MAXWELL REQUESTS AUDIENCE WITH THE KING

SFA chief snubs Gers head’s demand for Hughes probe but offers meeting

IAN Maxwell, the SFA chief executive, last night rebuffed Rangers chairman Dave King’s demands for an investigation into Gary Hughes’ involvement or otherwise in a notice of complaint in relation to the Ibrox side’s licence to play European football in 2011 but offered to meet up if King wants a chat. The former Partick Thistle chairman, presiding over his first SFA AGM since replacing Stewart Regan in the association’s top job, said there was no need to examine the role of the independent non-executive director Hughes nor

had the Ibrox side even formally asked for an investigation despite a statement to that effect a few days ago.

Hughes, a selfconfessed Celtic fan and former director at Scottish Media Group, stepped down from the association yesterday, days after another Ibrox statement questioned his independence in the light of a historic pub review which referred to Rangers supporters as ‘the great unwashed’.

“No [the SFA will not be launching an investigation],” said Maxwell. “There is no need. The way the Notice of Complaint works is that the board instruct the compliance officer to review an incident, any incident, and the compliance officer is then completely independent from that point and decides whether there is a case to answer.

“Obviously, he decided, yes, there was a case to answer and that is now going through the process. I have seen nothing other than total independence from both the independents on the board.”

Maxwell insisted he had a good relationship with but his door was always open – as it is with all his member clubs.

“I think as chief exec of the Scottish FA, my job is to have a relationship with all the chairmen,” said Maxwell.

“I think that is a fundamental part. Regardless of club, it should be about being open, going and meeting them.

“I am obviously very early in the job. I’ve got a good relationship with Stewart Robertson and Andrew Dickson, I have known them for a long time now.

“I’ve spoken to Stewart since I got the job a few times about different things. It’s just about everyone knowing that we can pick up the phone at any point.”