John Bennett steps down as Rangers chairman as successor revealed

Rangers have announced that John Bennett is to step down as the club’s chairman with immediate effect due to health reasons.

John Bennett has stepped down as chairman of Rangers for health reasons.

 

The 61-year-old stepped into the top position at Ibrox in March 2023 from his as vice-chairman as he took over from outgoing Douglas Park – but is now set to move on from the role. However, Record Sport understands Bennett will remain a supportive shareholder and a significant investor. A club statement read: “The board of Rangers Football Club today announces chairman John Bennett, is stepping down with immediate effect for health reasons. The board wants to sincerely thank John for his service and significant commitment over the last nine years and wishes him a full and speedy recovery. It is requested his and his family’s privacy is respected at this time.

“Former director, John Gilligan, will temporarily fulfil the role of chairman until a permanent replacement is appointed. The board thanks John for stepping in at short notice and believes his experience in senior business roles throughout a long and successful career, and also, as a former director of Rangers, will be invaluable at this time. The board is undertaking a robust process with the help of professional advisors to fill the roles of CEO and chairperson. In the meantime, the club’s executive management team will continue to lead the club on a day-to-day basis.”

Lifelong fan Bennett invested in the club and was first appointed to the Ibrox board in 2015 – he was then made deputy chairman in 2020 serving under Park – but it has been a rocky period for the club. Bennett promised Rangers fans in September 2022 that the club would strive to be the ‘best in class’ on and off the pitch under his stewardship but have struggled to meet those standards in recent months.