CRAIG Whyte has arrived in Glasgow to answer charges over his Rangers takeover, as it emerged the club's senior former directors had received hundreds of thousands in bonuses and severance pay.
Whyte, 43, will appear at the city's sheriff court today after he was detained trying to enter Mexico. He was arrested by Police Scotland officers on arrival at Heathrow Airport yesterday.
Two weeks ago, the Crown Office issued a warrant for the former owner's arrest following a long-running probe into the club's sale in 2011. Last night a Police Scotland spokesman said: "A 43-year-old man has been arrested on an outstanding apprehension warrant in connection with alleged involvement in a fraudulent scheme to acquire Rangers FC and alleged offences in contravention of the Companies Act (2006)."
It came as Rangers' latest results, published last night, revealed the club needs £8 million over the next 12 months to ensure it can continue running day to day. The report said "significant further funds" are also required in January.
The document also revealed former finance director Brian Stockbridge collected a severance package of £216,000 when he left in January. The accountant, appointed by former owner Charles Green in 2012, earned an additional £217,675 in the year to June 30 2014. It means he received £433,675, minus a previous £98,000 bonus which he had to pay back.
Former chief executive Craig Mather, who resigned in October 2013, left with £350,000 in severance pay in addition to the £84,980 earned before he stepped down. Mr Mather's replacement Graham Wallace was paid £377,827, including a £160,000 bonus, before resigning in October. He has since received a severance payment of £100,000.
The report also found that average attendances had declined from 45,111 in the 13 months to the end of June 2013, to 41,444 for year to the end of June. It also said there was an ongoing joint legal action over the ownership of the club by Whyte and Aidan Earley, a director of Sevco 5088, the firm that bought the liquidated assets of Rangers oldco.
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