Whyte wins battle with HMRC to put Rangers into administration

Rangers have beaten HMRC to the appointment of the administrator for the financially crippled football club.

Craig Whyte applied to appoint an administrator yesterday but that was challenged by HMRC who applied to appoint their own administrator to protect fresh bills from the current tax year.

After a dramatic day of activity at the Court of Session in Edinburgh Lord Menzies ruled that the club could appoint Manchester-based firm Duff and Phelps as administrators.

That decision kills stone dead any prospect that the club will be able to come to a settlement with HMRC over debts believed to be in the region of £75m.

With the club now in administration the SPL will apply a 10 point penalty to Ally McCoist’s side leaving them trailing Celtic by 14 points with a dozen games scheduled to be played.

Major doubts now hang over Saturday’s home match with Kilmarnock.

It’s unlikely that the SPL will apply any further sanctions but with full payment unlikely Strathclyde Police could call the game off.

A spokeswoman for the force said: “Strathclyde Police is a public body and has a duty to make sure public resources are used appropriately. We are seeking an urgent meeting with the administrators to ensure that any payment for policing costs at future Rangers games is guaranteed.

“Until we have such a guarantee we would not be in a position to commit public resources to policing an event unless we had a reassurance that our costs would be met.”

CLICK HERE for SNP comment on Rangers tax case

CLICK HERE  for Police question for Rangers v Kilmarnock

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