Football
PA Sport 9y

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley and Rangers face SFA hearing

The Scottish Football Association is ready to punish Mike Ashley and Rangers over the Newcastle United owner's Ibrox involvement.

Hampden chiefs have issued both Ashley and the club with notices of complaints.

The latest development in the Gers saga came the same day as it was confirmed boss Ally McCoist had tendered his resignation.

McCoist has given a 12-month notice period but the final say on whether the manager remains in charge of the cash-strapped Light Blues for that long could ultimately rest with Sports Direct tycoon Ashley.

However, his behind-the-scenes manoeuvrings have now put the Magpies owner on a collision course with the SFA.

Compliance Officer McGlennan has charged him with breaching two of the governing bodies' rules.

The first -- disciplinary rule 19 -- states that "except with the prior written consent of the board, no person [who] has any power whatsoever to influence the management or administration or a club may at the same time either directly or indirectly (a) be a member of another club; or (b) be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management or administration of another club; or (c) have any power whatsoever to influence the management or administration of another club."

A second charge accuses Ashley of breaching disciplinary rule 77, which states: "A recognised football body, club, official, Team Official, other member of Team Staff, player, match official or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall, at all times, act in the best interests of Association Football."

Rangers as a club have also been accused of breaching rules 19 and 77 while they also face a third charge relating to disciplinary rule 1.

It states: "All members shall: (b) be subject to and comply with (i) the Articles (ii) this protocol and (f) behave towards the Scottish FA and other members with the utmost good faith."

Both the club and Ashley will face a principal hearing on Jan. 27.

Ashley was one of the original investors in the initial public offering when Rangers was floated on the AIM Market -- a sub-market on the London Stock Exchange -- at the end of 2012.

But Ashley had already promised the SFA that he would not own more than 10 percent of Rangers as part of an agreement designed to limit his influence at Ibrox while he remains in control of Newcastle.

Although his current stake in the club stands at 8.92 percent, Ashley runs Rangers' retail division and has recently handed the club a loan of three million pounds.

His right-hand man, the former Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias, has also been added to the Gers board.

An option on stadium naming rights bought for just one pound has been handed back to the club, however.

Rangers announced losses of 8.3 million pounds last month and need to raise a similar amount before the end of the financial year if the club is to survive.

McCoist's decision to walk means he must be paid 750,000 pounds for the final year of his contract and it is likely the clubs directors will have to turn to their main benefactor -- Ashley -- once again if they are to find the cash they desperately require.

The club's board is expected to meet with McCoist on Wednesday to discuss the situation.

If found guilty, Rangers could face a range of punishments that include a censure, fine, being thrown out of the Scottish Cup, a transfer ban or even having their membership of the SFA terminated.

Ashley, meanwhile, risks a fine of 10,000 pounds if he fails to have the charges dropped.

Rangers fans' representatives later hit out at the board over their handling of the McCoist situation, but said: "Ally has made the correct decision to resign."

A statement by the Union of Fans, which incorporates the main Rangers fans' groups, added: "Things have not gone well this season on the park, and off it he has seen the club decimated by the incompetents in the boardroom."

The fans hit out at the board for handing out major pay-offs to former directors and executives while "attempting to throw a club legend under a bus without even having discussed the terms of his severance with him."

"They were happy to line the pockets of people who have decimated Rangers but it would appear Ally McCoist, who as a player and employee has contributed more than they could ever dream of, is not worthy of even the courtesy of confidentiality in severance discussions," the statement added.

"We hope Ally will do the right thing and come to a solution that is beneficial to both him and club. By the club we mean the club and not this board or those who control them.

"We will not accept this board's toxic spin and ham-fisted attempts to blacken the name of a club legend. We hope Ally can go with our best wishes and will remain Super Ally long after the names of the charlatans in this boardroom are mercifully forgotten."

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