Neil Doncaster has stated that Sevco is the same club as Rangers (IL).
The declaration from the SPFL chief could have devastating consequences for the Ibrox side despite Doncaster’s view flying in the face of all logic.
With BDO getting close to completing their report into the crash of the club in 2012 and Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs still chasing the big tax case the assets of Sevco could be sold off to repay the 200 plus creditors, including many public bodies, left out of pocket.
Despite drafting up the highly secretive Five Way Agreement the football authorities have shied away from any statement on the status of the club formed by Charlie Green with assistance from Duff & Phelps.
Claims that they are the same club don’t stack up with Sevco starting the 2012/13 season in the Third Division, not playing in Champions League qualifiers and starting the League Cup and Scottish Cup at the same stage as other Third Division clubs.
Doncaster has rarely given any interviews since he famously warned of Armageddon in the summer of 2012 was interviewed by the BBC when he decided to give his views on the omnishambles at Ibrox that has put well run Championship sides at a disadvantage all season.
Rather than abide by their own rules the former Norwich City chief decided to use Lord Nimmo Smith’s unique take on liquidation for his Ibrox verdict.
Without the BBC raising the question Doncaster stated: “Any commercial partner we work with wants as much stability in the game as possible. The more stability we can have at all 42 member clubs, the better.
“In terms of the question about old club, new club, that was settled very much by the Lord Nimmo Smith commission that was put together by the SPL to look at EBT payments at that time.
“The decision, very clearly from the commission, was that the club is the same, the club continues, albeit it is owned by a new company, but the club is the same.”
The BBC asked: “So the official take from the SPFL is that Rangers Football Club continues, it’s the same club,” to which Donaster replied: “Yes, it’s the same club, absolutely.”
For clarity the BBC asked: “People have extreme views on this, so what’s the difference between a club and a company?
Doncaster answered explaining: “The member club is the entity that participates in our league and we have 42 member clubs.
“Those clubs may be owned by a company, sometimes it’s a Private Limited Company, sometimes it’s a PLC, but ultimately, the company is a legal entity in its own right, which owns a member club that participates in the league.”
Doncaster also claimed that there was no reason for concern that a national league that had been running for 18 months had yet to find a sponsor.
While Doncaster puts his faith in Nimmo Smith UEFA takes an entirely different view with the existence of the club linked entirely to the company.