The events of 2012 will live long in the memory of every Rangers fan old enough to remember, filed somewhere at the back, never to be discussed without stirring feelings of hatred towards the individuals and organisations responsible for sending us to the depths of Scottish football.
The most frustrating aspect of it all is that it could have been avoided, HMRC were suspiciously quick to reject any potential agreements and the administrators – Duff and Phelps – also seemed intent on taking us down one path, and one path only – liquidation.
The “debt” has gradually decreased from the ridiculous sums that were sensationally reported but this isn’t the only scandal, the administrators have now been branded as less than competent in the case brought against them by BDO, the liquidators.
The BBC has reported Judge Lord Tyre’s comments on the administrators failure to consider player sales or selling Ibrox and/or the Auchenhowie training facility:
“I address firstly the steps taken by the respondents to inform themselves of the factors relevant to their decision-making in relation to player and non-player redundancies and player sales.
“In my opinion the respondents’ actings in this regard fell below the standard reasonably to be expected of an ordinarily competent administrator in a number of respects.
“I am satisfied that the respondents acted without having taken independent advice on certain critical matters about which they required to be informed.”
It’s incredible to think that the business and assets were sold to Charles Green for just £5.5million, you wouldn’t have been able to buy Steven Naismith for that fee at the time never mind the whole squad plus facilities like Ibrox and Murray Park as it was then known – it never seemed right.
Unfortunately, it’s too late to turn back the clock and we can only be grateful that the club is now in safe hands and heading in the right direction, it’s just a shame that ten years were needlessly wasted battling those that sought to do us harm.