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All smiles: Whyte (L) with Gordon Smith, the club's director of football. Lynne Cameron/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Scottish FA tribunal leaves Whyte and Rangers fuming

The panel imposed a 12-month transfer embargo on the club and banned Craig Whyte from future involvement in Scottish football.

GLASGOW RANGERS’ FINANCIAL immolation gathered apace last night with the presentation to the Scottish Football Association (SFA) of a report condemning the club’s financial management.

Undertaken by an independent judicial panel, the report detailed the manner in which the club circumvented a number of a key statutes and directives en route to undergoing an “insolvency event”.

Taking an uncompromising stance, the SFA issued the embattled club with a 12-month transfer embargo and imposed over £200,000 in fines and automatic penalties.

Appearing to accept the argument of administrators that owner Craig Whyte bore ultimate responsibility for the club’s financial implosion, the SFA issued the Motherwell businessman with a lifetime ban from Scottish football.

Speaking to the Telegraph after the disciplinary hearing, Whyte said he “couldn’t care less” and described the investigation as “a joke.”

Paul Clark, joint administrator of the club, was equally dissatisfied with the outcome:

“The thrust of the charges against the club focused on non-payment of payroll taxes and evidence was produced that all such decisions in this area were taken by Craig Whyte during his tenure.

“Given this evidence, it is difficult to comprehend that the disciplinary panel has seen fit to effectively punish the club even more heavily than Mr Whyte. As everyone knows, it has already been decided he is not a fit and proper person to run a football club…”

A recent report by the same paper suggests Rangers will struggle to remain solvent beyond the middle of next month. Further complicating matters is the nature of the current wage reduction agreement with players, contingent on the restoration of full pay by June 1.

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