Rangers timeline: From Scottish champions to Division 3 in only 14 months

Published on 14/07/2012 00:46

CRAIG Whyte bought Rangers for £1 in May of last year. Now, they’re poised to compete in Scotland’s bottom division. But how did the slide come about?

6 MAY, 2011 – Craig Whyte buys Rangers for £1.

15 MAY – Rangers champions for third year in row.

11 AUG – Sheriff officers visit Rangers over a disputed tax bill of £2.4 million.

13 SEP – Judge freezes £500,000 of Rangers’ assets over fears of “insolvency”.

1 DEC – Whyte comfirms he was previously banned from being a company director.

9 JAN, 2012 – Rangers suspended from stock exchange for failing to file accounts.

13 FEB – Rangers announces it will go into administration.

14 FEB – Rangers in administration appoint Duff & Phelps to run business.

21 FEB – Whyte admits using £24m season ticket cash from Ticketus to fund takeover.

27 FEB – Rangers fined £50,000 over Whyte’s director ban.

2 MARCH – Administrators seize £3.6m from Craig Whyte’s lawyers.

8 MARCH – SFA declares Whyte unfit to hold a position in football and confirms Rangers facing charge of bringing game into disrepute.

4 APRIL – Duff & Phelps says it has received four bids for club.

23 APRIL – Whyte fined £200,000 and banned from Scottish football for life; Rangers fined £160,000 and given 12-month embargo on signing players. Transfer ban ruled unlawful in Court of Session in May.

3 MAY – American businessman Bill Miller given preferred bidder status, only to withdraw bid on 8 May; Blue Knights consortium withdraws interest on 11 May.

13 MAY – Administrators announce sale to consortium led by Charles Green.

12 JUNE – HMRC announces it will not accept Company Voluntary Arrangement and forces Rangers into liquidation. Green buys assets on 14 June.

25 JUNE – Crown Office instructs Strathclyde Police to conduct criminal investigation into Whyte’s takeover and subsequent financial management.

4 JULY – SPL clubs vote “overwhelmingly” to reject newco Rangers’ application to join.

13 JULY – SFL votes to send newco to the Third Division.