SFA chief Stewart Regan demands Charles Green reveals his mystery backers

[ian1964 10,870]

SFA boss Stewart Regan is to demand full disclosure of the people and groups behind Charles Greenâ??s Ibrox takeover.

 

The former Sheffield United chief executive doesnâ??t want to reveal his team until a CVA can be agreed but the gameâ??s governing body will insist Green lists everyone involved â?? and also provides full details of his business plan.

 

We can reveal today that former Newcastle owner Freddy Shepherd is giving â??serious considerationâ? to joining the group.

 

The controversial 70-year-old broke cover to speak exclusively to Record Sport last night after seeing his name linked with Greenâ??s anonymous 20-strong consortium.

 

But one name will not satisfy Regan â?? he wants the full story behind the deal, believing itâ??s the correct and responsible thing to do.

 

And he should be applauded for stepping forward and demanding answers.

 

Only yesterday in these pages, we said the SFA had to act on behalf of Rangers, who are in the hands of administrators, and it appears thatâ??s exactly what they are doing.

 

We can also reveal that Green will be back in Glasgow tomorrow because he wants to meet the Ibrox staff but now he will also have to provide answers to the SFA.

 

Rangers fans are desperate to know who is in with Green and how much money they can muster after their £8.5m buy-out but these supporters donâ??t have a board of directors or anyone to speak on their behalf.

 

On Sunday night, just after our sister paper the Sunday Mail had revealed Green was in line to be the next owner, an SFA spokesman said they couldnâ??t get involved and that they didnâ??t have a fit and proper test.

 

But common sense has prevailed and we believe Regan will now demand full information on Greenâ??s men and their backgrounds, even though he made it clear he had no desire to do that when he stepped forward on Sunday as the leader of Rangersâ?? next owners.

 

The Yorkshireman, 59, reaffirmed this last night in a statement but said he would welcome talks with the gameâ??s governing bodies over any future sanctions the club may suffer.

 

Green said: â??Quite rightly, fans and the media have raised the issue of the identity of those involved.

 

â??The reason I canâ??t do this at this time is some investors would like to wait until a CVA proposal is advanced or agreed before going public.

 

â??What I can say is that there is a broad church of investors, from families in Singapore and India to

individuals in the UK.

 

â??The identities of those involved will be revealed as we pursue the CVA and know what the outcome of that will be.

 

â??I am also hoping to meet the SPL and SFA soon to discuss the consortium and all matters regarding the club. I would also like to say that as soon as the CVA process is further along the road I would like to meet supportersâ?? representatives again to discuss progress.â?

 

Regan will push through tougher controls on clubs and new owners at the SFAâ??s agm on June 6.

 

They will place a great onus on clubs to conduct more detailed due diligence on prospective new owners to avoid one of their members falling into the hands of another Craig Whyte.

 

But because the SFA are limited on what they can demand of certain businesses they will make it harder for clubs to change hands.

 

They hope that by doing so the futures of their clubs and the game in general will be become better protected.

 

Meanwhile, Shepherd confirmed Green has asked him to pump some of his family millions into the Ibrox rescue package. But he insists he wonâ??t make a final decision until he has seen more details of Greenâ??s vision for the club.

 

The man who sold his shares in Newcastle to Mike Ashley in 2007 said: â??Weâ??ve been approached about joining his consortium and are considering it. He has obviously approached other people â?? we are not that daft â?? but he has spoken to us and we are thinking it over.

 

â??We havenâ??t been given a timescale but youâ??d be an idiot to think this can go on for weeks or months.â?

 

Shepherd has asked for more information on the crippled state of the club and will also be keen to obtain a clearer view of any further football sanctions likely to be imposed on Rangers before he digs into his own pocket on their behalf.

 

But he wonâ??t be scared off at the first sign of trouble, having helped build his local club up from nothing into a £100m business.

 

Shepherd added: â??Nothing is impossible so once weâ??ve got all the details weâ??ll be able to make our decision. The bottom line is Rangers are a big club. Itâ??s a global brand and we are seriously looking at it.

 

â??Iâ??ve been at the bottom end before. When I took Newcastle over it was hardly the Bank of England I was buying. So I have experience in these matters.â?

 

Green is not only trying to bring in more financial muscle. He is also engaged in a PR offensive with the clubâ??s supporters.

 

After attending Sundayâ??s 4-0 win at St Johnstone, he released a statement through the clubâ??s website yesterday which said: â??Although I have spent many years in and around football, nothing could have prepared me for the passion and commitment I saw in the last few days.

 

â??I hope the consortium I lead can repay that and we are now pressing on with the job of completing the sale of the club.â?

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2012/05/15/rangers-in-crisis-sfa-chief-stewart-regan-demands-charles-green-reveals-his-mystery-backers-86908-23859951/

[Gazza_8 233]

He's not liking the fact that him or the SFA don't have a clue who these "mystery backers" are.

 

Keep it as close to your chest as possible until you need to spill the beans.

[caseyjones 0]

Better late than never.

[GovanAllan 0]

Is this the fit and proper test that doesn't exist then.

 

Heard on the news Regan has been in talks about Euro 2020, you couldn't make this shit up Scottish Football falling down around his ears and he's in talks about a pie in the sky.

Edited May 15, 2012 by GovanAllan

[ian1964 10,870]

So,is it just Rangers owners that are to be investigated?,the SFA fucked up with CW 100%.

[Guest Guardian]

Payback for Ally asking about the panel ?

 

I doubt Regan can do much other than ask at the moment. It's just sabre rattling and another wee kick at us.

 

They are going to be as awkward as possible throughout this whole thing.

 

If Rangers survive, it will be despite the SFA, who have opposed us at every turn.

 

I hope those 3 titles to celtic are worth the carnage they are about to unleash in the SPL.

[Frankie 8,890]

I'm glad they're asking if it means another Whyte catastrophe can be avoided.

[Guest Guardian]

If they are given the info, how long til it "leaks"

[ian1964 10,870]

Will the admin guys know who these investors are?

[GovanAllan 0]

Will the admin guys know who these investors are?

 

I would think so mate, but McDonald & Stretford don't fill me with confidence.