DAVE KING has been cleared to take up the position of Rangers chairman after being passed 'fit and proper' by the Scottish Football Association.

The South Africa-based businessman was successful in overthrowing the former Ibrox board in March as he, Paul Murray and John Gilligan replaced Derek Llambias and Barry Leach at the top table after a lengthy battle for control.

But King held off on his appointment to the board as he sought approval from City and Hampden chiefs after concerns were raised over his previous directorship at Rangers and well-publicised tax issues with the South African Revenue Service.

Last month, Murray, who has been serving as interim chairman, was passed 'fit and proper' by the SFA under Article 10.2 of their Articles of Association

And King has now also been given the approval of the Professional Game Board after months of speculation about his status and what it would mean for his involvement at Ibrox.

He said in a statement: "The Scottish FA's process has understandably been a long one given their recent negative experience with some of the previous board members, who were tasked with being custodians of the club.

"It was essential that I dealt fully with all of the Scottish FA's questions and provided them with everything they required, no matter how personal, in order to prove that there were no barriers to me joining the board of Rangers International Football Club plc.
 
"I always maintained I would meet the fit and proper requirements of the Scottish FA once they had examined all the evidence and that is what happened.
 
"I said before that I must be the most scrutinised candidate in Scottish football history, but, as I also previously explained, I was happy to accept this given the importance to the club of having a board fully comprised of individuals with the club's best interests at heart and who are all approved by the Scottish FA.
 
"We finally have that and my colleagues on the board and I look forward to serving the club in the years to come."

The news is a huge boost to Rangers as King and the Ibrox board look to rebuild the club after years of turmoil on and off the park.

In a statement today, the SFA said: "In considering the request, the Board of the Scottish FA has sought and received specialist independent legal advice, both in Scotland and South Africa, in respect of Mr King's conviction further to the South African Income Tax Act and in relation to his previous involvement as a Director of the club. It has also received significant documentation from relevant authorities both within the UK and South Africa.

"The scale of this due diligence is unprecedented but befitting the complexities of the consideration placed before the Board. During this exercise both Mr King and the club were fully co-operative and responded to all questions put to them by the Scottish FA.

"On the basis of this advice presented to it, and having considered all submissions received from Mr King and the club in respect of this matter, the Scottish FA Board granted an approval, conditional upon further submissions from Mr King in respect of documented agreements with the appropriate authorities in South Africa.

"The Scottish FA can confirm it has now received this supplementary documentation in full and the Board is satisfied Mr King is Fit and Proper in terms of Article 10.2."

King is the most scrutinised board candidate the Hampden hierarchy have ever had to run the rule over due to his financial misdemeanours in South Africa and the fact that he, unlike Murray, remained on the Rangers board for a period of time following Craig Whyte's takeover four years ago.

Six weeks ago, the businessman was cleared by the Court of Session in Edinburgh to take a seat in the Ibrox boardroom and expressed hope that the 'endorsement will also provide the SFA with additional comfort to complete its consideration of my fit and proper status.

That has now proven to be the case for King after he convinced the SFA that he should be allowed to make his return up the Marble Staircase and join the board ahead of a huge few weeks on and off the park for Rangers.