Aberdeen fans are the first to challenge Stewart Regan’s decision not to review the tax cheating years at Rangers (IL).
The Dons Supporters Together (Aberdeen Fans Trust) has over 2,000 members and in their reply to Regan state that 44% of those fans are prepared to contribute financially to a Judicial Review.
The statement makes a number of scathing comments about the SFA over recent years and warns Regan that his actions over the years have created the current climate where fans are unwilling to move on.
Using the phrase ‘raking over the coals’ has again been seized on with most supporters interpreting that as an admission of guilt.
The statement reads: “In reaction to the SFA’s statement outlining their intention not to get involved in any inquiry into Rangers’ use of Employee Benefit Trusts (EBTs), we issued the below correspondence to the SFA:
“We – as Aberdeen FC’s only democratic and constituted fans’ organisation, existing to represent the views of Aberdeen supporters – would like to express our bitter disappointment at your decision not to participate in any review of Rangers’ use of Employee Benefit Trusts.
“To decline an invitation made by SPFL clubs appears tantamount to a dereliction of duty.
“We also find the statement you issued is close to insulting.
“It could be argued that “raking over the coals” is fully justified in the circumstances. Indeed, this is an issue that has not been put to rest for any one of the six years in question and still burns brightly. Turning a blind eye to injustice damages ‘the image of the game in Scotland’ further than any enquiry ever could.
“We cannot contest that ‘it will be impossible to satisfy every supporter, every club official and every member club’. In the work we do it is ever-apparent that you cannot even satisfy every Aberdeen supporter! However, our engagement with supporters and supporters groups affiliated to Aberdeen and other clubs would suggest that the vast majority would welcome an inquiry and expect the SFA to be part of it.
“It is more beneficial to act on the behalf of the majority rather than drop the case altogether. Indeed, we polled our members (of which we have over 2,000) to find that over two-thirds want an inquiry. In addition, 44% of respondents would contribute financially to fund an independent review. As it is the majority view our members and the Aberdeen support, we have long taken the position that merit of the Rangers team’s success be thoroughly challenged and it is why we send this email to you.
“We argue that your flagrant disregard for justice, as sought by the majority of Aberdeen supporters and those elsewhere in Scottish football, represents a complete lack of the integrity you defend at the tail of your statement and we invite you to reconsider your position on the matter.”
The Dons Trust along with fans of Dundee United were the only groups other than Celtic supporters who reacted to the July ruling from the Supreme Court.
With the SFA trying desperately to make it an ‘Old Firm war’ it is more important than ever that supporters of other clubs make it clear that they oppose the SFA and their attempts to move on and ignore justice.
