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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Donnie getting stuck in
Murray “sorry to change the subject”
Findlay “In these courts we call changing the subject not answering the question”
#WhyteTrial
Dodgy Dave on the ropes.
“Findlay “The rules of this place are I ask questions and if there is no objection you answer them.””
Ooft :)
Was Findlay saying that “He asks the questions” because Murray stated that at the Monaco lunch he asked Whyte why funds hadn’t gone into club?
That second part re the lunch was tweeted by Andrew Black (now equiped with working phone) but not James Doleman.
James Doleman @jamesdoleman 2m2 minutes ago
More
Murray “sorry to change the subject”
Findlay “In these courts we call changing the subject not answering the question”
KTF
don’t you just love a bit of Blue on Blue Action
Are we getting to the vinegar stroke?
and this is just the pre-amble – they will be fighting like rats in a sack by the time this is done
Murray says they had strong legal advice they would win big tax case. Says He understands bill will be paid by recipients, payable 2020
EBT McCann has just collapsed on Dundee’s training ground.
SDM:…But,But,But,But….Im Sir David Murray:)
Has anybody uttered the word -Wavetower -yet ?
ooooops Sorry Guys – see the indemnity in the side letters – Its not worth the paper its written on.
Here comes Hector
Ive said this from day one….Fire them out of a cannon over the Clyde, with no net…..and then jail them:)
What a time to be alive!!
As Celtic fans across the land continue to celebrate the Hoops’ big win over Rangers at Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final match at Hampden, nobody’s been in the celebratory mood more than Sir Rod Stewart.
The legendary rocker, 72, posted an image of himself online waving a huge Celtic flat out of his car window even a day after the match.
flat ?….FLAG
I seem to have entered an alternative universe where I am sitting here cheering on Donald Findlay….. Time for the meds….
‘Murray asked if he had ever discussed in the club going into administration “not in any detail” the witness replies ‘
####
Or, in other words. Yes.
See that feckin LUCKY timmy Rod Stewart………….I havnie goat a car to fly a Celtic flag out of….come to think of it…I havnie even goat a feckin flag ?
Feck Poverty !
HH
Findlay asks Murray about evidence he had settled the small tax case. Murray says “we had decided to pay it” but later Whyte took it on
Sir Bullsh*t
Now we are getting to it perhaps.
thetimreaper on 26th April 2017 2:30 pm
Findlay: contact with Mr Whyte after Murray knew of Ticketus
“I don’t know why the Ticketus deal not mentioned, can’t answer that just now”
——–
Didn’t he just say he couldn’t remember if there was a call?
How come I get summons for all the wrong feckin Juries ?
Who makes these feckin decisions……………who are these peepil…..whit’s their feckin names……..where do they live…..we demand to know the names of these peepil…..Ally…feckin shut it !
HH
So if the players are due to repay their ‘loans’ in 2020 then why have HMRC gone after the Mighty Gers at all?
Watch out Celtic – that big money boat is coming in, stacked with war chests
Murray agrees it was a “matter for a reputable advisor” to check source of Whyte’s funds
—-
Next witness Keef Jackson.
David opolous
Your point is fine if Joey`s words are taken at face value. I don`t believe they can be but the topic is one I would enjoy more over a pint where I could say in a minute or so what would take me half an hour to type on here and real smiles work better than 0:-) do on here in indicating the level of gravitas intended or not as the case may be.
JJ
Hot Smoked on 26th April 2017 3:03 pm
David opolous
Your point is fine if Joey`s words are taken at face value. I don`t believe they can be but the topic is one I would enjoy more over a pint where I could say in a minute or so what would take me half an hour to type on here and real smiles work better than 0:-) do on here in indicating the level of gravitas intended or not as the case may be.
JJ
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I reckon it would only take 30 seconds to find ourselves in agreement after all :)
JUDE2005 IS NEIL LENNON \O/ on 26TH APRIL 2017 11:38 AM
Link to you tube and tonights game
http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=2986&newsID=16893&newsCategoryID=1 game
cheers mate, I was asking for this….hope it works…HOPE YOUNG HOOPS RATTLE THE CHEATING HURTIN HUNS ?
HH
Murray says that the decision to sell was a “collective decision” and that he was not involved as much as Findlay thinks.
Collective decision? God, they love a bit of groupthink down Ibrox way…
Man in Court,
Judge says ” I award your wife £50 per week”
man says ” That’s very good of you, your honour…..I’ll try and slip her a few quid myself” !
HH
David Murray trying the ole Joey Barton “It wasn’t even my fault” trick…
DAVIDOPOULOS on 26TH APRIL 2017 3:08 PM
Murray says that the decision to sell was a “collective decision” and that he was not involved as much as Findlay thinks.
Collective decision? God, they love a bit of groupthink down Ibrox way
AH, So it’s not just Mr King that enjoys acting in “Concert” ?
the plot is thickening ?
HH
There is some detail that James Doleman is missing out.
Findlay asked Murray “You wouldn’t have just sat back and let a £2.3M tax bill increase to £2.8M would you?”
To which Murray responded “No I wouldn’t”, but says he wasn’t involved in the day-to-day running of the club at that point,
So it must have been Alistair Johnston’s fault? Or Martin Bain’s fault…
Everyone will just blame someone else. There will be no conviction in this trial.
Big Jimmy
I think the plot is muddying lol…
Murray….” for every fiver we bring in with a sale of the club……I’ll put in a tenner” ?????
OKAY i JUST MADE THAT BIT UP….IT’S CALLED FAKE NEWS.
Get into him Donald F…ask him for a square go ?
HH
I bet there are a right few ‘Distress’ signals being flashed as we speak:)
If Murray didn’t sign the Share Purchase Agreement and the photo was just mocked up for the press a week later. Who did sign it? To whom did Murray provide authority to sign on his behalf? His advisors? So it’s their fault?
DAVIDOPOLOUS 3.15
On a serious note, from what I have read so far today..Murray is being as evasive as possible, or as evasive as he’s allowed to be….where’s that Lady feckin Stacy away for a new hairdo, she should be telling Murray to answer the feckin questions honestly, or he’s in danger of committing Perjury ?
Where;s the auld hanging Judge when you need him ?
HH
Big Jimmy on 26th April 2017 3:20 pm
DAVIDOPOLOUS 3.15
On a serious note, from what I have read so far today..Murray is being as evasive as possible, or as evasive as he’s allowed to be….where’s that Lady feckin Stacy away for a new hairdo, she should be telling Murray to answer the feckin questions honestly, or he’s in danger of committing Perjury ?
Where;s the auld hanging Judge when you need him ?
HH
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It’s still pretty early doors and Findlay has asked Murray if he will provide comment later in the trial when issues from other witnesses arise. That’s maybe where he will be pinned down.