After many years of speculation and debate, former Rangers owner, Craig Whyte, and founding father of newco Rangers, Charles Green, have been detained by police and are due to appear in court connected to the “alleged fraudulent acquisition” of Rangers assets, which were sold after the club failed to prevent a liquidator being appointed.
Joint administrators for Rangers, Paul Clark and David Whitehouse, then employed by Duff and Phelps, have also been detained in connection with the case.
Let’s get the rules clear from the off:
Anyone charged with a crime is entitled to a fair trial. They should not be subject to public comment which is likely to prejudice their ability to receive a fair trial. Don’t let anything of this nature appear on CQN.
You can discuss the issue, and you can discuss consequences of similar-sounding hypothetical cases, but unless you are cited to as a juror, don’t try to convict anyone.
The events surrounding Rangers liquidation and the subsequent asset purchase took place over three years ago. That this case has now found such momentum suggests the police are following a strong lien of enquiry, and have overcome whatever inertia which can sometimes affect white-collar crime.
We don’t know what is alleged fraudulently took place. The role of the administrators to carry out their duties on behalf of creditors is clearly established. That said, plenty of lateral is afforded to administrators (although increasing payroll by trying to sign Daniel Cousin raised eyebrows).
Exactly how Sevco Scotland Ltd (now The Rangers Football Club Ltd) were able to buy Rangers assets (for £5.5m) when the company who successfully bid for the assets was Sevco 5088 Ltd, has remained an open question since Craig Whyte claimed a controlling interest in Sevco 5088 Ltd.
Whatever the nature of the police charges, there is one overarching fact which Scottish football should be alert to.
Any company, football club or otherwise, which relies on assets that were criminally acquired to go about its business cannot continue to operate with those assets.
In this instance, the stadium, training ground, intellectual property, balls, nets and goalposts were all acquired by the company now known as The Rangers Football Club Ltd.
The consequences of this one are so massive several well-informed people suspected it would never get this far. But the day has come.
Even if all charges are dropped or allegations found to be false, there will still be immediate and real consequences. How would you, for example, go about raising money for a company with this hanging over it? Newco needs money, and they need to convince investors that the club did not start by criminally acquiring its football stadium.
Good luck with that.
I see in some places a fallacy persists that the SFA found Craig Whyte fit and proper to be a director of a football club. They did no such thing. The responsibility for ensuring Whyte’s fitness in 2011 lay with the Rangers board of directors, including Dave King and Paul Murray. The SFA have no powers to intercede or prevent a club from appointing any director it chooses.
Earlier this year Dave King took the unusual step of asking for prior-clearance that his appointment would not be found contrary to SFA rules (presumably due to his criminal convictions), before being appointed a director, but this was at King’s discretion. There is no SFA Fit and Proper test, the SFA do not clear or otherwise sanction any club director prior to appointment, this is the job of the club itself. Dave King, Paul Murray but most of all, Sir David Murray, take a bow.
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Lennybhoy – any celt called up should deny being a fitba fan. That said the inability to stop absolutely wetting themselves every time another aspect of the spivvery is revealed might get them chucked out…….
Joe fillip – ungrateful bassas
Are Jury members allowed to post updates on CQN?
Thanks BRTH and Jobo. Being 5 hours behind has its advantages as by the time I finish reading some of the vitriol I’ve calmed down. that thought today was penned in my heid while out walking the dog this morning.
Just a thought. If the Big Tax case latest appeal is going to go HMRC’s way and the assets go back to BDO as liquidators then there might be some justice for the Crown.
Still gutted about Malmo and failure to bring in a striker with some pedigree. H.H.
Douglas Fraser @BBCDouglasF · 2m2 minutes ago
#Rangers: ex-owner Craig Whyte + administrator David Whitehouse charged with conspiracy. Neither gave plea or declaration. Both bailed 3/3
Douglas Fraser @BBCDouglasF · 4m4 minutes ago
#Rangers charges: ex-ceo Charles Green conspiracy + fraud, also conspiracy under Companies Act 2006: no plea or declaration, bailed 2/3
Doglas Fraser @BBCDouglasF · 8m8 minutes ago
#Rangers charges, under Criminal Justice + Licensing (Scotland) Act, s28(1) on ‘serious organised crime’: max 10 yr jail sentence 1/2
Árd Macha
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Sorry about the extras.
Árd Macha
Oh where oh where is big wattie when a touch of dignity is required?
A couple of years ago we went on holiday, only to come back to find that burglars had broken in and stolen everything in the house before carefully replacing them with identical items covered in dust.
So after being offline all day I come back to find the Daily Record using the L word…
‘Whyte bought the club from Sir David Murray in May 2011 only to plunge them into administration nine months later. After Rangers were liquidated, Green and his team bought the club’s assets in a £5.5million closed-shop deal with administrators Duff & Phelps’
and the BBC not mentioning demotion or readmission…
‘He was at the helm when Rangers were allowed to join the Third Division but stepped down in 2013 following allegations that he was working in conjunction with Mr Whyte, 44
Nurse, the tablets
Hope green’s got security at home.
Did D & P not hand BDO/someone a >5 million bill
at end of the job ?
PANNYSBHOY. Let it go fella its in the past and cant be changed we move on with what we have Im sure if the good Lord allows us the health and strength there will be many big games ahead for Celtic and the support. H.H.
So the St Etienne bike and Arsenal shares came in handy today
That moment when you see the face of Our Hero and you are filled with happiness. That wee guy is immortal, he has that look on his face that says I’m trying to look serious but inside I’m absolutely pis*ing myself. I know it’s been said a million times but the irony of Green and Whyte is feckin brilliant.
Interesting team from all 11 players brought in during 2015 transfer windows:
——————-———-——Bailly (29) ———-——–————————
Janko (19) —- Boyata (24) ———– Simunovic (21) —– Blackett (21)
————–——- Armstrong (23) —– Allan (23) ——————————-
——– GMS (25) ———-– Ciftci (23) —————- Christie (20) ———-
———————————-Duffy (20) ——————————————–
Average age of outfield players = 21.9 years
Fancy them against the “oldies’ at training ?
———————————– Gordon (32) ——————————————
Lustig (28) —- Ambrose (26) ———– Mulgrew (29) —– Izzaguirre (29)
————–——- Brown (30) —– Bitton (23) ——————————-
——– Forrest (24) ———– Commonsi (32) —————- Stokes (27)
———————————-Griffiths (25) ——————————————-
Average age = 27.7
The return of the Celtic board’s favourite distraction!!
BANKIEBHOY1 on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2015 6:30 PM
Ugly scenes at rainjurs…….!
;)
Zat no tautology?
The huns n everybody else were warned about Green n Whyte,the evidence was there for them that they were a pair a spivs n they shot the messengers,they’ve got an absolute orchestra of a neck to go acting all wounded n duped.
Like a pitchforked flashmob fae the Simpsons they’ve no a brain between them.
Klowns!
Aye it’s the Celtic Board that are pressing charges to cause a distraction.
Edinburgh jury
TONTINE TIM on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2015 7:13 PM
Thanks BRTH and Jobo. Being 5 hours behind has its advantages as by the time I finish reading some of the vitriol I’ve calmed down. that thought today was penned in my heid while out walking the dog this morning.
————
me too, your post ear;ier was great reading,
keep it lit
When does Sir David get a knock on the door?
Gary67
It’s a hilarious welcome break from the doom and gloom.
Add to it that we can do feck all about anything whats happening at the club anyways, it’s welcome imo.
HH
ROBERTTRESSELL on 2ND SEPTEMBER 2015 7:07 PM
Lennybhoy – any celt called up should deny being a fitba fan. That said the inability to stop absolutely wetting themselves every time another aspect of the spivvery is revealed might get them chucked out…….
———
the jury will be selected on a more obvious premise, a lack of handsomeness.
yes you with the monbrow and no teeth, holding the carrier bag of onions, your in.
Burghbhoy
He will escape through the cat flap
David Icke finding it all a bit surreal.
In prison, you spend the majority of your time in an 8×10 cell. At work, you spend most of your time in a 6×8 cubicle.
In prison, you get three meals a day. At work, you only get a break for 1 meal and you have to pay for it.
In prison, you get time off for good behavior. At work, you get rewarded for good behavior with more work.
In prison, a guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you. At work, you must carry around a security card and unlock and open all the doors yourself.
In prison, you can watch TV and play games. At work, you get fired for watching TV and playing games.
In prison, you get your own toilet. At work, you have to share.
In prison, they allow your family and friends to visit. At work, you cannot even speak to your family and friends.
In prison, all expenses are paid by taxpayers with no work required. At work, you get to pay all the expenses to go to work and then they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for prisoners.
In prison, there are wardens who are often sadistic. At work, they are called managers.
HH
As someone famously said: “Internecine strife doesn’t begin to describe how things will end up”
Armageddon was inevitable for some
Whilst hilarious , all this Sevco stuff, all I really want is for the ludicrous LNS decision to be overturned and for resolution 12 to be successful.
I want their titles stripped and their cheating laid bare for the world to see.
HH
embramike
No room for Johansen in among two Celtic XIs? How the mighty have fallen.
On that note, I’ve noticed how, when a majority of Celtic fans ends up agreeing with something you’ve long maintained, it feels utterly unsatisfying.
Big Bubba in Barlinnie is getting excited at the thought of a few new inmates on his wing.
Robert Tressel
Housing choice for hunnery……
Your misprint may actually be quite accurate.
Where are they going to drum up a defence team from now that the window is shut.
weet weet weet(GBWO)
At work you don’t get some 6″ 10 inmate saying to you
” You’re my wife now Charles”
HH
BRTH / GreeninBingley
Aberdeen would be a good compromise :-)
Lennybhoy…
Sadly I have just done dury, so no chance of me being called.
Personally, I think it’s ludicrous that Green & Whyte are getting persecuted by the press.
Craigybhoy came to the rescue whilst sdm wanted a way out £1…he did his best to keep the club going, alas, it wasn’t enough.
As for Charles, the man ended up in hospital crying how much it hurt him to see his club hurt. Even getting a personal visit from a well known rangers front man from Sky sports in the hospital.
Now if rangers fans want to know who to really blame, just ask a tim :)
Interesting FACTS #1
When tunnelling with it’s spade-like forepaws, a mole can dig 12 times it’s bodyweight of earth in an hour.
With those big hauns, there’s not a jail in the land that will hold Challs for long……….
I think todays events are going to make it even harder for the Rangers to borrow money to keep the club running and the repairs needed at Ibrox. I can only see a hard slog in front of them who is going to fund them when there is a long running court case going on ? H.H..