Wednesday 17 December 2014 08:09, UK
The Scottish Football Association has announced that Rangers Football Club and shareholder Mike Ashley face charges relating to Ashley’s dual interest in the Scottish club and Newcastle.
Hampden chiefs have issued both Ashley and Rangers with notices of complaint, and a principal hearing has been scheduled for January 27 2015.
The news was announced on the same day as it was confirmed that Rangers manager Ally McCoist had tendered his resignation and entered a 12-month notice period.
And the financially troubled Glasgow side are now facing a Hampden Park hearing over their involvement with Sports Direct tycoon Ashley.
Rangers and Ashley have both been charged with breaching two of the governing bodies’ rules.
The first - disciplinary rule 19 - states that "except with the prior written consent of the board no person (who) has any power whatsoever to influence the management or administration or a club, may at the same time either directly or indirectly (a) be a member of another club; or (b) be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management or administration of another club; or (c) have any power whatsoever to influence the management or administration of another club".
A second charge accuses Ashley of breaching disciplinary rule 77, which states: "A recognised football body, club, official, Team Official, other member of Team Staff, player, match official or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall, at all times, act in the best interests of Association Football."
Rangers as a club also face a third charge relating to disciplinary rule 1.
It states: "All members shall: (b) be subject to and comply with (i) the Articles (ii) this protocol and (f) behave towards the Scottish FA and other members with the utmost good faith."
If Rangers are found guilty, they could face a range of punishments that include censure, a fine, being thrown out of the Scottish Cup, a transfer ban, or even having their membership of the SFA terminated.
Ashley, meanwhile, risks a £10,000 fine if he fails to have the charges dropped.
Ashley’s current stake in Rangers stands at 8.92 per cent after he increased his shareholding in October, the businessman having promised the SFA that he would not own more than 10 per cent of the club as part of an agreement designed to limit his influence at Ibrox while he continued to control Premier League side Newcastle.
However, Ashley runs Rangers' retail division and loaned the club £2m in October, which led to the departures of chief executive Graham Wallace and Philip Nash, the former finance director.
And Ashley's right-hand man Derek Llambias, the former Newcastle managing director, was subsequently added to the Rangers board.
It was announced that Ashley's initial loan had been increased by £1m in November, although he also gave up the naming rights to Ibrox, which he had purchased for just £1 two years ago.
The SFA wrote to Rangers and Ashley in October asking for clarification regarding the situation and are now planning disciplinary proceedings.
Rangers continue to endure financial difficulties and announced losses of £8.3m last month.
It is believed they need to raise a similar amount before the end of the next financial year if the club is to survive and McCoist’s decision to leave means his salary rises to £750,000 for the final year of his contract.
