Henry McLeish hopes the SFA's verdict that Rangers owner Craig Whyte is not fit to run a football club will be a turning point for Scottish football.
McLeish says football must learn from SFA verdict on Gers owner
Former First Minister Henry McLeish hopes the Scottish Football Association's verdict that Rangers owner Craig Whyte is not fit to run a football club will be a turning point for Scottish football.
The SFA made the announcement following an independent inquiry into the running of the SPL champions.
Rangers are currently in administration and in danger of not being able to fulfil their fixtures this season due to the financial crisis.
The inquiry ruled that Whyte "is not considered to be a fit and proper person to hold a position within association football" and the former politician hopes that more stringent checks carried out on potential club owners in the future.
McLeish said: "If you look at the verdict of the Scottish Football Association, then quite frankly we've got to make sure this doesn't happen again.
"It's hugely significant and I believe it's a real watershed in Scottish football. There's no doubt in my mind, and the minds of many people, that the shady dealings of financial people and the kind of casino finances that are being brought into the game, that has to stop.
"People say this should have happened before but quite frankly football is very resistant to change. But this is a wake-up call, and a stark warning to anyone in Scotland who wants to take over a club or get involved that the regulations in Scotland are watching over them.
"I suspect now that after the decision on Craig Whyte, what you'll see is a thorough overhaul of the fit and proper person criteria. I think in the future it will be much, much tougher.
"I think all in all it's a courageous decision but it's now got to be followed up by the most stringent of regulations to ensure that the game is not only financially sound but that the people who are running it are sound as well."
