Charles Green last night renewed his verbal attack on the Scottish Premier League by accusing them of wrongly making Rangers apply for membership of the top flight.

The chief executive has interpreted comments in a report from Lord Nimmo Smith, who is chairing the SPL-appointed commission probing alleged undisclosed payments to Rangers players, as proof that his company need not have applied for membership of the SPL or the Scottish Football Association.

Sevco Scotland, as they were then known, were denied entry to the SPL following a vote of member clubs after buying the assets and business of the soon-to-be-liquidated Rangers.

Mr Green said: "Lord Nimmo Smith has said that Rangers FC is a recognisable entity which continued in existence notwithstanding the change in ownership. The commission has in effect ruled that Rangers and its history did not die on 14 June despite numerous reports to the contrary."