Imran Ahmad, one of the founding fathers of Newco Rangers, was yesterday awarded £600k damages for malicious prosecution. He was charged with fraud in 2015 in connection with the deal that secured ‘a basket of assets’ from Rangers administrators three years earlier.
This brings the total payout from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) for malicious prosecutions in connection with the administration of Rangers to over £52m. The club failed to make provisions for legal challenges by HMRC, which were eventually lost. Assets were sold off to a newco, Sevco Scotland Ltd, later renamed The Rangers Football Club Ltd, before the club was put into liquidation.
The events of 2012 were often theatrical. The initial asset purchase agreement was signed with Sevco 5088 Ltd, before Sevco Scotland assumed the right. Any dispute surrounding this matter was concluded behind closed doors.
Administrators then went through the public motions of trying to sell players’ employment contracts, signed with Rangers to the Newco. This innovative move failed, with Steven Davis, Kyle Lafferty, Steven Naismith, Allan McGregor and others walking away.
The administrators also renamed Rangers as RFC 2012 PLC and permitted the Newco to use the trading style “Rangers”. This was seen as crucial by Sevco in picking up business which had previously gone to Rangers. They were able to present a sense of continuity to football fans, although hopes of entering the same league Rangers had played in were thwarted by a Dashing Grassroots-to-Boardroom Manoeuvre across the country.
Within hours of the assets auction being won by Sevco, a consortium of ‘Rangers people’ were keen to buy them. A campaign then followed which was often unpleasant, the assets’ new owners had no business or emotional connections to Oldco.
During this time, police, then COPFS, investigated actions around the sale and purchase and authorised charges. Reputations, including that of Mr Ahmad’s were burned. If you are looking for ‘clean hands’ in this matter, however, you may be disappointed.
£52m is an enormous portion of Scotland’s judicial budget – approximately £10 for every man, woman and child. In paying out for a malicious act, you accept that there was an intent to do harm to the victim, not simply to act without due care.
That is quite an admission from COPFS, who as recently as 2019 declined an offer from Mr Ahmad to apologise and walk away without further consideration. They really, really, did not want to admit to being in the wrong, but were left with no option.
This is how Scotland operates in our times, at least when it comes to football. An inquiry will follow many years from now, when all the actors have left the stage and memories are unable to recall details. Forgive me for being cynical.
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“JAMES FORREST on 2ND MARCH 2024 1:19 AM
BURNLEY78;
I used to think you were just disconnected from reality, but now I know better.
You are a troll mate. Nobody could possibly believe what you’ve just written there because it’s deranged.”
I enjoy Burnley 78`s posts and feel he receives an undeserved amount of criticism.
Does that make me a troll as well?
Agree Hot Smoked,
Even though I don’t always agree with him, I think B78 takes a crazy amount of criticism and abuse for having his own train of thought.
Big Jimmy what’s your nap of the day?
Hot Smoked on 2nd March 2024 10:26 am
No, it would not make you a troll. I hope this answers your question.
I enjoy watching Wheeler Dealers, but that does not a mechanic make.
Burnley 78.
A troll. Is this April the 1st.
Burnley 78 puts his time, effort and money into supporting Celtic. He actually attends games and frequently offers spare tickets .
He is also a much valued poster on here. Many of us have had disagreements, but is that not the fundamental purpose of a blog.
I sincerely hope he continues posting without fear or favour.
And we can disagree without fear or favour.
HH.
new article posted.
Good morning all from Ruglen. Me and Brian M are going for a curer. He was refused service in the Tolbooth last night. Dearie me.
The comment about Burnley78 says more about the writer thanB78
Just catching up..
Thank you.
So very kind.
💔💚.