Michael Mols has revealed that in 1999 he would have signed for Rangers (IL) for petrol money!
In a toe curling interview with BBC Scotland the striker claimed that he was so overcome by excitement that he would have left Utrecht for petrol money such was the thrill of working with the club managed by Dick Advocaat.
Later on when he was negotiating a new contract that included an ‘EBT’ Mols wanted reassurance that he wouldn’t get into trouble over the £260,000 payment backed up by a side letter which converted the EBT into a side contract liable to income tax and national insurance.
In years to come petrol money may hold the same double meaning as succulent lamb the phrase made famous from a drooling salute to Dave Murray penned by Jim Traynor of the Daily Record.
For no obvious reason the state broadcaster decided to sent a camera crew over to Amsterdam to interview Mols.
Back in the real world a commercial station like Radio Clyde can’t justify the expense of sending a reporter to Rosenborg to cover a Champions League qualifier.
Undeterred the BBC crew headed to Amsterdam. After the sort of questioning that is more likely to be heard on a supporters podcast it was time to get the pesky EBT stuff ticked off before moving on.
“I just wanted to play for Rangers,” Mols told the BBC admitting that he had heard of Ally McCoist. “I would have played for petrol money. I didn’t tell them that.”
Turning to his contract renewal topped up with £260,000 that denied hospitals, schools and our brave Armed Forces their well deserved dosh Mols explained: “They say, ‘You can help the club by doing it this way’. I said, ‘OK, as long as I don’t get into trouble’. They put it on a letter and at the end of the day the responsibility is with the club.
“My agent agreed and also the guy who was doing the tax, because I don’t have a clue about that. I assumed they had the knowledge about it. I agreed with it. I said, ‘No problem, as long as I don’t get into trouble.’
Unfortunately for Mols the sham was confirmed last month by the Supreme Court.
With income tax, national insurance, interest and a penalty due he can expect the attention of HMRC next time he is over at Ibrox, he was over in June for the Europa League qualifier against Progres Niederkorn.
As he looks over the paperwork for his ‘tax free’ side contract he’ll now probably realise that the onus for all tax matters is on the individual, not his employer or his agent.
