Gers chief still to face SFA test

Fitness probe pending after 9 mths

ALASTAIR JOHNSTON has still to be passed as a “fit and proper person” by the SFA despite serving as a Rangers board member for the past nine months. The 69-year-old club director returned to Ibrox in June 2017, having previously served as the club’s chairman, and took a seat on the board at the agm last November.

But his bid for SFA approval is still pending due to an ongoing probe into the UEFA licensing process from 2011. Johnston was

the club’s chairman in 2011 when Rangers applied for participation in UEFA competitions.

And questions have been asked about what the club knew about their tax obligations when they applied for their licence for European football that season.

Clubs wanting to play in Europe should have “no payables overdue” to tax authorities under UEFA’s rules. However, UEFA do allow clubs to play if they are disputing what they owe.

Rangers told UEFA in 2011 they had no overdue payments but were in dispute with HMRC over what became know as the Wee Tax Case.

But it later emerged in court that money owed to HMRC appeared to be overdue and was not being disputed.

During testimony at the trial of former Rangers owner Craig Whyte, club directors stated they were aware of an overdue tax bill from 2010, which was months before the application to UEFA.

After the revelation the SFA took legal advice before the matter was forwarded to the compliance officer to see whether the application was processed correctly.

That investigation has yet to conclude and Johnston has been left in limbo while the probe continues.

The American-based businessman is one of three Ibrox directors, alongside Paul Murray and chairman Dave King, who have returned to the club having previously sat on the board before the financial collapse in 2012.

Rangers were last night unavailable for comment.