Ann Budge confirmed that a whitewash was underway when she emerged from the SPFL AGM at Hampden yesterday.
Budge, in control of Hearts while the Foundation of Hearts complete their buy out of the club from administration, showed that she is part of the establishment that has a separate set of rules for clubs from Ibrox.
At a time when governance is the most important element for fans the Premier League clubs voted in a board that consists of Budge, Stewart Robertson of Sevco and Hamilton director Les Gray.
As a two finger salute to supporters and the bid for governance it could hardly have been more stark.
Robertson leads a club who haven’t produced audited accounts since 30 June 2016, survives month by month on director loans and five years after formation is still to find normal banking facilities.
Budge didn’t say a word as Hearts lost a Europa League place to a club with multiple breaches of Financial Fair Play while Gray’s support of the old Rangers club is legendary before he joined the Hamilton board on the invite of fellow Ibrox fan Ronnie McDonald.
With all the ingredients in place for a stitch up Budge told the Daily Mail: “We have discussed it at some length. You will get a full explanation on Wednesday.
“Has a decision been reached? A decision… no, there are recommendations.”
Asked why there was a 48-hour delay, Budge said: “We had to look at all of the facts thoroughly. It is a brand new board and I think to come out with something now would be a big ask. Are the considerations ongoing? Yes.”
In this instance the SPFL have a cut and dried case of a club using ineligible players due to payments through side contracts.
Neil Doncaster is often put up as the fall guy for unpopular decisions but in this case the blame lies with every single club.
If no move towards dealing with Rangers (IL) in the same way as Dundermline or Dundee United then every club that stays silent is approving a different set of rules for their friends at Ibrox.