Rangers' administrators slam "extraordinary" transfer embargo

By Andrew Warshaw

April 25 – Administrators running ailing Scottish powerhouse Glasgow Rangers have hit out at the club being handed a crippling transfer embargo, saying the move could affect the very survival of the 54-time Scottish champions.

Rangers, who for weeks have been looking for new owners after being plunged into administration with debts of £9 million ($14 million/€11 million) in unpaid taxes, were banned for a year by the Scottish Football Association from bringing in new players over the age of 18 and fined £160,000 ($260,000/€196,000).

In addition, Craig Whyte, who bought the club last May, was given a lifetime ban from Scottish football for bringing the game into disrepute.

In a strongly worded statement, administrators Duff and Phelps said the Scottish FA decision was “quite extraordinary” and called for an immediate appeal.

Stressing that the chances of finding new buyers had been heavily compromised by the sanctions, joint administrator David Whitehouse (pictured above, right) said: “We are sure the authorities recognise that any potential purchaser or investor in a football club must have clarity in relation to its future playing capabilities and revenue potential.

“By failing to provide clarity in relation to pragmatic and commercially sensible penalties the authorities are by default prejudicing the survival of one of the clubs whose existence is key to the wellbeing of Scottish football.

“There has been widespread support across the political spectrum and in the football world for Rangers to be saved as a club and a viable business, [but] last night’s decision can only hinder rather than help.”

Whitehouse also criticised a move by the Scottish Premier League (SPL) to discuss a possible rule change next week which would mean that clubs who become insolvent and are then reformed would be docked points in future seasons.

“We are urging both football authorities to adopt a more pragmatic approach to sanctions to ensure that the administration of Rangers Football Club can be brought to a conclusion at the earliest possible date for the good of not only the club but also for Scottish football generally,” the statement said.

The administrators, who have been running Rangers since February 14, had hoped to name a preferred bidder for the club two days ago.

But that deadline came and went, like many before, and any hope of proceeding towards an exit from administration under a new owner now looks less and less likely.

The Scottish FA’s action was in response to a number of misdemeanours by both the club and Whyte (pictured) but the administrators’ statement continued: “Not only in our opinion do the [Scottish FA] panel fail to have properly apportioned culpability between the club and Craig Whyte, they appear to have rendered a penalty which could have a very detrimental effect on the ability of the administrators to achieve a sale of the business or a Company Voluntary Arrangement.

“This, in turn, cannot be in the interests of Rangers Football Club or Scottish football in general.”

The Rangers Supporters Trust described the punishment as draconian and said they would consider boycotting SFA sponsors and the Scotland team in protest.

“This is a shameful decision that has been taken with the sole purpose of crippling Rangers Football Club,” they said in a statement.

“All options are on the table and no Rangers player or supporter can credibly play in or support the national side until this ridiculous decision is reversed.”

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