The Herald has published a series of quotes from Craig Whyte’s explosive book ‘Into The Brar Pit’ which will be published next week, on Valentine’s Day.
Welcomed into the spotlight in November 2011 it was claimed that the billionaire from Motherwell was about to bring in a new era of success at Ibrox as David Murray found his mini-me to take over the troubled club.
Internet bampots quickly discovered that the billionaire claim didn’t quite ring true while the reality of owning a castle later resulted in re-possession.
For more than six months the Whyte Knight escaped scrutiny from the Scottish media as the price for the club dropped from £30m down to £1.
Whyte inherited a shambles that required Champions League group stage to break even with a squad being paid through a scheme of disguised remuneration and inherited the lame duck management of Ally McCoist.
After years of being blamed for the death of Rangers he has gathered his thoughts into a book that is certain to be a best seller regardless of the criticism that will come his way from the usual suspects.
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Among the highlights as the eighth anniversary of administration approaches The Herald reports the following quotes from Whyte’s book:
On Rangers’ use of EBTs
“Rangers cheated for years under David Murray. There should be a level playing field in sport and Rangers did not adhere to that by using the EBT scheme to sign players they otherwise would not have been able to bring to the club. That was unfair on the other teams.”
On the likelihood of Rangers going into administration after his takeover
“Administration seemed almost inevitable. We looked at the possibility of putting the club into administration pre-acquisition, or at the time of the takeover. But the outcome of the EBT tax case was within the first month of the takeover. If we put the club into administration and then found we’d won the case that wouldn’t look great.”
On the Rangers directors
“I thought the board were a bunch of pompous buffoons and meeting them served no purpose. I decided they were all going to have to go sooner rather than later.”
On Rangers manager Ally McCoist
“Ally McCoist was untested as a manager, but I had no choice but to keep him as it would have cost the club £1 million to break his contract. My hands had been tied by the old board.”
On Rangers losing to Malmo in a Champions League qualifier in 2011
“It was probably the moment when the inexperience of our young manager was most exposed. Had Walter Smith still been in charge and been able to guide us into the Champions League I firmly believe I would still be the owner of Rangers today.”
On the Rangers players
“In the main footballers struck me as mercenaries. They were there for the money, not because they loved the club. They got in at 10.30am, had a run around the pitch, got their free breakfast, their free lunch and then they disappeared. What a life. I used to hear all sorts of things about the players. The club doctor told me a player had picked up a sexually transmitted disease and his performances had seemed to dip as a result.”
CLICK HERE to order Into The Bear Pit through Amazon