The lost emails

DAVE King told business watchdogs investigating his takeover of Rangers that he had deleted emails related to his acquisition of the club.

Investigators wanted the correspondence as they built their case that the Ibrox supremo had broken business rules by acting as part of an undeclared consortium in securing a shareholding of more than 30 per cent.

King claimed his IT staff were unable to retrieve the emails – but was able to produce ones in which he maintained he had to remain independent of any group seeking control of the club.

Watchdogs were cynical of these communications, saying they were “in no doubt” one was a “selfserving email designed by Mr King to cover his tracks”.

They found he had produced the email in a bid to create a “false impression” that he had not been part of a co-ordinated bid to take over Rangers.

The panel cited the email sent by King to George Letham on January 2, 2015, where he wrote: “I may want to approach co-investors from time to time and it will help me to know who is involved in your ‘consortium’ so that I avoid duplication.”

The panel criticised King’s “lack of co-operation” with their inquiries but concluded such “self-induced delay” shouldn’t allow him to avoid obligations under the rules.