SFA make incredible plea as Mike Ashley is granted judicial review into Dave King decision

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.”

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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