Rangers boss Ally McCoist vindicated by payments report

Rangers manager Ally McCoist feels 'totally vindicated' by the report into the oldco club's undisclosed payments after Lord Nimmo Smith and his colleagues ruled no sporting advantage was gained.

The liquidated club were issued with a £250,000 fine on Thursday, most if not all of which will never be paid, for a "serious" breach of Scottish Premier League rules from 2000 to 2011. The independent commission set up by the SPL ruled that payments to dozens of players should have been disclosed but were not as the club did not want to undermine their tax avoidance scheme.

But the panel rejected accusations that Rangers had fielded ineligible players or had gained an unfair competitive advantage during their five title wins in the period. McCoist told Rangers TV: "I think the result of the commission has totally vindicated the entire club and the playing staff throughout that period."

He added: "We always felt and hoped it would be the case and it goes without saying that we are delighted with the outcome. We feel that common sense has prevailed thankfully.

"It's been niggling away at all our minds for a long time now - and it has been the same for players and ex-players and certainly supporters.

"It was worrying because we always hoped for the right outcome but you never know.

"It's great that we have some closure on it now.

"We were 100 per cent sure in our own minds that there had been no wrong-doing in terms of trying to seek an unfair advantage or to take it more bluntly cheat because that is the worst crime you can ever level at a sportsman.

"To have something like that levelled at you is pretty outrageous and I'm thrilled for all the fans, for the staff and all the players that a sensible outcome has been reached."

Source : http://www.football.co.uk/rangers/rangers_boss_ally_mccoist_vindicated_by_payments_report_rss3782458.shtml