THE Scottish Football Association is now embroiled in the latest twist in the saga of Rangers’ current board versus billionaire Mike Ashley.
A brief statement from the SFA released yesterday confirmed Ashley was taking the Association to court to have a judicial review of the SFA judgement that Rangers chairman Dave King is a “fit and proper” person to be involved in football administration.
It is the latest stage in the fight between Sports Direct’s Ashley and King over Rangers. The owner of Newcastle United is already taking King to court in London on December 9 for allegedly breaching a court gagging order prohibiting the chairman from discussing in public Sports Direct’s business with Rangers.
The governing body said it will fight the petition, which will be heard in the Court of Session on February 4. The statement read: “The SFA can confirm we have received a petition for Judicial Review and will be defending it. We will make no further comment at this stage.”
In a separate development, The National understands Ashley is also considering fighting a resolution to the Rangers AGM on November 27 with information which a source close to the Sports Direct tycoon said was “dynamite.”
The AGM will debate a resolution from the current board to stop Ashley, who owns almost nine per cent of Rangers, from having any say in the running of the club.
The source said: “From what I have heard, Mike is determined to have his say on this resolution as the third-biggest shareholder in the club.”
The “information” is thought to relate to Sports Direct being owed £5 million by Rangers.
Dragging the SFA into court shows the seriousness of Ashley’s intent to remove the chairman. King had to persuade the SFA to ignore the fact he was on the Ibrox board in the period leading up to the administration and liquidation of oldco Rangers, and that he was convicted of 41 tax offences in South Africa in 2013.
An SFA statement at the time read: “In considering the request, the board of the Scottish FA has sought and received specialist independent legal advice, both in Scotland and South Africa, in respect of Mr King’s conviction further to the South African Income Tax Act and in relation to his previous involvement as a director of the club.
“It has also received significant documentation from relevant authorities both within the UK and South Africa.
“The scale of this due diligence is unprecedented but befitting the complexities of the consideration placed before the board. During this exercise both Mr King and the club were fully co-operative and responded to all questions put to them by the Scottish FA.”
Charles Green and five others will resume their High Court preliminary hearing on December 8 in Glasgow. King will face Contempt of Court allegations on December 9 in the High Court in London.
The SFA will defend Ashley’s petition in the Court of Session in Edinburgh on February.
As some fans asked on social media last night: “Who is paying for all this?”.
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