Main points of Duff & Phelps report to Rangers’ creditors

RANGERS had an operating shortfall of over £4m during the period that the club was in administration, according to a report released by the club’s administrators.

The figure emerges in a concluding report to creditors ahead of the oldco Rangers’ proposed liquidation at the Court of Session on October 12.

During the period of 14 February 2012 to 25 September 2012 the club incurred a trading shortfall of £4,007, 635

Other key points include:

• The total amount owed by Rangers FC to HMRC is listed at £94,426,217.12. This figure takes into account monies owed in the ‘Big Tax Case’ emanating from payments to players through Employee Benefit Trusts, the ‘Wee Tax Case’ for the discounted options tax scheme amd money owed in unpaid PAYE tax incurred during Craig Whyte’s tenure.

A decision is expected on the ‘Big Tax Case’ later this month however Duff & Phelps have opted to include this debt in the final statement that will be voted upon by the club’s creditors prior to liquidation.

• Duff & Phelps received a total of £2,457, 420 in payments for their work in the administration of the Ibrox club

• Legal costs of £966,329 were paid to law firm Taylor Wessing for dealing with legal matters in English law including legal action regarding Collyer Bristow.

Fees of £358, 650 were also paid to law firm Biggart Baillie for placing the company in administration and for negotiations with Ticketus.

• Duff & Phelps say Ticketus’s claim of £26, 711, 857 against the club is unenforceable in a court of law.

• The report confirms that although the newly-formed Rangers was unable to gain SPL membership, negotiations with the SFA and SFL mean that it will honour transfer debts to Scottish clubs including Celtic, Hearts and Dundee United,

• The club has started proceedings against Collyer Bristow solicitors for £25m however this action will not be completed by Duff & Phelps before they leave office as administrators of the club. The litigation against Collyer Bristow, who acted as solicitors for previous owner Craig Whyte, is expected to be continued by the club’s liquidators.

• Rangers are still owned two payments of £975,000 for the transfer of Nikica Jelavic to Everton which falls due in May 2013 and May 2014. The administrators say that these amounts will continue to be pursued.

• Duff & Phelps say that taking part in the SPL Commission on Employee Benefit Trusts is not in the interest of creditors as Rangers FC is no longer part of the SPL

• A total of £112,500 was paid to PR firm Media House for “media consultancy” services with £28,941 also paid to media firm Spreckley for the PR services while the company was in administration.