When asked on Twitter four years ago how Rangers were granted a licence to play European football in season 2011-12 when they were overdue with HMRC, SFA chief executive, Stewart Regan, replied, “If someone sends you a bill you disagree with then you do not accept it was overdue”.
Any business is allowed to dispute a tax demand, but former Rangers director, Donald McIntyre’s evidence at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday was clear, Rangers had accepted liability for unpaid PAYE and National Insurance claims in connection with the Wee Tax Case (DOS) in 2010.
If, as Regan suggests, Rangers misrepresented this fact to the SFA Licencing Committee in their March 2011 application, the Association now have action to consider.
If you have been around this story for the best part of the last decade you will recall a number of us writing on the perilous state of Rangers finances while the club was under the control of Sir David Murray. This was robustly disputed by the club at the time, but in his evidence McIntyre noted that, under Murray, the club appointed an insolvency expert to ensure they were not trading illegally.
Just one month before the sale of the club to Craig Whyte in May 2011, in an email produced by Craig Whyte’s counsel, Donald Findlay, Mr Mike McGill of Murray Holdings, advised that “it would appear forecasts for club have deteriorated, we will breach bank facility”.
Asked by Findlay if “HMRC were coming for the club and were after blood”, McIntyre said “Yes.” The directors of Oldco Rangers omitted this sentiment from their public comments at the time.
Rangers were a football club running a perilous financial strategy from the 1990s until liquidation was eventually confirmed in 2012. They established a mindset, not only in their own support, but in parts of ours too, that spending money you couldn’t afford on casino football was the only acceptable way clubs should behave.
You still hear the echoes of those times, from Willie Henderson’s request that Newco spend £50m, to comments a lot closer to home when Celtic fail to win a football game.
Please remember that while it is OK to report evidence discussed at court, you should not comment on matters pertaining to the charges against Craig Whyte.
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James Doleman @jamesdoleman 20m20 minutes ago
Document shown to court: email, 4 March 2011 from Craig Whyte to Ross Bryan.
James Doleman @jamesdoleman 18m18 minutes ago
Document says Whyte has mentioned to Sir David Murray that a third party fund would be providing “a significant chunk of the financing”
James Doleman @jamesdoleman 18m18 minutes ago
Murray says he has no recollection of conversation
#WhyteTrial
KTF
THECLUMPANY
Ah,you didnae miss,did you?!
HH
It wasn’t me…
Getting the impression Findlay is giving Murray enough rope here…….
They will find that Sir David has been insulted, and award him 2 or 3 Million out of public funds, so that he isnt too upset by this legal outrage:)
Poor Sir David
Bada
I think it’s still Alex Prentice, Donald still seated.
https://twitter.com/ddb1893/status/857192812365967364
This was mentioned yesterday, BBC protecting Murray…
!!Bada Bing!! on 26th April 2017 12:37 pm
Getting the impression Findlay is giving Murray enough rope here…….
————————————————————
Findlay hasn’t even started questioning yet!! Murray is a prosecution witness and under questioning from Prentice he is hitting out with all these inconsistencies. I look forward to Findlay’s turn…
Advocate Depute ends his examination.
#WhyteTrial
TTR- Thanks, i thought it was DF asking the questions.
Now it’s Findlay
I didn’t have to wait long
DavidO- ta, popcorn time coming up….
Ding Ding
Seconds out
Donald about to cross examine
Wheres yer trewsers
THE CLUMPANY
Brilliant piece of satire. Love your stuff. Keep up the good work!
Donald Findlay QC rises to cross-examine Murray.
#WhyteTrial
Is Murray cute enough to give Findlay and Co enough to discredit himself, thus letting Whyte off, and they all lived happily ever after?
Findlay “Football can be very unpredictable…a bad refereeing decision can see millions of pounds evaporate before your eyes”
Murray “yes”
Andrew Black from the BBC has dropped and smashed his phone.
And his iPad…
Pen is probably out of ink too.
Is the trial on telly?
Timreaper
I can be pedantic on some points but what is coming out is that irregular ebts were used to pay De Boer and Flo from 2000 to 2002/03 so using LNS own logic the 2003 title should be removed regardless of SC decision.
If SC find for HMRC on the BTC ebts the same LNS logic demands removal action there.
Having said that what the wtc machinations will show is that RFC deliberately kept side letter information from authority, in this case HMRC in 2005.
The fact is the guy in charge of paperwork at the time in 2005 Mr A Dickson is the same guy who told the FTT he didn’t think the SFA needed to be given side letter info.
Others might be responsible for the ebt policy but Mr Dickson, a current Director, was the instrument on which they were played out.
Where can I watch what you guys are watching?
SDM lunch menu – Lamb served cold?
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy
It’s just John Doleman’s twitter feed. He is live tweeting the trial.
Auldheid,
You forgot to mention he was a member of the SFA compliance board at the time.
*James Dolemam
Murray says David King had been on the board since 2001
Findlay “What was a South African businessman doing on the board of a Scottish club?
On a general point I’ll remind folk that Res12 asked for Celtic to ask UEFA to do what in effect the courts are now doing.
So in a sense Res12 is no longer necessary although UEFA should have an interest in what is emerging, even if only to review the efficiency of their rules in doing what UEFA INTENDED.
A bit of recalibration on objectives and thinking required.
Aff oot.
Prospective former Rangers owner Bill Ng arrested in Singapore over missing funds at his club!
Well I never! :-)
Here’s a tale of a Walter Mitty who DID get away with it.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/apr/26/the-forgotten-story-of-carlos-kaiser-footballs-greatest-conman
Murray says making the Champions League was “bigger than season ticket money” £20m v around £12m
Joey Barton gets 18 months ban from football.
Pracepta
Yes but he has already served 4 months of the ban ( August to December 2016)
WHATISTHESTARS
Does that mean he can go to the bookies again?
WITS
He’s got a £30K fine also and just missed out on POTY award on Sunday night!
:-)
Auldheid
Surely in relation to Stupid FC (old) licensing then UEFA are still the go to dodgy mob who need to deal with this. What is said in a Scottish court will have no implication with regards the licensing unless UEFA get involved by coersion or by their own volition.
I doubt they will be looking in on the Scots court to fact find.
Without UEFA pressure I imagine the bullets will keep being dodged by Stupid FC (old and new).
MWD
Guys, there seems to be a wee bit misunderstanding on Res12, it was to ask for an investigation into the SFA and their administration, not investigate Whytes takeover. There’s a massive difference.
What Has been reinforced so far is that Murrays ownership was responsible for both the licensing application and unpaid tax bill prior to Whyte taking over.
Could DF be leading up to asking about that application ?
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