Douglas Ireland Park (born 23 June 1950) is a Scottish businessman. He was the chairman of Rangers Football Club before stepping down in April 2023. He is still a director of the club.
Douglas Park | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 June 1950 |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Occupation | Coach hire |
Business career
editPark is the founder of Park's Motor Group, one of the largest privately owned motor dealership groups in Scotland. Park founded the company in 1971, aged 21.[1]
Football career
editHeart of Midlothian
editPark bought a £75,000 share in Heart of Midlothian Football Club in 1982 after a chance meeting with the clubs then chairman Wallace Mercer at the 1982 FIFA World Cup. He increased his stake to be the second largest shareholder and was briefly appointed a director on the board in 1988.[1] Park quit the club in November 1988 after assistant manager Sandy Jardine was sacked and sold his shareholding shortly thereafter.[2]
Rangers
editPark was one of the so-called Three Bears who, along with fellow fans George Taylor and George Letham, purchased a 19.5 per cent stake in Rangers Football Club in January 2015. He became director of the club for the first time on 6 March 2015, during an AGM takeover led by Dave King.[3] Park resigned after just five months on 4 August to concentrate on business commitments and his son, Graeme, replaced him as a director.[4] Park rejoined the board later the same year on 16 November[5] and was elected to the position of deputy chairman on 12 April 2018.[6] He became chairman after the departure of King on 27 March 2020, initially on an interim basis, before taking the position permanently.[7] He stepped down on 4 April 2023 after three years in the role.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b Mair, Steven (28 March 2020). "Who is Douglas Park? Rangers' acting chairman profiled as he takes over from Dave King". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror.
- ^ Ralston, Gary (15 January 2015). "Give Douglas Park the keys to Ibrox.. just hide the one for the ref's room: Ex-Hearts director reveals astonishing lock-in". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror.
- ^ McLaughlin, Chris (6 March 2015). "Dave King's consortium wins control of Rangers board room". BBC Sport. BBC.
- ^ "Douglas Park steps down from Rangers board". BBC Sport. BBC. 4 August 2015.
- ^ Jack, Christopher (15 November 2015). "Douglas Park joins Rangers board for a second time". The Herald. Glasgow: Time & Herald Group.
- ^ "Club Statement". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. 12 April 2018.
- ^ "Rangers: Dave King steps down after five years as chairman". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 March 2020.
- ^ "Rangers: Douglas Park stands down as club chairman". BBC Sport. BBC. 4 April 2023.