IN view of the widespread publicity last night and today regarding Rangers supporters singing the chorus of 'The Famine Song' at matches, the Club believes it right to update supporters and clarify the Club's position.

Prior to our first home match of the season against Hearts, Strathclyde Police informed the Club that, following consultation with the Procurators' Fiscal service, the police were of the view that anyone singing this song risked being arrested and charged with a racial breach of the peace.

The Club passed on this information to supporters' representatives. The Club also approached the police following the recent Old Firm match over a number of issues including violent threats to our staff and fans. The issue of The Famine Song was raised again by the Club and consideration was given to a joint public statement being made to advise supporters that singing 'The Famine Song' would put them at risk of arrest as we had been informed.

The police would not commit to a public statement without further investigation. It is apparent however that the threat of arrest remains.

The club is duty bound to inform supporters they may be subject to arrest as clearly it is in no-one's interests for that to happen. The Club would be utterly irresponsible if it did not advise supporters accordingly.

Clearly some supporters feel aggrieved that a song they believe to be no more than a tit for tat 'wind up' of Celtic supporters should be singled out in this way and merit the attention of police, governments and anti-racism organisations. In recent times, the absence of sanction or attention directed at any other club supports the contention that this is very much a one-way street. This is despite the best efforts of this Club to highlight such issues in constructive discussion with the relevant authorities.

The Club shares supporters' frustration that offensive and wholly unacceptable songs such as those 'celebrating' the Ibrox disasters or inciting death threats to our players are sung by supporters of other clubs on a regular basis with little or no comment or reprimand from any quarter.

The Club also believes that the issue of unacceptable conduct and anti-social behaviour at football matches has at times been used by individuals or groups to pursue their own agendas and there have been instances of this in the recent past.

That said, the Club has a duty to ensure the interests of our supporters are protected. It is not in the interests of any supporter to stand accused of racism or sectarianism or face the prospect of being arrested.

That is why the Club took the view that the interests of our supporters would be best served by refraining from singing The Famine Song.

The Club is wholly committed to acting in the interests of our supporters at all times.

We also remain committed to our long-established policy of not condoning any sectarian, racist or anti-social behaviour.

MARTIN BAIN, Chief Executive