Bad to Worse


Things at Rangers continue to go from bad to worse in what has been a terrible week for the Ibrox club: their manager (Ally McCoist) has given notice of his intention to resigned, a major shareholder in the shape of Mike Ashley has been taken to task by the SFA, a former club owner (Craig Whyte) has appeared in court over fraud charges and the SPL has withheld £250,000 over a dispute about payment of an outstanding fine.  

If you ask me, the fans would be better off clearing out the present board and starting again with a clean slate because the various people who took charge of Rangers when it went into liquidation have left the club in a sorry state - despite many of them enriching themselves in the process. 

Rangers and SPFL at war after club is landed with £250,000 oldco EBT tax fine

By Gary Ralston - The Daily Record

THE club has revealed they are being pursued for the money in a statement to the London Stock Exchange this morning – but league insist Ibrox chiefs have gone back on their word.There will be no Christmas party for staff at Ibrox this year

SNS

"The Board is advised that the sum is not due to SPFL and the appeal will be pursued vigorously."

RANGERS have launched an appeal against the SPFL after they withheld £250,000 of broadcast cash to pay their EBT fine.

But league bosses have hit back and claimed the Ibrox board have gone back on their word to pay for the sins of the previous club owners.

The SPFL have told the new company running the club they are liable for the fine handed down to the oldco by the SPL in February 2013.

A commission established by the SPL handed out the punishment after the club failed to disclose dozens of payments under the controversial tax avoidance scheme.

However, the commission decided Rangers had gained no sporting advantage and stopped short of stripping the club of titles.

The current Rangers board are refusing to accept the liability and have appealed to the SFA, which has suspended the SPFL’s decision for now.

A Rangers statement read: “The board of the SPFL has determined that Rangers Football Club Limited is liable to pay the EBT Commission fine of £250,000 levied on RFC 2012 PLC.

“The SPFL has also decided this sum will be recovered from the club by the SPFL withholding broadcasting money and other sums due to the club but which are paid in the first instance to the SPFL.

“An appeal has been lodged with the judicial panel of the Scottish FA which has confirmed the decision of the SPFL is suspended pending the outcome of the appeal subject to the SPFL’s right to object.

“The board is advised that the sum is not due to SPFL and the appeal will be pursued vigorously.”

However, the SPFL insist owners of newco Rangers gave an undertaking they would cover the costs of the oldco in relation to the issue.
SNS - Rangers chairman David Somers 

An SPFL statement said: “In February 2013 an independent SPL commission, chaired by the Rt. Hon. Lord Nimmo Smith, fined RFC 2012 PLC (previously The Rangers Football Club plc) (in liquidation)) (“Rangers Oldco”) the sum of £250,000 in respect of multiple breaches of SPL and Scottish FA Rules.

“The Rangers Football Club Limited (“Rangers Newco”) signed an agreement under which they would be liable for sums such as this.

“The Chairman of Rangers FC, David Somers, and on one occasion the club’s then chief executive Graham Wallace, engaged in individual discussions with the majority of current SPFL Board members several months ago acknowledging the liability and suggesting ways of paying the sums due.

“Following such discussions, it was only when no sums actually arrived from Rangers FC that the SPFL Board decided to offset this liability against future sums payable to the club.”

Meanwhile, Rangers have also confirmed they will “robustly” defend the notice of complaint from the SFA over the involvement of Mike Ashley at Ibrox.

Rangers and the Newcastle owner have both been fingered for allegedly breaking an agreement he would have no influence in the running of the club.

A Rangers statement said: “The company has received a notice of complaint from the SFA, that it intends to take disciplinary action.

“The directors will take legal advice with a view to defending the actions of the company and the club robustly in relation to those matters raised by the SFA.”

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