D Day set for ‘new’ Rangers

It has been a long time coming. And even now the bizarre situation where Rangers Football Club doesn’t completely exist, means still further delay in actually doing anything but doing something the Scottish Premier League have announced they will.

First – Wednesday 4 July, 10am Hampden Park, is D Day for new Rangers – the old club having been liquidated. That is the day the SPL’s 12 clubs will have the chance to decide whether or not the football club mismanaged into oblivion, should be immediately re-admitted as a new club into the top flight of Scottish football.

Some contend it is all about money and business and the SPL cannot possibly do without new Rangers. Others say things like honesty, integrity, candour should matter in sport no matter how old-fashioned these concepts are – and no matter how unknown they have been in and around Ibrox Park for many, many years.

Watch that space. I sense I shall be in Glasgow as the US celebrates independence and Scottish football’s finest have a remarkable opportunity to demonstrate independent thought beyond their immediate chequebooks. I would say at this range watch closely, but do not hold your breath. The other clubs have shown themselves to have all the moral courage of a bunch of merchant bankers over recent weeks and months, with a very few exceptions.

More immediately the long, long awaited SPL investigation into whether or not the old Rangers club failed to register players properly. On this the SPL has no doubts – the delay’s been largely the fault of the former Rangers club for failing to-co-operate. It will now face disciplinary charges in its new incarnation which is likely to mean points deductions and anything up to 15 trophies being wiped from the history of the former club, including five championships.

All roads lead to EBT

It all goes back to the Employee Benefit Trusts (EBT). Either a smart way to pay players and staff fat wages with thin tax – or a massive and illegal tax evasion. On that the verdict is still pending at a Tax Tribunal.

But beyond what old Rangers was dong with the taxman – what was it telling the SPL about how much and how it was playing its star players? If everything was declared then no probs. But now the lawyers investigating on behalf of the SPL have produced evidence that ‘there is a case to answer’. If the old club fielded any player without telling the league all the information about how he was paid – they stand to lose that match 3 – 0 to the opposition. With that go a hell of a lot of ‘success’.

Read more: the payments that may lead to Rangers’ downfall revealed

Here’s what the SPL said in today’s press release:

At its meeting earlier today, the SPL Board considered a number of issues relating to Rangers FC.

EBT Investigation

The SPL Board heard a report from its solicitors following the investigation into payments to, or for the benefit of, players allegedly made by Rangers FC outside of contract.

The delay in concluding the investigation was caused by an initial lack of co-operation from Rangers FC.

The investigation has now been completed and, in the view of the SPL, there is a prima facie case to answer in respect of its Rules.

Disciplinary charges will be brought when the future status of Rangers FC is clarified and prior to the start of season 2012/13.

General Meeting

An application for registration of transfer of Rangers’ SPL share has been received. Consideration of the application will depend on receipt by the SPL Board of all required documentation and verification.

A general meeting of all 12 member clubs has been convened for 10am on Wednesday 4 July 2012 for members to decide whether to approve the transfer.

Serious questions for Duff and Phelps

Now there is one thing worse than having a ‘case to answer’ and that is surely being blamed for thwarting the investigators seeking to establish that very case, or not. Hardly a sane or sensible way for a club to go and surely serious questions now for Duff and Phelps to answer. This company was the administrator for the old Rangers outfit seeking to prevent it being liquidated and failing. It ran Ibrox when all this non-co-operation was going on.

Non-co-operation seems to be their stock in trade. This is the same Duff and Phelps who held a press conference at Ibrox, announcing the solutions to the old club’s problems was a US businessman, at which we were told we were not allowed to ask any questions. At which one of the senior administrators walked off an interview with Channel 4 News because he didn’t like the questions I’d asked – until he realised that was not a wise move. At which the solution to Rangers in the US was exposed as hopelessly flawed within hours of said ‘press conference’.

This is the same Duff and Phelps who boldly announced they’d sue the BBC over its recent investigation into the old Rangers. I asked them several days ago how this is progressing – answer came there none…

So questions remain as to why the administrators were alleged to have thwarted the investigation.

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