Rangers administration: SFA tells Craig Whyte to defend case in person

CRAIG Whyte has been requested to make a personal appearance in front of an SFA judicial panel next Friday after failing in a bid to have its hearing on alleged rule breaches by him and Rangers put back until July.

The Ibrox club’s owner, who failed to attend yesterday’s principal hearing at Hampden, which was scheduled to consider a total of nine charges relating to his stewardship of Rangers, submitted a letter through his lawyers asking for more time to prepare his response.

It is understood Whyte was seeking another four months in which to compile his defence against the various complaints laid out by the SFA’s compliance officer, including two personal charges of bringing the game into disrepute and failing to act in the best interests of football.

His request was dismissed out of hand by the independent three-man SFA judicial panel, which has now assigned next Friday, 6 April, for a procedural hearing.

Whyte will be invited to “lodge a substantive response and for representations to be made as to state of preparation”.

If Whyte does not comply with the request, he will be considered to have committed another breach of SFA rules. In this instance, it would be Rule 105 which states “Any party who is subject to a direction from a Tribunal must follow that direction as so directed by the Tribunal. Any party who fails to do so, may be found to be in breach of this rule.” The maximum punishment for breaching Rule 105 is a £50,000 fine and suspension from football until compliance with the rule.

Given Whyte’s previous disregard for Scottish football regulations, including his lack of co-operation with the SFA’s attempts to assess his suitability as a Rangers director, his appearance at Hampden next week will not be widely anticipated.

As a result of Whyte’s written submission yesterday, the SFA judicial panel decided to adjourn the hearing on Rangers and their owner until later this month. It will now be held over three days, on the 17, 18 and 20 April, with Whyte again expected to attend in person.

The delay was met with dismay by Duff & Phelps who have been running financially stricken Rangers since Whyte placed them into administration on 14 February. Co-administrator Paul Clark stressed they had been confident of persuading the SFA judicial panel that the club as a whole are not to blame for the problems faced since Whyte purchased it last May.

“We are disappointed the hearing has been adjourned,” said Clark. “The club’s legal representatives were ready to make the club’s case today which in essence is that there are extenuating and unprecedented circumstances in this case and we hope to demonstrate the distinction between the actions of the club and the actions of individuals. We look forward to making our case at the earliest opportunity.”

Among the seven alleged rule breaches made against Rangers are two involving non-payment of shares of admission money from their fifth round Scottish Cup tie against Dundee United at Ibrox on 15 February to the visiting club and the SFA.

Yesterday, it emerged that Rangers face a separate complaint from Dundee United over £19,000 they are owed for ticket sales for the SPL match between the clubs at Tannadice on 17 March. That matter will be considered by the SPL board of directors in the first instance.

“We’ve now had a complaint from Dundee United and that will go before the board on 12 April,” confirmed SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster. “As with any alleged breach of our rules, there is no set sanction. There are 18 separate potential sanctions that can be imposed should a breach be proved. So the board will consider that complaint and if it’s necessary to bring forward disciplinary measures, that will happen at that stage.”

Asked how great a concern it was that a member club was failing to make due payment to another, Doncaster replied: “This is not a unique environment. There are certainly a number of clubs across the world having difficulties making payments as they fall due at the moment. Clearly, it’s not anything anyone wants. What we have to do is simply apply our rules fairly to all and that’s what we will do.”

Rangers are already being investigated by the SPL over the alleged improper registration of players, dating back to 1998, in connection with the Employee Benefit Trust scheme which is the subject of the outstanding tax dispute between HMRC and the Scottish champions.

Doncaster confirmed that was discussed at yesterday’s meeting of the SPL board, where he was joined by chairman Ralph Topping, Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson, Celtic director Eric Riley, Motherwell vice-chairman Derek Weir and St Johnstone chairman Steven Brown.

“There’s really not that much to say,” said Doncaster. “We gave the board an update. The discussions are continuing with the administrators, the investigation is ongoing. There will be a further report going before our next board meeting on 12 April.

“I think it’s important there is clarity as soon as possible, absolutely. But it is also important there is a thorough investigation, a proper process, and that’s what we will be doing.

“How long is a piece of string? The investigation is ongoing and it continues.

“As soon as we are in a position to announce more, we will do so. That’s all I can really say at this stage.”