SCOTTISH football's governing body has raised questions over the powerbase of Rangers as Sports Direct billionaire Mike Ashley's trusted lieutenant flew into Glasgow for talks over an executive role at the Ibrox club.

The Scottish Football Association (SFA) has sought clarifications as concern grows that the Newcastle United supremo may have breached rules over dual interest as he manoeuvred to take effective control of The Rangers Football Club Ltd, a subsidiary football board that holds the club's retail rights.

The latest developments have further infuriated fans' groups, who say the Newcastle United owner should never have been given so much power in exchange for a £2 million emergency loan to the club, secured against two of the club's assets adjoining the stadium - Edmiston House and Albion car park.

The resulting resignations of chief executive Graham Wallace and finance director Philip Nash from the club's holding company, Rangers International Football Club (RFC) plc and RFCL, will result in the appointment of two of Mr Ashley's allies to the subsidiary, thought to be former Newcastle managing director, Derek Llambias, who flew into Glasgow last night, and Stephen Mucklow.

Mr Llambias said last night he would be applying for the role of chief executive. Asked if Rangers fans should trust Mr Ashley, he said: "Yes. Mike has a proven track record."

Mr Llambias is also being tipped to take Mr Wallace's place on the RFCL board. It was unclear who would take Mr Wallace and Mr Nash's positions on the plc board, but they would have to be approved by the remaining board members, chairman David Somers and non-executive directors Norman Crighton and James Easdale.

Mr Ashley has a signed undertaking with the SFA limiting him to a stake of no more than 10 per cent in RIFC plc. He still holds just under 9 per cent of the equity.

Rules called "duel interest" prevent the owner of a chunk of a Scottish club having day-to-day control of another club.

However the latest developments are believed by some to breach Article 13.1 of the SFA Articles of Association, that state that no person involved in another club "has any power whatsoever to influence the management or administration of a club" without "prior written consent".

It is understood SFA has written to both Rangers and Mr Ashley seeking to clarify what has happened, while reminding them of the contents of the agreement.

If the SFA are unsatisfied with developments, they could hold a judicial panel to decide whether rules have been breached.

Fans' groups fear that it will be the team that will suffer through point penalties, rather than the executives who made the decision to accept Mr Ashley's offer.

However it is understood the SFA believe they can hold the club and Mr Ashley personally to account if it was found there was a material breach of the undertaking.

Chris Graham of the Union of Fans, which supported Dave King's £16m takeover bid, described the events as "farcical".

Mr King himself admitted that RFCL chairman Sandy Easdale was a hurdle to his bid. He is an ally of Mr Ashley and holds the right of veto on major investment decisions with 26 per cent of the shares.

"How could they choose the loan option over a long term funding option that brings all the customers back to the business, which is quite clearly, without any ambiguity about it, the best proposal for the long term future of the club," said Mr Graham. "They are either incompetent or stupid. "To have a situation where Ashley can bring two people in to effectively run the business without them being on the plc board is an absolutely farcical situation."

l A 45-YEAR-OLD man has been reported to the procurator fiscal over allegations that secret Rangers documents were leaked online. The 45-year-old faces claims of extortion, as well as breaches of the Communications Act and Computer Misuse Act.