League chief: Let’s move on

NEIL DONCASTER hopes Scottish football can draw a line in the sand and move on from the Rangers tax case saga.

The SPFL confirmed yesterday morning that they will take no further action against the Light Blues for the use of Employee Benefit Trusts during Sir David Murray’s Ibrox reign.

The Supreme Court ruling in favour of HM Revenue and Customs this month led to calls in certain quarters for the Gers to be stripped of league and cup honours.

But Rangers will not face further punishment from the Hampden authorities as another chapter in the lengthy Ibrox tale was closed.

The SPFL have announced their support for an independent review into the way that the game deals with a range of issues, including the non-payment of tax by clubs.

And chief executive Doncaster is keen for Scottish football to move forward together after a tumultuous few years on and off the park.

He said: “Football matters – and it probably matters more in Scotland than anywhere else in the world.

“In that environment, you have intense focus on every move you make and syllable you utter. You shouldn’t be surprised if you get criticism or scrutiny.

“That goes with the job, that goes with the territory. That hasn’t surprised me and it doesn’t deter me.

“I think that’s why transparency and openness are the themes of this morning.

“I think the only way you can possibly try and draw a line under the events of the past is to understand precisely what happened.

“There is so much misunderstanding about everything that has happened involving Rangers over the past six years or so.

“That openness and transparency is, I think, important to try to move on.

“We absolutely welcome dialogue with clubs and supporter groups. We welcome their questions and scrutiny of the legal opinion. We will be as open as we can.”