Counsel for the SFA made an incredible admission at the Court of Session today as Mike Ashley was granted a full judicial review of the decision to grant Dave King fit and proper status to be a director of a football club.
As well as over 40 convictions for fraud in South Africa, Mr King was a director of Rangers as they went into administration in February 2012 followed by liquidation four months later.
In May of this year, in a decision which seemed at odds with all guidelines, the SFA announced: “In considering the request, the Board of the Scottish FA has sought and received specialist independent legal advice, both in Scotland and South Africa, in respect of Mr King’s conviction further to the South African Income Tax Act and in relation to his previous involvement as a Director of the club. It has also received significant documentation from relevant authorities both within the UK and South Africa.
“The scale of this due diligence is unprecedented but befitting the complexities of the consideration placed before the Board. During this exercise both Mr King and the club were fully co-operative and responded to all questions put to them by the Scottish FA.
“On the basis of this advice presented to it, and having considered all submissions received from Mr King and the club in respect of this matter, the Scottish FA Board granted an approval, conditional upon further submissions from Mr King in respect of documented agreements with the appropriate authorities in South Africa.”
Counsel for SFA ” I hardly need to remind you of difficulties Rangers, and Scottish football have faced” adds “this uncertainty must end”
— James Doleman (@jamesdoleman) November 24, 2015
Challenged to explain the logic of the decision, Mr Bodine, Counsel for the SFA, claimed that they had ‘no duty to provide explanations’ followed by the amazing plea of ” I hardly need to remind you of difficulties Rangers, and Scottish football have faced.”
For the avoidance of doubt Scottish football is in its healthiest position since 1988 when the Bank of Scotland began feeding the ego of Dave Murray which ultimately resulted in the liquidation of Rangers in 2012 with HMRC out of pocket by over £70m at the last count.
Over the last fortnight Inverness Caley Thistle, Falkirk, Aberdeen and Partick Thistle have all announced record turnover, profit or becoming debt free.
While Sevco stumble on awaiting the invoice that triggers administration the evidence of the last few years confirms that life most certainly goes on for every club in the country even if a club from Ibrox finds it impossible to live within their means.
The two day hearing into the decision to grant King fit and proper status will be heard on February 11 and 12.
On December 9 at the High Court in London Mr King will be charged with breaking a Court Order not to discuss the deal between Rangers Retail and Sports Direct.
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Did DCK inform the SFA of a charge in SA of contempt of court where he was given a suspended sentence ?
@ Sid..Of course he didn’t it’s the GASL were talking about here..This clown couldn’t point his mouth in the rite direction to tell the truth
Well if we ever needed proof that Sevco is THEIR TEAM then here it is. In their eyes Sevco must exist for all our benefit, but it’s really their’s. Seem to remember Livingston getting hammered last year, but for the difficulties Sevco face we’ll break our backs helping them. Kings past didn’t affect their decision because THEY NEED SEVCO. Know doubt their BROTHERS in the press will be smoothing everything over for them.
Well done big Mike, really looking forward to this case coming to court.
HH
I like mike so I do.
I hear John Eustace is joining Barcelona
Wrong.
Eustace is singing for Barcelona.
DISBAND THE SFA NOW!
THERE MUST BE SOME WAY TO GET IT DONE!
Monti
All the club’s have got to get together and boot them out, they’ve never done anything fu*kin right, one of the most corrupt organisations in the world.
HH
All thats required is for all the Scottish clubs to vote no confidence in the SFA,and if they don’t all resign,they can break away and form their own Association.
Clubs may be financially above water but to say Scottish football is healthy is pushing it. Not that a basket case like Sevco would improve things at all, but the game here is going nowhere with or without them. Our game is lagging behind nations that were once backwaters. It is still run by questionable types and reported on by people wanting to turn a blind eye to the rotten mobs demise
Id have Celtic in the national league in England tomorrow if it was an option
If a 10% shareholder can turn the spotlight on the SFA through a judicial enquiry why can’t Celtic ‘ s majority shareholder go down the same route in relation to Res 12.
The SFA can’t answer the questions put to them by Celtic ‘ s solicitors because they know they would have to come clean about the Euro licence issued to Rangers in 2011.
The facts are clear, taxes were outstanding, no licence should have been granted.
Someone at Rangers made the application, who was it, are they still employed by the club?
Someone at the SFA signed off on the application and duly forwarded the paperwork to UEFA.
Who signed off, what due diligence was undertaken is that employee/employees still employed by the SFA?
A judicial enquiry will provide the answers in 5 minutes, what is Celtic waiting on.
King’s F &P case will never get back to court, the SFA will fold their hand and reverse their original decision otherwise lots of stuff will be aired in court that even might embarrass them……..though I wouldn ‘t count on it
The 3 Bears will dump him and do a deal with Ashley
Whether the SFA reverse their decision or not,they should still face the court.
If they do reverse their dicision,and the court let it go,in the public eyes the court would be just as bad as the SFA.
Here we go again……..will King splash the cash in the January window?
Well, I think we all know the answer to that one.
Is this the same King that won over the SFA with promises of over investment in the Ibrox outfit?
Is this the same King that had to borrow money from the 3 Bears just to buy his shareholding?
Is this the same King that’s had his properties, cars and wine cellar confiscated by the SA authorities?
I’m starting to think that it’s definitely not the same King.
Add another of court appearance dates to the current crop and it’s taking on the appearance of a fixtures list!
However over on the Bears Den all is well…..who will we be signing in January? How much will be in the war chest? Let’s have a special celebration when we win our next title! Obviously all keen readers of Union Jack and Matthew Lindsay in the Extra Terrestial Times.
DJ is adamant that King is about to announce a major spending spree at this week’s AGM, aimed at the January transfer window.
And yes King will have some tricky questions to answer at the event……..really?
As in ‘Haw Dave, why did you have to borrow money to buy your shareholding?’
I don’t think so either.
Heard that GASL King will be heading to his South African bolt hole,and will be sending a message,that he will not be able to come for the AGM,due to illness.He will also ask for his court case on 9th December to be postponed for the same reason.