Whyte assures Rangers fans

12 September 2011 23:30

Craig Whyte has assured Rangers fans that the club's future is safe in his hands.

Concerns over the club's solvency were raised in the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Friday by Glasgow law firm Levy and McRae, who took action to secure payment of a £35,000 bill.

Rangers later hit out at comments made during the hearing in a statement which described the concerns as "unfounded, unwarranted and nothing more than scaremongering tactics." Whyte moved to ease any fears that Light Blues' supporters may have with regards their club's future. "Rangers will always be there and playing at Ibrox," he said.

The Ibrox club then condemned a "whispering campaign" after legal papers apparently relating to former chief executive Martin Bain's claim against the club for unfair dismissal were leaked "illegally".

The Scottish champions are also involved in two separate cases with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, both relating to payments made before Whyte took over as owner from Sir David Murray in May.

The club have not paid a £2.8million tax bill which first emerged in April relating to payments made to staff from 1999 to 2003, but they are believed to be disputing a fine that goes with it. And an on-going tax tribunal, which could reportedly cost the club up to £49million, will resume in November.

Whyte added: "They will be there long after I'm dead and buried. The press we have received over the last week has been horrendous but we are in a better position than we were a year ago.

"Lloyds debt has been paid off and we are in control of our own destiny. We accept that there are challenges ahead. There are other issues but everyone is aware of them and we are working our way through them but as I say, the club is in a better position than we were a year ago."

Referring to the leaked document which caused such a stir over the weekend, Whyte said that Bain has a "cheek" pursuing his claim.

"There was a lot of stuff in the document which was opinion and which we don't agree with," he said. "Every Rangers fan will see it for what it is. It could not be taken as partial and some of it is absolute drivel and ludicrous. The most ludicrous thing of all is that Martin Bain is looking for £1.3million from the club. He has a cheek."

Source: PA