Rangers: Craig Whyte should step aside after administration - Trevor Steven

Published on Wednesday 15 February 2012 14:42

FORMER Rangers midfielder Trevor Steven believes Craig Whyte’s presence at Ibrox will be untenable once the outcome of the administration process becomes clear.

Whyte’s reputation suffered a huge blow on Tuesday when it was confirmed that Rangers had been forced into administration by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs over £9million in unpaid tax accrued since his takeover in May last year.

Rangers supporters are asking serious questions of Whyte, who bought out Sir David Murray for £1 but pledged to settle Lloyds Banking Group’s £18million debt and invest in the playing squad and stadium.

Earlier this month, Whyte admitted he had accessed cash from loan company Ticketus after reports claimed he had borrowed £24million on future season ticket sales.

Rangers face a tax bill of up to £75million amid a dispute over the use of employment benefit trusts before Whyte took over, and Steven believes the start of the club’s financial problems can be traced back to over-spending in the Dick Advocaat era in the late 1990s.

But he feels the relationship between the supporters and Whyte, who flew out of Glasgow Airport last night, cannot be mended.

The former England internationalist, speaking to Sky Sports, said: “I don’t think there has ever been a good relationship between Craig Whyte and the support.

“For me, there has always been smoke and mirrors since he came in. He came with a handful of promises that have never been delivered.

“That’s what really aggravates the Rangers support, they have never been able to trust the man in charge and there has been no transparency.

“The fact that he has gone off to Monaco is not particularly what the supporters want to hear.”

Steven, who spent seven years at Ibrox over two spells, added: “There is a real lack of support for Craig Whyte. As far as Rangers are concerned, new people have to come into the club once administration has been sorted.

“I know Paul Murray, one of the ex-directors, has said he would be prepared with others to come in once the picture is clear.

“At the moment the picture is not clear and I don’t think it can be for the Scottish game in general until this situation is resolved.

“It puts the whole game under a dark cloud.”