Rangers inquiry set to cost £100million to taxpayer as more damages sought
The inquiry into the collapse and sale of Rangers in 2012 is due to cost the taxpayer over £100million as more damages are sought, The Times reports.
The fraud investigation was launched to look into the events surrounding the club when it went into administration a decade ago but the probe itself is now the subject of repeated claims.
Wrongful prosecutions have already seen payouts of over £40million to figures involved in the dealings.
Seven people including former club owner Craig Whyte were charged but later cleared.
US firm Kroll, formerly Duff & Phelps, has reportedly begun a legal action against the Scottish Crown Office, seeking damages of £80million, which a source said would rise to over £100million with legal costs.
Two figures from the firm, David Whitehouse and Paul Clark, have already received £21million in damages and £3million more for costs over their 2014 arrests before charges were dropped.
Former Light Blues chief executive Charles Green settled out of court and received £6.4million for being wrongly prosecuted himself.
Debacle
With the team back at the top with the 55th league title win in 2020/21, and the Scottish Cup victory the following year while reaching the final of the Europa League, the fallout from the worst period in the club’s recent history is largely passed.
But off the pitch the recriminations continue in what has proven to be a monumental mess all round.
The club itself have come through the other side, but many of those involved in the controversial dealings at the time continue to wrangle over compensation.
Football club takeovers, and the business side of the game in general, can be shady at the best of times, but considerable failings on the part of the state take problems to a whole new level.
The accompanying fact that all wrongdoings end up being paid for by the taxpayer is the cherry on top of a wholly unpopular set of events, and it will hardly improve the club’s popularity among the wider footballing community or population.
Clearly major lessons need to be learned from a period in the club’s history that plenty would rather forget.
In other Rangers news, former coach Michael Beale has posted a memorable tribute to one key Ibrox figure after news of a major development.