The three leading Rangers supporters' group have called into question the manner of the SPL's investigation into allegations of undisclosed payments being made to players during the club's use of Employee Benefit Trusts.
They have called for assurance that no members of the independent commission established to adjudicate have not been prejudiced by media coverage of the issue of stripping the team of titles won during the time in question.
The Rangers Supporters Assembly, The Rangers Supporters Trust and The Rangers Supporters Association released a joint statement yesterday criticising the SPL for using the law firm, Harper McLeod, to carry out their initial investigation, because of its previous working relationship and links with Celtic, who could benefit if Rangers were to be found guilty of any misdemeanour.
"As with other consequences of the mismanagement of the club in recent years, if there has been wrongdoing then we would be victims, too," the statement said. "We are asking for justice and fairness, but in discussing the stripping of titles, it appears the SPL has assumed guilt when nothing has yet been proved. We hope the authorities will now act with the necessary independence, transparency and integrity.
"There would appear to be a conflict of interest in the choice of law firm appointed by the SPL to carry out their investigation. The SPL could have chosen any law firm to carry out this investigation and it was extremely naive of them to appoint a firm with such a close connection to a rival club.
"There is a concern that any tribunal appointed to rule on this matter will have been seriously prejudiced by the negative media coverage sur-rounding it. We want reassurance on the selection of the tribunal members and confidence in their impartiality.
"We are concerned that, despite the SPL having 18 sanctions available, the only punishment being discussed is the most serious yet no guilt has even been established. We believe this is being driven by influential members of the SPL board and recently formed 'steering committee' with the most to gain. We would question why there appears to be no on-going investigation into the so-called 'Juninho EBT' used by Celtic FC. Celtic acknowledged that this was not declared to the football authorities as part of their licence application. If this is the case, then why is a tribunal not being set up to look into this? We want justice and fairness for all."
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