Hearing scheduled for Charles Green legal fees debate

Charles Green wants Rangers to pay his legal fees. Picture: Hemedia

Lawyers acting for the businessman went to the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Tuesday in a bid to force the side into paying Mr Green’s expenses.

The entrepreneur, who led a takeover of the Ibrox side in 2012, is one of six men who set to face high court proceedings in the near future in connection to his alleged activities there.

He is expected to stand trial alongside fellow businessmen Craig Whyte, Gary Withey, David Grier, David Whitehouse, Paul Clark and Imran Ahmad.

The venture capitalist, who once played professional football, wants the club to pay the costs of his defence.

On Tuesday, judge Lord Tyre set a date for a two day hearing next month. He decided that proceedings into the matter will take place at the civil court on November 12 and November 13 2015.

He added: “I am persuaded of the need for a debate.”

The case is connection to the Police Scotland investigation into alleged illegal activities which are said to have taken place whilst Mr Green was employed by Rangers.

Mr Green became involved with Rangers three years ago. He stepped down from the Ibrox club in April 2013 and was replaced by Craig Mather.

He was arrested by Police Scotland officers on 1 September 2015 as part of an inquiry into the “alleged fraudulent acquisition’ of Rangers assets in 2012.

Mr Green, who lives at an undisclosed address in France, had approached the club prior to his arrest. He requested the Ibrox side pay his legal costs in respect to the Police Scotland investigation.

But Rangers refused. The club’s present Chief Executive Dave King told journalists that Mr Green would have to pay his own lawyers.

In a statement released to the press last month, Mr King said: “Charles Green approached the club prior to his arrest and demanded that we pay his legal costs in respect of his co-operation with Police Scotland into his time as an officer of the club.

“I advised him that we would not do so. He was subsequently arrested and has now approached the court to compel the club to pay the legal costs of his defence to the criminal charges.

“This application will be strongly resisted.”

This prompted Mr Green’s legal team to launch an action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

They are seeking a court order which would compel Rangers to pay Mr Green’s legal bills, which they have refused to do.

Mr Green, who maintains he is innocent of the allegations made by criminal prosecutors, was not present at the Court of Session on Tuesday.

He is expected to appear at the High Court in Edinburgh on Friday when a preliminary hearing into the criminal case is scheduled to call.

The Court of Session will hear the legal arguments about whether Rangers should pay Mr Green’s bills when the case next calls in November.