Rangers crisis: SFA inquiry will ‘flush out’ truth about Craig Whyte, says Stewart Regan
SCOTTISH Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan has pledged that his organisation’s independent inquiry into the crisis at Rangers will “flush out” the truth of Craig Whyte’s controversial takeover of the club and their humiliating slide into administration.
Lord William Nimmo Smith, a former Supreme Court judge, has been appointed as chairman of the four-man inquiry panel who began their investigations yesterday and will deliver their findings to the SFA’s executive board of directors in a fortnight.
Joining Lord Nimmo Smith and Regan on the panel are Professor Niall Lothian, a past president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland, and Bob Downes, deputy chairman of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency.
Regan, who claims the SFA’s previous efforts to establish Whyte’s credentials as fit and proper to hold his position at Rangers had been met with “obstruction”, is confident the stature of those involved in the inquiry will help him fulfil his desire to reach a swift conclusion to the investigation.
“We believe the quality of these individuals will flush out the details we need to know and provide the SFA board with whatever evidence we need to decide what happens next,” said Regan.
“We decided that now the situation at Rangers has escalated, we will have this independent inquiry with three strong, high-profile individuals from the legal, financial and business communities.
“Niall Lothian, for example, has just received an OBE for corporate and civil governance. I want us to get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible. The SFA were becoming increasingly frustrated at the obstructions being put in place to prevent us finding out information we needed.”
Regan says the independent inquiry panel members will seek to interview Whyte in person during the course of their investigation, although the SFA chief executive was reluctant to specify the nature of the information they would request from the Rangers owner.
“It is difficult for me to go into details at this stage,” Regan said. “But there is a lot of information we need to look at, particularly information held by the administrator. The first steps our panel will take will be to meet the administrators this week and start to get a picture of the facts they have pieced together over the last week.
“Once that happens they will start to formulate their views in relation to the SFA’s Articles of Association and where breaches of them have happened.
“Interviewing Mr Whyte is one of the options open to the indepdendent inquiry. It will look at everything that has gone on. At this stage, it is about gathering the facts and understanding what has gone on at Rangers Football Club. We would like to conclude it as quickly as possible but we are not putting ourselves into a box concerning timescale.
“It depends what comes out of the Independent Inquiry. So far, the SFA have been kept at arms length by (Whyte’s) solicitors. Despite our best endeavours to get information that would allow us to take a considered view we just haven’t had any information. We wanted to give the club every chance to explain the situation but that has been difficult.
“Our inquiry is only looking at potential breaches of the SFA’s articles.
“So far there has been no transparency or disclosure. That has made the board determined to find out what has gone on at the club and then decide how we deal with that.”
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Comments
There are 55 comments to this article
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007
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:26 PMDiamonds are for ever’ starring Willard Whyte (Craig Whyte)Ernst Stavro Blofeld (D. Murray) Bond, Shames Bond 007, at your shervice? Unfortunately, acting on behalf of HER Majesty’s Secret Service; I encountered one of the most ruthless gangs of con men’ imaginable. Under the cover of darkness, I viewed the personnel mentioned below as they drew near to their final conclusion to shaft the unfortunate believers of the Govan madhouse. As the door knocked; No 1 (DM) invited an entrance. (CW) No 2 entered; curtseyed and bowed as he offered ‘Good evening No1’. No 1 stroking his pussy’ (white cat), looks forlornly at No 2, “I am disappointed No2” you failed to complete your end of the bargain to shaft the faithful? And the G-Men. (HMRC) “No1, No1, I tried my level best, but those guy’s in the press chased me all through the streets of the UK, dogging me all over the place”. No 1 moves his hand toward the chess board on the desk; presses a concealed button on the board, the rear door electronically clicks open; “Cheque-mate say’s No 1”, as he looks down at his pussy. His pussy hisses violently. No 2 exits the rear door into the arms of the white van men and onto the Big Hoose on the East side of the city, delivering him to the deranged inmates anticipating his arrival for the sleepover of all sleepovers. ‘Pushy Galore’
FTH22inarow
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 08:23 PMAll that will happen is that the next club into admin will be hammered meanwhile Rangers will get away almost Scot free!
Pas D'Elle Yeux Rhone Que Nous
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 03:55 PMAlastair Johnston and Paul Murray are quite happy to point the finger at poor wee Craigie Boy but this is a diversionary tactic. Johnston presided over RFC as chairman and Murray as a director during the years of excess so those two should accept a share of responsibility for the mess that RFC now find themselves in.
Shug Hefner
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 03:45 PM51 - I cant see how he could have done it without the compliance or knowledge of Sir David Murray - soon to be Dave Murray.
USA Hibby
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 03:17 PMForgive me if this has been already asked, but, how could Craig Whyte get money from Ticketus for season ticket sales when he DID NOT OWN THE CLUB AT THAT POINT? To me that is the key question.
Hague20
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 01:59 PM#49 An English wig. Why what do you put on your head in Ireland a piece of bog.
Derry City, Ireland.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 12:59 PMWho is that crabit looking guy, in the photo, wan with the English wig onhis heid.
WOTTPI
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 12:52 PM45 Magnum. As Tommy Tommy said, most of these Mr Big's are only good at spending others money and that is usually borrowed money. The reason many become Mr Big's is because they hate spending their own money and protect their cash at all costs. Look at Sir Tom farmer at Easter Road- plenty cash but the last thing he is doing is throwing it down the pan at a football club. DDA is correct, whoever ends up running Rangers at the end of this will be under intense scrutiny and unlikely to be involved in profligate spending. The focus should be on living within ones means, the club paying back the Tax due to Her Majesty (which the fans profess to adore) and getting back to developing local talent at Murray Park.
Tony Bellini
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:58 AMApols. DDA
Tony Bellini
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:57 AM36 Mag. As big as Malmo?
Magnum
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:22 AM#44 DDA As long as the Mr.Big funds the investment, we sit back and enjoy the show. We are not in administration because of big spending we are there because a toe-rag did not pay the bills. If the 1st tier tax tribunal goes against the club, then we have another example of a toe-rag not paying bills. Yes, run the club on a sustainable basis but if a Mr.Big wants to splash the cash, welcome aboard!
Damn Dirty Apes
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:03 AM40 Magnum - Don't get your hopes up. If we survive the club will be run strictly as a business - expenditure will not exceed income, otherwise will be back in this position again pretty soon.
Magnum
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:01 AM#41 Hugh If she is a nymph, you won't be the first.
sonofcosmos
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 10:59 AMit appears the arsenal shares is the final straw for many rangers fans..(dont know if the scotsman can bring itself to report on it) asset stripper strips assets shocker??!!!
Shug Hefner
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 10:59 AM40 - If I find myself the nymphomaniac 21yrs old supermodel daughter and heiress to a billion pound fortune the I for onewill applaud myself! I bet I get there first!
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