THE numbers at the Rangers AGM are always significant. This year, it was all about 55 and 150.

The first, of course, is the title that Steven Gerrard’s side are aiming for this term. The other is the anniversary that Rangers will celebrate in 2022.

For so long, these shareholder meetings have been dominated by figures concerning multi-million-pound losses, shareholdings or legal bills. Some issues remain live ones, but Rangers are a very different proposition these days.

This AGM, held virtually on Tuesday afternoon, was always going to be one like no other given the circumstances in which we are living but the change in tone encapsulated Rangers right now.

It would open with a short address from Douglas Park, but it was the closing words of vice-chairman John Bennett that will resonate with supporters as he spoke passionately about where Rangers have come from and where they are heading under the stewardship of this board.

“I was very struck by Douglas’ comments about how we can’t afford to stand still,” Bennett said “If you know Douglas and you know other people here, we will never stand still. Rangers can never afford to stand still and that is what Douglas is getting at.

“We talk about how we would like to think the recovery phase is coming to completion, but that doesn’t mean you stop. You have to go for growth, go for winning.

“That takes investment, everything we have got in mind takes investment. Even just to finish the recovery phase, as you can see from the annual report, substantial investment is required. We need absolutely every shareholder to stay aligned and help us deliver.

“I am right in saying that since March 2015, the current group of investors have invested around £65million and rising. In recent days and weeks, the chairman, Julian Wolhardt, myself and Alistair [Johnston] have all invested further.

“We have recently been joined by, I am happy to say, three successful Scottish businessmen.

“It is a broad and broadening church, but if you look at that group of investors and what they have committed and continued to commit, it is very sizeable.

“I would like to reiterate the two key themes for me that we talk about a lot as a board: alignment and sustainability, moving from that recovery phase to a sustainable phase. Requiring the four pillars to be standing strong, aligned and supporting that business model.

“The numbers are important, we are very focused on them but two numbers in particular this board and club are focused on: 55 and 150. And the next 150. You stay aligned, you invest, you focus on winning 55 and delivering 150 then the next 150.”

It is five years since the new Ibrox regime – lead at that stage by Dave King, Paul Murray and John Gilligan – addressed supporters just months after wrestling control of Rangers.

The progress has not always been smooth in the seasons since then, but Rangers find themselves in a far better position all round at present.

A squad that could now win that long-awaited title has been assembled and Rangers can continue to build off the park as well as on it in the coming years.

Bennett said: “These projects are a sign that we are approaching the end of the recovery phase. That phase, incidentally, is not over, it is not over.

“My hope, and the board’s hope, is that we can start to talk about recovery phase completion as we approach the 150th anniversary and then you are moving and want to be thinking about the growth phase.

“The growth phase has a number of projects and we are not going to wait until then to commence those projects.

“Two in particular, one is Edmiston House and the museum and we are well developed with the plans for that and we will start to see that take shape.

“I am very excited about that and the opportunity to invite our fans to help us deliver that project, I can’t wait to offer that invitation.

“Project two, there is an opportunity to do something at the stadium and capacity expansion. Again, there is excitement here at looking forward to inviting our fans to help us deliver those projects.

“They are our growth projects and projects we want to be visible as we approach that 150th. Certainly project number one, I want that to be visible.

“There are an awful lot of numbers get banded about at an AGM, some of them boring, some of them less boring. Everyone is very interested in our numbers, after all it is an AGM for shareholders.

“Two numbers that are very important to me and all my colleagues on the board and I think to everybody associated with Rangers: 55 and 150.

“When we celebrate 150, we will celebrate well and we would like to think along the lines of these projects to help us celebrate.”

The strides forward that Rangers have taken in recent times would not have been possible without the huge financial backing of a group of money men that have their club’s best interests at heart.

But there is always recognition of those who have been with Rangers every step of the way, those whose investment has been emotional as well as financial.

Bennett said: “I refer to the lifeblood: the fans. They saved it. The lifeblood kept coursing through the veins of the club, they saved the club.

“I think what we look forward to now, if we are right that we are going to move into this growth phase, the numbers that are important are 150 and 55.

“But what is really important, and this is when we will be asking the fans and inviting the fans to join us in so many ways, is to future-proof this club for the next 150.

“That is really important to the board. You talk to Douglas, talk to all my boardroom colleagues, it is really important.

“Given what this club went through, let’s do everything we can to future-proof this for the next 150. Then we will think that we have done our job.”