BY describing himself as one of the most hated chief executives Sheffield United ever had, Charles Green was hardly setting the bar too high for himself yesterday morning on his first day in office at Murray Park.

But, on first impressions, Green doesn’t seem to mind much about public perceptions, which is probably no bad thing given the job he is about to carry out in order to keep Rangers breathing.

Unless, of course, he has managed to gather untold millions from his as-yet-unnamed group of backers then it is likely the man who was dubbed the “axeman” of Bramall Lane will be coming in swinging again on his return to football’s front line.

Tough as old Yorkshire teak, Green won’t mind that one bit. Even well-meaning men like Paul Murray and his Blue Knights knew deep cuts would have to be made had they won the race to come to this stricken club’s aid.

But while Green is now the man tasked with making these life-saving decisions, do not expect the straight-talking 59-year-old to sit in silence should he feel his honesty has been called into question. It has been by a number of his former employees even if most prefer to whisper misgivings in private.

But some have had their say in public – like former Blades boss Dave Bassett who warned Ally McCoist his club’s new owner is a proven back stabber.

Green wasn’t standing for that yesterday. He said: “I read this morning a comment Dave Bassett made to Ally. He said, ‘Watch your back’. Well, I find that sad.

“I’m not offended. I’m a Yorkshireman and too old to get offended. But it’s totally wrong.

“Make no mistake, Dave did a fantastic job at Sheffield United. But the new board wanted the club to have a change. So my job was to go in, get rid of Dave and appoint a new manager.

“Unfortunately, that is what chief execs have to do. My first job was to get rid of a legend – it would be like sacking Walter Smith or Ally McCoist here.

“But it was face to face, it wasn’t in the back.”

McCoist can rest easy then. His job appears to be safe for now.

But what of this club? How will the fans have slept last night knowing their cherished institution will be in the hands of strangers after being so horribly abused by its last owner?

That remains uncertain, especially as Green’s boasts yesterday about his track record in Sheffield seemed to contradict almost every other assessment of his time at the club.

When he quit the club in 1998 he needed the police to escort him through a crowd of furious fans who were waiting for him in the car park.

Green also insists he oversaw the most successful shares issue in the history of British football while others look back upon that deal as something of a badly botched job.

One fans’ group even called on the Department of Trade and Industry to investigate the stock market flotation, believing documents sent to United’s shareholders were inaccurate and misleading.

The issue was oversubscribed to the tune of £90m, as well, leaving supporters who missed out angry and disappointed.

Green said: “The day I went into that club the players hadn’t been paid for two months. The PFA were paying the salaries. The two previous chairmen and vice- chairmen were wanted by Interpol.

“And you think you’ve had a few characters up here in the past? They had guys called Paul Woolhouse and Stephen Hinchcliffe on the board and both of them got custodial sentences.

“So let’s be clear about the mess Sheffield United were in when I went. We floated the club on the stock market and it was the most successful club float in history.

“We went out to raise £10m and raised £100m. We had to send £90m back to investors.

“That month they couldn’t get all the shares away for the other clubs that were being floated at the time. If you want the detail, I haven’t got the time but we will set the record straight.

“When I left United it was the only club in England with no debt, no borrowings, no overdraft and cash in the bank.”

DIFFICULT

But Green’s decision to sell three strikers in one week wrecked his relationship with another manager, Nigel Spackman, and eventually saw him hounded out office.

He said: “The straw that broke the camel’s back for me at United was selling Brian Deane to Benfica when Graeme Souness was their manager.

“The fans loved Deane but his contract was up and he would have been a Bosman. I got £1.5m for him so if that’s not good business I don’t know what is.

“I also sold Jan Aage Fjortoft and Gareth Taylor in the same week. The next day we played Ipswich at home and lost 1-0. The fans were not happy but I brought £4m into the club.

“Back in 1996 that was a big pile of money to United.”

Actually, it was 1998. But no matter. It’s about the future now both for Green and for Rangers.

And the new man in charge faces some difficult decisions.

He said: “I spoke to Graeme Souness and asked for advice. I pointed out there hasn’t been a season-ticket increase for three years so I’m going to be popular when I raise the price.

“Graeme said, ‘I’m the right man to talk to about that – I signed a Catholic’.

“He said I should remember that if ever I have to make some difficult decisions of my own. Graeme is an intelligent man who knows about this club.”

Interestingly, there was no sign of Souness yesterday as Green picked up the keys. Nor will there be either. It’s understood Souness has serious reservations about how this bold new era may end up and has no intention of lending his name to it.

But, given what’s gone on in the last year, it will have to be one helluva disaster if Green is to be remembered as the most hated owner Rangers ever. That really would take some doing.