McGill comments allow SFA scope for inquiry

Amid the acres of confusion that surrounds Rangers and the Scottish game at the moment, one matter is now clear of the tax authorities, not subject to dispute by the various parties squabbling over Rangers, and free for the SFA to examine.  If they are interested.

Former Rangers director, Mike McGill, when speaking to the media alongside Sir David Murray on Tuesday, said, “The club used an old offshore EBT scheme in 1999 with three players.  That scheme is the subject of the small tax case.

“The Revenue provided some information to us in early 2011 and we conceded based on that information and provided for payment in the club accounts.”

The simple question for the SFA is, were details of payments made through the old offshore EBT scheme, which HMRC challenged last year and Rangers’ old board conceded, submitted to the SFA?

If they were, our faith in the governance of the game can be restored and we can all look forward to the Cup Final on Sunday.  If not, whose registrations were invalid and which games did they participate in?

As this question affects more than just SPL football, the SFA are the only body competent to investigate this matter. They are also competent to administer any appeal process. We hear the SPL inquiry will not mature until after the HMRC-Rangers First Tier Tribunal reports, which could be well after the SPL split, potentially creating chaos if Rangers were incorrectly placed in the top six.

This is a governance issue of enormous proportions. The SFA should use McGill’s comments as an opportunity to take a fresh look at this issue and quickly instigate an inquiry.

I’m off the see the lawyers this morning.  More later, I hope!