'Alarmed' influential Gers fan admits he could answer John Gilligan's open Ibrox invitation
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A leading Scottish whisky magnate has claimed he would be open to investing in Rangers after a public call to arms from John Gilligan.
GlenAllachie master distiller Billy Walker is a lifelong bluenose and one of the most experienced and well-known characters in the Scottish whisky industry.
The millionaire distiller has worked with a range of distilleries for the best of 60 years and even sold his BenRiach Distillery Company to Jack Daniel's for £285m in 2016.
Now, after the 'alarmingly disappointing' defeat to Kilmarnock, Walker has told the Rangers Review that he would be willing to invest at Ibrox on one crucial condition.
Whisky guru 'would like to invest' in Rangers
"In reality, would I like to invest? Yes, if the circumstances were right," Walker told the Rangers Review.
"Would I be the principal investor? No. That would be for somebody else.
"I've had conversations in the past but in parallel with what's happening in the football world, there's also what's happening in my own business world.
"There's always demand. You're always asked questions when opportunities come up and that's life.
"I wouldn't be against investing in the club. John Gilligan is an excellent man, he's a top businessman. Any time there is a call to arms, John has been prepared to step up.
"But sure, I'm a Rangers fan, if the environment's right, probably yes why not? But if I was investing I would want to have a say about the direction of where the club is going."
Rangers 'open to anyone' investing at Ibrox
What that would be detail is unclear, but Billy Walker is clear that he sees one fundamental flaw with the Rangers squad at present.
Telling the Rangers Review that he believes the club needs more 'Scottish warriors' on the park to win the battle north of the border, it's a message which would be echoed by a number of supporters.
With Walker still a season ticket holder and an 'eternal optimist', the whisky expert's words might well be picked up by someone within the corridors of power at Rangers.
That's because interim chairman John Gilligan bit back against claims from ex-chairman and lead shareholder Dave King about the club turning down US investment in the past.
Gilligan insists that any investment into the club must be the right investment and that Rangers 'don't want one person owning the club'.
It's a set up which might suit Billy Walker, who is clearly open to the idea of bringing more money into Rangers.
"There is fresh investment coming into the club," Gilligan told the press back in September.
"But in fairness Dave is talking about fresh investment but he doesn't want to invest so I'm not quite sure where he means the investment is going to come from."
When asked if there would fresh investment, Gilligan responded directly: "Yes there will be.
"The current investors have invested considerably over the years and are willing to do so again.
"We are open to anyone who approaches us with investment, as you would be.
"We get approaches from all over the world from various sources but it has to be the right people, it has to be the right conditions and it has to be for the right amount of shares.
"We don't want one person owning the club."
