By the end of the afternoon Dave Murray must have been left wondering whether it had really been worthwhile taking the pound coin from a former billionaire.
Six years ago it seemed like a great idea to take some loose change from Craig Whyte in exchange for finally getting shot of the albatross round his neck- Rangers Football Club.
With a decaying stadium, poisonous support, HMRC chasing on the big tax case and toxic reputation it was quite an achievement to remove the club from the Murray Group portfolio. Lloyds Bank were certainly pleased.
After a day’s grace yesterday Sur Davie was left battered and bruised as his old mate Donald Findlay tore his reputation to shreds at the Craig Whyte fraud trial.
The shambolic running of Rangers down the years, hiding from HMRC and stooping to any depth to lift a football trophy were exposed in twitter techicolour.
Findlay “You left the club to a group of men who sat around waiting for the Sultan of Brunia to decide to buy a Scottish football club”
— James Doleman (@jamesdoleman) April 28, 2017
Says Murray briefed the press daily, briefed behind managers back
— James Doleman (@jamesdoleman) April 28, 2017
Findlay “you knew”
Murray “I don’t recall the details”— James Doleman (@jamesdoleman) April 28, 2017
Findlay asks Murray if at any point in time did anyone tell him Whyte was looking at outside finance
“I don’t recall that”— James Doleman (@jamesdoleman) April 28, 2017
Murray “I’m not playing tricks”
Judge “I’m not playing tricks either but did you consider it”?
Murray agrees he has given it thought— James Doleman (@jamesdoleman) April 28, 2017
Findlay “you have no memory of discussion the administration of Rangers with anyone prior to the takeover”?
“Yes”— James Doleman (@jamesdoleman) April 28, 2017
Some of Murray’s secrets were laid bare such as his weekly press briefings which often undermined manager but never failed to portray the businessman as anything less than a swashbuckling captain of industry.
After being teed up by his former Finance Director Donald McIntyre over the wee tax case Murray gave the game away on Wednesday morning when he admitted that EBTs were used to bring in players that the club couldn’t afford.
After six days in court there is plenty more mileage left as a picture is painted of the trap that Whyte walked into is fully exposed.