By a Newsnet reporter
A former BBC presenter and sports writer has issued an ominous warning to the media by about how they should write and speak about the football club, Rangers.
James Traynor – now director of communications for the club – was responding to the latest plans to re-structure the upper echelons of men’s football in Scotland, and in particular to the news that Rangers will not be fast-tracked into the Premier Division as part of this radical re-structuring.
Last month, after 37 years as a sports writer, Traynor resigned from the Daily Record – and from sports journalism in general – before taking up the position with Rangers, in protest over the treatment of the club’s travails in the media.
In his final report as a journalist, he wrote in the record:
“That’s it. My work here is done and I’m glad – but just for the record, I’ve not been sacked or made redundant. I was asked to remain but my conscience won’t allow me to stay in our profession.
“The kind of journalism needed by the country, never mind sport, no longer exists in enough of the media outlets.”
Yesterday, Mr Traynor wrote the following on the Rangers FC web site, in reference to the club’s demotion to the third division following severe financial difficulties:
“This club accepted their sanctions and moved on but too many others have been unable to do the same. 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 [media] still maligning the club at every opportunity.
“In a BBC radio debate last Saturday night, one pundit, in a matter-of-fact manner, said [chief executive] Charles Green speaks with ‘forked tongue.’ No attempt to explain or justify the statement, just as no explanation was offered when another radio voice claimed there was a dishonesty about Walter Smith when he went public with a late bid for the club.
“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.”
Traynor did not specify what the repercussions would be for anyone who choose not to take his veiled threat seriously.
