Charan Gill sold his restaurant chain for �8m

BBC Sport can disclose that Western Isles MSP Alasdair Morrison and former Herald editor Harry Reid will join the club's committee of action.

And Jim Templeton, Rangers Supporters Assembly president, is also appointed.

Rangers chief executive Martin Bain said: "They will lend a different perspective to our committee."

Martin Bain outlines Rangers' bigotry battle plans

The news came as an independent survey found that Rangers fans believe that sectarianism is no longer a major problem.

But supporters of other clubs, including city rivals Celtic, say it remains a blot on Scottish society.

I think there is tremendous progress being made at this club Martin Bain

"Four years ago, we recognised here at Rangers we had a problem we had to address," Bain told BBC Sport.

"Internally, we set up a racism monitoring committee under the banner of Pride Against Prejudice.

"There's been a huge amount of work during the four years and, we believe, it has been given tremendous support from our fans.

"But the majority of fans are sick to be back teeth of being labelled."

Rangers were fined by European governing body Uefa last season after fans were heard singing sectarian songs during matches against Villarreal.

MY SPORT: DEBATE While some might suggest it is about time, Rangers have made some effort to eradicate the problem and any willingness to take in new opinion is to be applauded. Clive Lindsay - My Sport Journalist MY SPORT: Have your say

And Bain said that, as a result, the club had decided to appoint the four prominent businessmen to give outside help to the club's battle against the problem.

Among them are Gill, who last year sold Europe's largest chain of Indian restaurants, the Harlequin Leisure Group, for �8m.

Bain pointed out that Uefa representatives had recently recognised that Rangers had taken action beyond what had been done by other clubs in Europe.

And he stressed that it was also a problem for society as a whole.

"There have been smaller clubs where fans have worn Ku Klux Klan masks and some fans come here and chant about the Ibrox disaster," he said.

"There is a problem of anti-social and abusive behaviour in society and sectarianism is a part of that."

Professor Bert Moorhouse's report calls for Celtic and Rangers to work more closely together to tackle the problem.

But Bain added: "We do work together and 50,000 children went through the Old Firm Alliance last year.