Rangers Tax Case: Verdict given
News of the development was confirmed last night from the highly respected Rangers Tax Case website who have been on the front foot throughout the long running saga despite being derided by many.
While the RTC website has evolved into Scottish Football Monitor the twitter account has become very engaging with regular exchanges over the last month.
Responding to a messageboard claim that the decision had been relayed to both parties RTC tweeted: “I can confirm that this is true. FTT decision is in the hands of MIH/D&P and HMRC.”
RTC added: “FTT decision was signed off at the end of September on schedule and was with both MIH & HMRC yesterday.
“Formal release will be within 1-2 weeks at most. Expect leaks & spin before then.”
Tellingly, asked about the likely outcome of the verdict RTC tweeted: “Let’s put it this way, if they had won it would have been on the Friday night news.”
Other than RTC only the BBC have delved into the story in any significant detail with Mark Daly’s programme The Men Who Sold The Jerseys which was broadcast in May.
The programme claimed to have seen side-letters for a number of players explaining how their EBT payments would be made over the course of their contracts.
That issue was at the heart of the tax tribunal with Rangers claiming that payments were made on a discretionary basis while HMRC contested that they were contractual and liable to full tax.
David Murray, Alex McLeish, Dick Advicaat and Graeme Souness were all listed amongst those who had received EBT payments as well as BBC pundits Billy Dodds and Steven Thompson from their playing days at Ibrox.
If the big tax case has gone against Rangers HMRC will be able to persue club directors for the liability putting public figures such as SFA President Campbell Ogilvie in the spotlight.
It remains to be seen how a verdict in favour of HMRC will effect Sevco who apparently bought the land assets of Rangers for £5.5m with Charles Green admitting this week that an independent audit valued the club at £80m.
CLICK HERE for Charles Green’s £75m profit
Follow Video Celts on Twitter and Facebook