Strathclyde Police are to launch an investigation into Craig Whyte's purchase of Rangers in May last year.
The Glasgow club was bought by Whyte in 2011 before going into administration in February.
The Crown Office has instructed Strathclyde Police on Monday to conduct a criminal investigation into not only the acquisition of Rangers but also Whyte's subsequent financial management of the club.
It has revealed the investigation into "alleged criminality" follows a preliminary police examination of information passed to it in February this year by the club administrators.
The Crown Office added that the Procurator Fiscal for the West of Scotland will liaise with Strathclyde Police on the investigation.
A statement read: "The Procurator Fiscal for the West of Scotland will now work with Strathclyde Police to fully investigate the acquisition and financial management of Rangers Football Club and any related reports of alleged criminality during that process."
As I understand it, all the SPL clubs now have to vote to allow Rangers New Co to take over the place of Rangers in the SPL. Three clubs have already said they will vote against and only one more needs to for it to fial. Then Rangers will have to apply to join the Scottish league at the bottom division. Could they then decide not to apply to the SFA and apply to the English FA to join their division two? Would that be likely to be accepted? Is the whole thing just a really clever way of Rangers getting into the English league without having to apply jointly with Celtic??? Or have I over-thought this way too much?
Even a skintight Rangers should be able to motor through the Scots lower leagues. I wonder if they might struggle in England. I'm not convinced that a full strength rangers would get out the CCC, so I'm less sure that a wounded one would walk the English lower leagues. Also with extra policing and travel it's not certain that English teams would want them. Plus, for this season the fixtures have been drawn so cannot see any way they could be accommodated even if everyone fancied it.
In addition to Morts comments I also believe the SFA have to authorise any club playing outside of Scotland (it's the same for all clubs affiliated to UEFA). With St Johnstones decision to vote "no" Rangers will definately start in Division Three, I think they'll take Clyde's place which means the opening weekend will see them travel to Montrose.
Glad Whytes being investigated, something tells me this mess won't be nicely wrapped up by August 18th.
Aberdeen hit the final nail in the coffin. Expect a few others to come out now. So the old firm stranglehold on the SPL loosens its grip. Yes the football might not be the best, but at least there is a chance for change. Chance for a fairer league that will get fans interested in their teams fortunes again.
Kent_red, I don't think it is going to make the SPL any more interesting... Celtic will just win the league by about March every season
A European spot will open up, but bear in mind that a qualifying round needs to be played before you get the group stage windfall and judging by the quality of some of the teams that end up as seeds in those ties I can't see Dundee Utd, Aberdeen, Hearts, Motherwell etc getting into the group stages and therefore they simply won't be able to get anywhere near Celtic financially.
Aberdeen hit the final nail in the coffin. Expect a few others to come out now. So the old firm stranglehold on the SPL loosens its grip. Yes the football might not be the best, but at least there is a chance for change. Chance for a fairer league that will get fans interested in their teams fortunes again.
There's no chance of that. Celtic are simply guaranteed the title for at least the next three years. Not sure what the world record for points gap between first and second or the number of teams from a league to go into administration is but I'm pretty confident we'll see both next year in Scotland.
I understand that if Rangers leave the SPL they will drop one division and not three as stated by some above.
Not sure about that. They will need to re apply to the SFA for membership and if accepted would need to start at the bottom of that associations leagues ?
I understand that if Rangers leave the SPL they will drop one division and not three as stated by some above.
Not sure about that. They will need to re apply to the SFA for membership and if accepted would need to start at the bottom of that associations leagues ?
Hmmm... Having had the greatest gloryhunting season ever with Dumbarton getting promotion through the play-offs and Charlton becoming champions this leaves a very sour taste in my mouth. I know of not one Dumbarton fan who is excited about the Rangers newco being promoted to the first division - everyone of us seems to believe that newco should apply to start in the third division. I remember our chairman being sniggered at 10 years ago when he said that we were stronger than Rangers because we had no unserviceable debt. Since then Rangers have continued to spend money they just didn't have (and if HMRC prove their case remember that its yours and my money that they spent).
One of our fans put it like this "Rangers FC in liquidation, have been seen to be cheating since ’93, double contracts, tax evasion, tax advoidance, non payment of monies owed to other clubs in way of shared gate receipts, non payment of transfer funds, yet there is talk of compromise as hundreds of creditors are left empty handed !!! They are lucky the SFA haven’t just wound them up. Just because they have a large following isn't good enough in my eyes to compromise and let a newco waltz straight back into the first division, something the Sons have had to work bloody hard at to reach on a budget, to live within our means".
In fairness I think a lot (possibly a majority) of Rangers fans want to start again in the third division. If Rangers do play in d1 next year it will be because Sky will only countenance no Old Firm for one season and will essentially hold Scottish football to ransom.
I cant really think of any moral or sporting reasons why Rangers shouldn't start in d3.
In fairness I think a lot (possibly a majority) of Rangers fans want to start again in the third division. If Rangers do play in d1 next year it will be because Sky will only countenance no Old Firm for one season and will essentially hold Scottish football to ransom.
I cant really think of any moral or sporting reasons why Rangers shouldn't start in d3.
What's the betting whatever division rangers are in next season, they get Celtic in the cup.
Hate to be cynical but I can see them heating up the Old Firm balls in the bag!!!
I'm not sure it will be that big a game. If players keep leaving Rangers and they struggle to recruit good enough replacements (likely as they will be out of Europe, out of the SPL and probably unable to make it worth the players while financially) Celtic will probably just brush them aside.
I would have thought it would be less popular due to the potential crowd trouble if Celtic to give them a thumping.
A little insensitive of the good old BBBC there. Accompanying photo for the story shows McGregor and Whittaker all big smiles outside...a Celtic Superstore!!!
A little insensitive of the good old BBBC there. Accompanying photo for the story shows McGregor and Whittaker all big smiles outside...a Celtic Superstore!!!
My favourite team north of the border Raith Rovers have joined the debate and said they don't want Newco in the First Division.In today's Daily Record.
RAITH ROVERS director Turnbull Hutton insists the First Division should reject an Ibrox newco after his club were subjected to threats and intimidation during Rangers’ demise.
The former Stark’s Park chairman is adamant the SFL would be doing a deal with the devil if they backed plans to allow direct entry into the second tier for Charles Green’s newco.
Hutton highlighted the treatment of fellow director Eric Drysdale, who received death threats in April after he was named as a member of the SFA judicial panel that dished out a 12-month transfer embargo on Rangers.
With SFL member clubs set to meet next week to discuss a variety of possible reforms for the Scottish game, Hutton launched an astonishing tirade against Rangers and their supporters and insisted there will be no trade-off or deals cut as Raith put their conscience before financial gain.
He said: “This is the same Rangers whose supporters threatened to torch our stadium and whose manager demanded one of our directors was named over his involvement with an SFA judicial panel.
“That resulted in TV cameras camping outside his door and threats being made by various outlandish factions.
“We also had Sandy Jardine publicly calling for repercussions for those clubs who have not supported Rangers.
“Given that, how could I be expected to roll over and have my tummy tickled by some inducement to allow Rangers to come into the First Division.
“I gave my opinion to the board on Monday night and the board had a position which was not in any way different from my own.
“That does not mean a vote will go the way we want it to go.
“I imagine some clubs will see some short-term advantage.
“But if long-term you cheese off your season ticket-holders and supporters and backers is it worth it?
“Do you sell your position for 30 pieces of silver for some short-term advantage or take the moral high ground?”
The growing clamour for Rangers to start again in the Third Division has already been backed by Falkirk with Dunfermline and Partick Thistle both consulting their supporters before going public with their views.
And Hutton revealed Raith fans have been flooding the club with messages urging them to not to support any plan that will see a newco enter Division One.
Hutton said: “We have been inundated with emails. People are holding off on buying season tickets until they find out what is happening with some fans of 25 years saying they’ll not return if we back the Rangers proposals.
“With what is happening with the SPL clubs it seems to have been punted on to the SFL clubs to solve the problem, a problem which is none of our doing.”
The SFL board met yesterday to compile a host of proposals which they hope will persuade clubs to allow a newco straight into the First Division. However, the plan needs the support of 22 of the lower-league teams to pass.
Record Sport understands the SFL board now expect to meet with their member clubs early next week when they will try to push through their plans.
The board believe they have a financially-sound blueprint which will persuade clubs to sign up to historic league reconstruction.
There are serious concerns, though, that the issue of sporting integrity could scupper the attempt to allow a newco direct entry into Division One. And the destiny of Rangers is further complicated by the fact the SFA have now given Green a strict deadline that must be met if he wants his new club licenced to play football in any league.
The Ibrox owner must now submit the necessary paperwork to apply for the transfer of Rangers’ SFA membership to his new company by Friday.
Green must produce details of the shareholdings of his company and its structure, a business plan and information to comply with the fit and proper persons rules.
What's the betting whatever division rangers are in next season, they get Celtic in the cup.
Hate to be cynical but I can see them heating up the Old Firm balls in the bag!!!
I'm not sure it will be that big a game. If players keep leaving Rangers and they struggle to recruit good enough replacements (likely as they will be out of Europe, out of the SPL and probably unable to make it worth the players while financially) Celtic will probably just brush them aside.
I would have thought it would be less popular due to the potential crowd trouble if Celtic to give them a thumping.
Yeah but no matter how one sided the game is, attendances and tv viewing will still be more than alot of EPL televised games.
that raith rovers report is interesting reading. After years of giving other supporters and clubs grief Rangers are now asking for a favour. I don’t want rangers to go out of the Scottish league but I have to applauded Turnbull Hutton for putting his morals first before money. He obviously has an open dislike towards rangers which is fair due to what some of their supporters have done to him personally. He has to also look after the views of the rover fans and it seems as if they support his stance on rangers.
Comments
The Glasgow club was bought by Whyte in 2011 before going into administration in February.
The Crown Office has instructed Strathclyde Police on Monday to conduct a criminal investigation into not only the acquisition of Rangers but also Whyte's subsequent financial management of the club.
It has revealed the investigation into "alleged criminality" follows a preliminary police examination of information passed to it in February this year by the club administrators.
The Crown Office added that the Procurator Fiscal for the West of Scotland will liaise with Strathclyde Police on the investigation.
A statement read: "The Procurator Fiscal for the West of Scotland will now work with Strathclyde Police to fully investigate the acquisition and financial management of Rangers Football Club and any related reports of alleged criminality during that process."
never been to links park but ventured up when they drew celtic in the cup in the early 90's. (6-0 defeat)
Glad Whytes being investigated, something tells me this mess won't be nicely wrapped up by August 18th.
A European spot will open up, but bear in mind that a qualifying round needs to be played before you get the group stage windfall and judging by the quality of some of the teams that end up as seeds in those ties I can't see Dundee Utd, Aberdeen, Hearts, Motherwell etc getting into the group stages and therefore they simply won't be able to get anywhere near Celtic financially.
I understand that if Rangers leave the SPL they will drop one division and not three as stated by some above.
Hmmm...
Having had the greatest gloryhunting season ever with Dumbarton getting promotion through the play-offs and Charlton becoming champions this leaves a very sour taste in my mouth. I know of not one Dumbarton fan who is excited about the Rangers newco being promoted to the first division - everyone of us seems to believe that newco should apply to start in the third division. I remember our chairman being sniggered at 10 years ago when he said that we were stronger than Rangers because we had no unserviceable debt. Since then Rangers have continued to spend money they just didn't have (and if HMRC prove their case remember that its yours and my money that they spent).
One of our fans put it like this "Rangers FC in liquidation, have been seen to be cheating since ’93, double contracts, tax evasion, tax advoidance, non payment of monies owed to other clubs in way of shared gate receipts, non payment of transfer funds, yet there is talk of compromise as hundreds of creditors are left empty handed !!! They are lucky the SFA haven’t just wound them up. Just because they have a large following isn't good enough in my eyes to compromise and let a newco waltz straight back into the first division, something the Sons have had to work bloody hard at to reach on a budget, to live within our means".
Dumbarton FC - the ORIGINAL Scottish Champions!!
I cant really think of any moral or sporting reasons why Rangers shouldn't start in d3.
I would have thought it would be less popular due to the potential crowd trouble if Celtic to give them a thumping.
More Rangers players looking to leave.
A little insensitive of the good old BBBC there. Accompanying photo for the story shows McGregor and Whittaker all big smiles outside...a Celtic Superstore!!!
;-)
RAITH ROVERS director Turnbull Hutton insists the First Division should reject an Ibrox newco after his
club were subjected to threats and intimidation during Rangers’ demise.
The former Stark’s Park chairman is adamant the SFL would be doing a deal with the devil if they backed plans to allow direct entry into the second tier for Charles Green’s newco.
Hutton highlighted the treatment of fellow director Eric Drysdale, who received death threats in April after he was named as a member of the SFA judicial panel that dished out a 12-month transfer embargo on Rangers.
With SFL member clubs set to meet next week to discuss a variety of possible reforms for the Scottish game, Hutton launched an astonishing tirade against Rangers and their supporters and insisted there will be no trade-off or deals cut as Raith put their conscience before financial gain.
He said: “This is the same Rangers whose supporters threatened to torch our stadium and whose manager demanded one of our directors was named over his involvement with an SFA judicial panel.
“That resulted in TV cameras camping outside his door and threats being made by various outlandish factions.
“We also had Sandy Jardine publicly calling for repercussions for those clubs who have not supported Rangers.
“Given that, how could I be expected to roll over and have my tummy tickled by some inducement to allow Rangers to come into the First Division.
“I gave my opinion to the board on Monday night and the board had a position which was not in any way different from my own.
“That does not mean a vote will go the way we want it to go.
“I imagine some clubs will see some short-term advantage.
“But if long-term you cheese off your season ticket-holders and supporters and backers is it
worth it?
“Do you sell your position for 30 pieces of silver for some short-term advantage or take the moral high ground?”
The growing clamour for Rangers to start again in the Third Division has already been backed by Falkirk with Dunfermline and Partick Thistle both consulting their supporters before going public with their views.
And Hutton revealed Raith fans have been flooding the club with messages urging them to not to support any plan that will see a newco enter Division One.
Hutton said: “We have been inundated with emails. People are holding off on buying season tickets until they find out what is happening with some fans of 25 years saying they’ll not return if we back the Rangers proposals.
“With what is happening with the SPL clubs it seems to have been punted on to the SFL clubs to solve the problem, a problem which is none of our doing.”
The SFL board met yesterday to compile a host of proposals which they hope will persuade clubs to allow a newco straight into the First Division. However, the plan needs the support of 22 of the lower-league teams to pass.
Record Sport understands the SFL board now expect to meet with their member clubs early next week when they will try to push through their plans.
The board believe they have a financially-sound blueprint which will persuade clubs to sign up to historic league reconstruction.
There are serious concerns, though, that the issue of sporting integrity could scupper the attempt to allow a newco direct entry into Division One. And the destiny of Rangers is further complicated by the fact the SFA have now given Green a strict deadline that must be met if he wants his new club licenced to play football in any league.
The Ibrox owner must now submit the necessary paperwork to apply for the transfer of Rangers’ SFA membership to his new company by Friday.
Green must produce details of the shareholdings of his company and its structure, a business plan and information to comply with the fit and proper persons rules.
Even for FR that is poor.
He obviously has an open dislike towards rangers which is fair due to what some of their supporters have done to him personally. He has to also look after the views of the rover fans and it seems as if they support his stance on rangers.
My moneys on Inverness to go bust first!