Murray is Rangers' longest serving chairman after 21 years

Rangers fans have praised Sir David Murray for bringing success to Rangers in the past - but some say it was time he stood down as club chairman.

Supporters Trust spokesman David Edgar said: "You can split his legacy into two eras. I think from 1988 through to 2000, the 90s belonged to him.

"There was nine in a row and Rangers were vibrant, modern and progressive - an exciting time to be a Rangers fan.

"This decade has not gone as well either on or off the park."

Murray has announced that, while he is remaining the majority shareholder, he is handing over the chairmanship to fellow board member Alastair Johnston.

But Edgar said that nobody could take away from Murray the fact that, after 21 years, he is the longest-serving Rangers chairman.

"We are a little bit surprised at the timing," he said.

Rangers need a new direction, need new leadership and need new investment Rangers Supporters Trust spokesman David Edgar

"There were a lot of rumours during the summer that the chairman was considering stepping down, but the more we entered the new season the more it seemed unlikely.

"But it was known that he was looking to take a back seat and it's fair to say that his passion for the club on a day-to-day basis is not what it was a few years ago."

Edgar said that the announcement in January that Rangers needed to sell one of their top players because of money problems - and the lack of summer signings - showed that a new direction was needed.

He was hopeful that, under Johnston, who is a director of world-renowned sports marketing group IMG, Rangers would have a fresh lease of life.

"Rangers need a new direction, need new leadership and need new investment," said Edgar.

"Alastair Johnston is a lifelong Rangers fan, he is a big-hitter in the business community and can hopefully lead us to a better place."

Reports suggest that there are groups considering making a bid for Murray's controlling stake.

"Rangers are a massive institution and an attractive proposition for someone to get the prestige that David Murray benefitted from," said Edgar.

Andy Kerr, president of the Rangers Supporters Assembly, the umbrella organisation that represents Rangers supporters groups around the world, was glowing in his backing for Murray.

"Rangers fans all over the world will be united in paying tribute to the passion and commitment Sir David has shown for Rangers over the past 20 years," he said.

"Only 10 days ago, he was given a resounding cheer when he unfurled the league flag at Ibrox and that's how Rangers fans would like to remember what has been, overall, a very successful chairmanship.

David Murray has made an astonishing impact for the better at Rangers Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond

"Of course, football fans will from time to time see things differently from the men in the boardroom, that's all part and parcel of the game.

"There has been many a debate among fans over the years about Sir David's contribution to the club, but the facts show it was a hugely successful period in terms of trophies and the quality of players we were privileged to see."

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, a fan of SPL rivals Hearts, weighed in with his praise for Murray.

"David Murray has made an astonishing impact for the better at Rangers and introduced new attitudes and a new professionalism," he said.

"He departs from his active role as a hugely respected figure in Scottish football."

Former Scotland striker Billy Dodds said that Murray would be remembered fondly by former Rangers players like himself.

"He was a good football man and has put Rangers on a good platform," he said.

"They are struggling financially at the moment, but overall he has done not a bad job.

"He has brought success to Ibrox and, with Murray Park, he built a facility for young players to come through and somewhere good for training.

"Rangers fans started to moan a bit when he failed to keep producing money for new players.

"But he has built sold foundations for whoever takes over and it was probably the right time to go having won back the Scottish Premier League title."

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