Fantasy CVA and Sir David, was this worth the cash?



Amid the sea of angst, from some, at Rangers punishment, some perspective is required.  Ban any other SPL club from signing players for 12 months and fine them £160k and they will be modesty inconvenienced.

Most clubs only add one or two key players (all going well) to their squad each season and a fine of less than half a percentage point of turnover is hardly punishment at all.  Some clubs currently owed money by Rangers could have a de facto ban on transfers as a result – and they’ve done nothing wrong.

For bringing the game into disrepute and breaking a myriad of rules, this is a mild censure.

This only becomes problematic if the club is not paying its bills.  Pay your bills, or at the very least, agree a deal with creditors to forgive a portion of debts, and Rangers will be able to retain their current staff and could continue to perform strongly in next season’s Scottish Premier League.

The fantasy that this is a possibility is still being entertained by Duff and Phelps so I see no reason why the rest of us should not point out the inconvenient irony of their position.

The SFA must impose a financial and sporting penalty for bringing the game into disrepute, in this, they have no choice whatsoever.  The penalty must be substantial and act as a deterrent against criminal or disreputable elements becoming involved in Scottish football in future.  Pay your bills or conjure up the mythical CVA and you’ll cope just fine.

One additional point on the financial penalty.  £160k is less than 1% of the debt Sir David Murray was released from when he failed to sufficiently investigate the suitability of Craig Whyte as an owner of Rangers – despite the warnings from others around the Rangers boardroom table.

In light of his failure to take heed of warnings from the then Rangers chairman and his connected financial gain, perhaps Sir David would offer to pay Rangers fine?  £18m, David.  Don’t tell me that’s enough money to drown out Alastair Johnston’s warning and any feelings of remorse.  Paying the fine is the least you owe Rangers fans.

Was it worth it?

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