all this is.
“It’s so transparent it’s actually an insult to Rangers fans that are not blinded by this. The majority of them will see this for what it is.
“It’s insulting to their intelligence for him to come out and try and suggest they were within tangible reach of becoming the dominant force in Scottish football – that is utter, utter rubbish.
“It is not even close, as the season we’ve just seen shows. For Rangers to get to that position, they need Celtic to have another catastrophe of a transfer window like they did last year.
“They need them to financially implode and Rangers to find extra revenue from somewhere and to spend and hit the mark on every acquisition they bring in for them to even stand a remote chance.
ALL OVER…James Forrest runs away after scoring the winner against the Ibrox side leaving Allan McGregor and Connor Goldson dismayed.
“In fact, let’s take it a step further, because that’s what his comments are. He’s not even suggesting they’re within touching distance of stopping nine-in-a-row, he’s saying they’re beyond that.
“That means winning multiple titles and multiple trophies. Can anybody seriously suggest that? I don’t think you can.”
King made his astonishing statement following Steven Gerrard’s first trophyless season in harge.
He said: “It was never going to be easy and it is extremely gratifying to have witnessed the progress that has been made over the last year.
“We are now within tangible reach of Rangers becoming the dominant force in Scottish football again.”
