Administration discussed before Craig Whyte deal, court told

The Rangers board discussed the possibility of the club going into administration several months before it was bought by Craig Whyte, a court has heard.

The club’s former finance director told jurors it would have been “remiss” of them not to have talks on the issue when faced with a potential burden from a looming tax case.

The court has heard Rangers faced a possible bill from HMRC of more than £50 million in the so-called “big tax case” – a potential debt described by Whyte’s advocate as a “nuclear missile”.

Donald Findlay QC also suggested the club was “already heading for a potential financial disaster” before Whyte appeared on the scene.

Former Rangers owner Whyte, 46, is on trial accused of acquiring the club fraudulently in May 2011. He denies the two charges against him, one of fraud and another under the Companies Act.

Ex-financial director Donald McIntyre, 58, was giving evidence for a second day at the High Court in Glasgow.

During questioning, Mr Findlay suggested the club was in a financial “predicament” around the start of 2011, before Whyte took over.

Mr McIntyre said the club had debt but it was getting to a more manageable level.

The court has heard the stadium needed about £1.7m to be spent on it and the club faced a £2.8m bill from a “small tax case”..

Mr Findlay also spoke of the upcoming “big tax case” in which no one knew what the final bill could be.

“The figure that was being talked about as a potential liability was in excess of £50 million,” said the QC.

The trial continues today.