SFA request more detail over Rangers bid

The Scottish Football Association will seek more information from Sevco Scotland on the identity and propriety of their investors and directors as talks continue on their application to take over Rangers' membership.

Sevco board members, including chairman Malcolm Murray, are meeting the SFA today to discuss issues surrounding their application, including the possibility of accepting sanctions such as a transfer embargo.

The SFA received an information pack from Sevco on June 29, seven days after the company submitted a letter of application to take the place of Rangers after buying the stricken club's assets for £5.5million. But they are still looking for answers.

The SFA banned Rangers owner Craig Whyte from Scottish football for life after he was ruled unfit to hold an official role in the game and subsequently changed their approach to the matter.

In a question and answer session posted on their website, the SFA tackled the issue surrounding the fit and proper person report for the new owners and the identity of the main investors and directors.

The governing body said: "The Scottish FA has received private and confidential documentation from Sevco Scotland Ltd relating to the above.

"We have asked Sevco to provide further supplementary information and will consider that information this week.

"Under new Scottish FA rules, it is a requirement of the outgoing club directors to conduct a full investigation under the fit and proper guidelines.

"Given Rangers FC's insolvency event, it has been incumbent on the administrators, Duff and Phelps, to carry out the necessary checks on the proposed new directors, as well as our own investigations."

Charles Green, chief executive of the Rangers newco, will not attend the meeting as he has set off to meet UEFA officials in an attempt to agree a repayment settlement for the old club's football debts of about £3million.

Green last night revealed he might have to accept the 12-month transfer ban handed to Rangers before they were consigned to liquidation.

Rangers successfully challenged the sanction in court, arguing it was not open to the SFA, but reconvening the independent appeal panel could spark more severe punishment including suspension or termination of membership.

The registration embargo and £160,000 fine were handed down for a range of offences, mainly the club's failure to pay tax under Whyte.

The governing body said today: "Now that the Scottish Football League have made a conditional acceptance of Rangers FC in Irn Bru Division Three we will now consider the club's application for membership transfer this week.

"The Scottish FA has been in dialogue with Rangers FC in respect of the outstanding disciplinary sanction.

"The decision of the Court of Session to set aside the 12-month registration embargo was complicated by Rangers FC's administration and subsequent request from Sevco Scotland for a transfer of membership of the Scottish FA.

"Again, now that the club's status has been confirmed by the SPL and SFL, we will consider the award of transfer once Rangers FC satisfy the necessary criteria."

The association also highlighted the relevant article, which reads: "Transfer of membership will be reviewed by the board, which will have the complete discretion to reject or to grant such application on such terms and conditions as the board may think fit."

Green also revealed last night that Dorin Goian, Carlos Bocanegra and Maurice Edu were set to follow the likes of Steven Naismith and Steven Davis out of Ibrox after the club was consigned to the Third Division.

He has argued that a transfer embargo is not feasible given manager Ally McCoist had previously lost a full team of players.

And the former Sheffield United chief executive will seek a deal over repayment of transfer fees and other debts owed to clubs by the soon-to-be-liquidated Rangers.

Green told Sky Sports News: "Part of the conditions for the newco to meet to satisfy SFA membership is that there are certain old club debts to European clubs.

"It is not inconsiderable, it is about £3million that has been accumulated as part of the historical baggage.

"These are oldco debts newco has got to face up to and this is the frustration we've had as a group where at times we are newco so we have to sit in this particular box.

"However when it is convenient we are still oldco so we have to suffer the sins of the fathers.

"Nevertheless what I want to go and say to these clubs as well as Uefa is that we are here for the long haul, we want to be honourable, we are people who face up to responsibility but we want some help in meeting these because we do want to get Rangers back to the top of the pile and when we do get back into Europe - whether it's five or 10 years or 20 years - we want to walk back with our heads held high.

"We don't want them to be waived, we don't expect them to be waived and part of me says why should a club waive its debts when it's done its thing honourably.

"Equally I think I would like the clubs and Uefa to recognise these are not my debts, this is a gesture and for them to work with us where we can come to some amicably agreeable settlement and move forward together as friends."

Rangers will be relaunched against Brechin in an away fixture in the first round of the Ramsden's Cup on July 28 if the SFA membership is secured.

PA