Source: FOOTYMAD
Ellis - A Man You Can Trust?
Andrew Ellis is working with Charles Whyte as they prepare for the new season as owners of Rangers. But who is he and what will he bring to the party? Character witnesses have emerged from the woodwork to give a vote of confidence to Andrew Ellis. One of the men behind new Rangers owner Charles Whyte is viewed with a degree of suspicion by Rangers fans, as would anybody involved in taking over their club. They have nothing to go on in regards to his view of their club. However, two previous colleagues of Ellis say he is a football man and will be good for the Ibrox side. Gary Hodder was chief executive of Northampton Town in December 2002 when Ellis' consortium took over the struggling Second Division club, but lasted only a few weeks after that. This would suggest that he is no fan of Ellis who cleared out the previous administration when he took over the club. He has nothing to gain from offering his views on Ellis, who tried to buy the west London club the previous year. Ellis left the Cobblers a few months later and his name was brought into the Glasgow spotlight last year when he planned to buy Rangers. That deal fell through but Ellis has been a silent figure behind Craig Whyte's recent takeover of the Ibrox club - he will take possession of 25% of the his newly aquired shares - and many supporters remain wary. Whyte issued a circular to all shareholders this week stating his plans for the future and confirmed that Ellis is involved. Hodder, though, insists Ellis is involved just through his love of football. Hodder said: "Andrew came in to Northampton and a few weeks later, just before Christmas, I was sacked. But there is no animosity, no sour grapes. I met Andrew at a cricket match recently and told him that he was the man who saved Northampton Football Club. When I went to Northampton Town we were in debt and had exceeded our overdraft facility. I was charged with finding a new owner for the club. He came in and brought in his brother-in-law at that time, David Cardoza. David and his father had the financial backing, Andrew was the football man. Andrew became chairman and they wanted to bring in their own people, and I was let go. That wasn't easy to take, especially as I had a young family but I understood that's the way it works. But if Andrew had not come in then the club would have been liquidated. It would not even have been put in to administration, it would have been put straight in to liquidation. Maybe he is worried that people think he is coming to Rangers for other reasons but he is a football man, he gets that from his father Peter who is well respected in the game. I think he fears being seen as an asset-stripper because his background is in property but he is a genuine, affable guy - and Northampton had no assets to strip." Ellis also had a spell as a director of QPR and former club secretary, Sheila Marson, believes he will be of great value to the Ibrox club. Marson said: "Andrew will do a good job at Rangers, he will be a great asset. He comes from a good upbringing but he is down to earth and was popular with the supporters at QPR. He is an infectious character, who has a good sense of humour and he is passionate about his football. Rangers fans should not be suspicious, he is a man of good intention."
