Rangers: The Fight for Survival

For Richer, For Poorer

The shocking financial collapse of one of Glasgow’s Giants

Paul Smith has been working as a journalist in the Scottish national, regional and local press for more than 15 years, covering news and sport. As an author, he has penned a series of football titles, including To Barcelona and Beyond: The Men Who Made Rangers Champions of Europe, Shooting Star: The Colin Stein Story and Rangers' Cult Heroes. He lives in Kintore, Aberdeenshire and is the son of former Rangers and Scotland player David Smith.

The start of the 2011–12 season should have marked the dawn of a bold and brave era for Rangers Football Club, as new owner Craig Whyte accepted the keys to Ibrox from Sir David Murray. But football became a sideshow during Whyte’s first campaign as tax rows, court action and the plunge into administration hogged the headlines in one of the most dramatic seasons Rangers have ever seen. 
 
With unique insights from those inside the game and within the club during its darkest hours, For Richer, For Poorer charts the tumultuous tenure of Whyte, examines in detail David Murray’s own time in the owner’s chair and puts the Charles Green bid for control in the spotlight. 
 
 Murray took a white-knuckle ride on football’s roller-coaster. He savoured the thrills of unbeatable highs, leading the club to the famous nine in-a-row sequence of championships, and suffered agonising lows as the world’s financial markets crashed and the club struggled to cope with mounting debts. The colourful businessman also changed the face of Scottish football, breaking down religious barriers and spending millions to attract world-class stars. 
 
 Whyte spoke of grand plans to restore stability to the club, but ultimately became the man who led Rangers into the hands of the administrators. 
 
Green was the man chosen to repair the damage and put a proud institution back on track, charged with opening a new chapter in the club's rich history. 
 
 For Richer, For Poorer puts events at Ibrox under the microscope to reveal the untold story of an incredible period in Rangers history.

Harold Davis

Paul Smith

An exceptional read; one of the books of the year

Thoroughly enjoyable . . . highly recommended

The Heroic Tale of a Black Watch Survivor of the Korean War

As Harold Davis fell under heavy machine-gun fire, his body riddled with bullet wounds and life seemingly slipping away from him, he could not have realised that he was one of the Korean War’s more fortunate soldiers. American medics sprang into action and, against all odds, saved the plucky young Scot, a man who proved tougher than the bullets the brutal enemy showered him with. 
 
Unlike tens of thousands of those who fought in Korea in the 1950s, he lived to tell the tale of his horrific experiences on the front line. Now, for the first time, the Black Watch hero shares his vivid and harrowing memories. 
 
A man of tremendous grit and determination, Davis was pieced back together during almost two years in hospital. He defied doctors to return to his pre-war career as a professional footballer, building a reputation as one of Scotland’s most feared and revered defenders at Rangers FC.

Paul Smith

Praise for Tougher Than Bullets

An incredible story

An exceptional read; one of the books of the year

Thoroughly enjoyable . . . highly recommended

An incredible story

An exceptional read; one of the books of the year

Thoroughly enjoyable . . . highly recommended

An incredible story

An exceptional read; one of the books of the year

Thoroughly enjoyable . . . highly recommended

Books by Paul Smith

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter