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Interesting timing for a front pager; the 'story' is not exactly fresh, nor does it contain anything new. Has Rangers reported something significant and positive in the last couple of days?

There are concerns that no actions have been taken to formally investigate criminal complaints arising from the conduct of the police investigation the first of which were understood to have been lodged nine years ago. And preparations for a promised judge-led public inquiry into the affair, which it has emerged is now costing the public over £60 million in compensation payouts and legal fees, are considered by some to be in a state of inertia despite pledges to establish one over four years ago. Meanwhile it has emerged that as of November, last year, the Scottish Government has not had any discussions with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in relation to the handling of malicious and vexatious criminal complaints in the wake of the failed Rangers fraud cases scandal. One of those who the Scottish Government agreed was maliciously prosecuted in the case said that it amounted to a "cover up". READ MORE: Why the failed Rangers fraud case has cost the taxpayer over £60m Crown Officr 'contests' £25m claim by global firm over malicious Rangers fraud case Scotland's most senior law officer to make public apology over malicious prosecutions in failed Rangers fraud case It is understood that three of the seven who had charges relating to fraud dropped lodged complaints demanding a criminal investigation into the actions of prosecutors and the police in pursuing them. The Herald understands the first of them were put in place as far back as nine years ago - after High Court judges in England condemned the conduct of the Rangers probe. But there is concern that no scrutiny has properly been commenced leading to concerns over whether evidence will remain, and whether those responsible will be in post to be called to account. Concerns have surfaced that having been forced to agree to a public inquiry after pressure from opposition politicians, SNP ministers have booted the whole thing into the long grass. James WolffeThe judge-led inquiry was agreed by the Scottish Government led then by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and then Lord Advocate James Wolfe in February, 2021. Mr Wolfe stood down from his post three months later and was replaced by Dorothy Bain QC who recused herself from involvement in the civil cases. It is understood that Shelagh McCall KC has been considering reports from those wrongfully prosecuted over criminal conduct on behalf of the Lord Advocate for at least three years. In November, the justice secretary Angela Constance was asked what discussions the Scottish Government had had with the COPFS in relation to the handling of malicious and vexatious criminal complaints. She admitted they had had none. In a response she said: "The handling of malicious and vexatious criminal complaints is an independent prosecutorial matter for the Crown Office and the Lord Advocate." The Crown Office has seen its public money budget more than double since the first reported arrests in connection with the alleged fraudulent acquisition of Rangers in 2015. It has gone from £113m in 2014/15 to £249.1m in 2025/26. It has been allocated £205.2m in 2024/25, £196.6m in 2023/24, £179.7m in 2022/23 and £155.5m in 2021/22. Former Rangers finance chief Imran Ahmad, one of those who was maliciously prosecuted, is among those who have spoken out about the failures to establish any criminal probe or a public inquiry into the affair said: "The cover up is on." Kenny MacAskill, who was justice secretary for seven years from 2007, and has raised issues with the current Lord Advocate about the millions that have been paid out in damages said the delays to the inquiry were "outrageous". Kenny MacAskillAnd retired sheriff Douglas Cusine, who had been pushing the Scottish Government for an inquiry four years ago said: "It has all the hallmarks of something that has been swept under the carpet." Mr Ahmad, who is understood to have been a key player in the £5.5m takeover of Rangers by the Sevco consortium fronted by former chief executive Charles Green was charged in 2014 along with six other men during an investigation into how Scots businessman Craig Whyte bought the club company from Sir David Murray for £1 in May, 2011. They were subjected to detention and criminal proceedings in relation to fraud allegations in the wake of Mr Whyte's disastrous purchase of Rangers and its subsequent fall into administration and sale before a judge dismissed all charges. After Mr Ahmad offered to settle his dispute with the Lord Advocate in return for nothing more than an apology in February 2019, it was not till six months later that the Scottish Government wrote to him admitting that the prosecution was malicious and by then court actions were live. Then Lord Advocate, Scotland's most senior law officer, admitted that the charges brought against Mr Ahmad, amounted to malicious prosecution, having already made admissions in relation to then Rangers administrators David Whitehouse and Paul Clark of Duff and Phelps, who both were awarded £10.5m damages, with legal costs of at least £3m. Mr Wolffe also admitted that the failed prosecution of Mr Green was malicious and was to get £6.3m in compensation. So far the bill to the taxpayer from compensation payouts and legal fees relating to the civil cases brought by those wrongly prosecuted amounts to £61.5m. Mr Ahmad said: "I’m aware of the criminal complaints against both Police Scotland and the COPFS but they’re hardly going to investigate themselves in an impartial way. An outside police force needs to be brought in to investigate both Police Scotland and the Crown. Imran Ahmad (Image: SNS) "Me and Charles have always known there is no point in making [criminal] complaints. Police Scotland and COPFS will never investigate themselves impartially. It's impossible. "It's disgraceful no public inquiry has been announced which as an aside should be overseen by a judge from outside Scotland, as no Scottish judges are independent in this as most of them have been employed at the COPFS previously. "There is no rule of law or democracy in Scotland. COPFS are a law all unto themselves in Scotland and completely unaccountable to any higher authority. "It's all absurd." One of those wrongfully prosecuted, David Grier complained to the force's professional standards department three years ago that two officers who led the botched probe had been promoted and would retire before any further investigation was concluded. Nine years ago, judges in the High Court in London ruled that police and prosecutors "abused state power" during the club fraud investigation. It came as London-based legal firm Holman Fenwick Willan, who were acting for Duff and Phelps, was awarded £500,000 costs over an illegal raid in which privileged documents in connection with the failed Rangers fraud case were seized. Privileged documents are communications or records that are legally protected from being disclosed because they usually involve private conversations between a client and a lawyer. They exist to encourage trust and openness and ensure in legal settings that people can get proper advice without fear that what they say will be used against them. Lord Justice Gross and Mr Justice Mitting at the High Court stated that the cost must be paid to Holman Fenwick Willan after the court heard Police Scotland and the Lord Advocate seized privileged documents not covered by a search warrant. Case documents show that the judges described the case as "out of the norm" and ruled the warrant was of "excessive and unlawful width" containing no provision for dealing lawfully with documents held that were subject to legal professional privilege (LPP). The judges said Police Scotland and the Lord Advocate "should have known" that the law of Scotland and England and Wales required "special procedures" to be taken to ensure that documents which were the subject of professional privilege were not seized. "The search and seize operation was heavy handed and resulted in the seizure of both documents subject to LPP and irrelevant documents not covered by the warrant," they said. "Taken in the round, which we are entitled to do, actions... were an abuse of state power." A matter of months before the 'state power abuse' case, a ruling by one of Scotland's senior judges Lord Glennie said the Crown was responsible for a "clear and very serious breach of the duty of disclosure and candour" in getting a restraint order over Rangers administrator David Whitehouse's assets. David WhitehouseThe Crown has said that the inquiry had to wait till all related legal proceedings had concluded. The final civil action led to Mr Ahmad being awarded £600,000 for malicious prosecution, and that was 15 months ago. But there has been concern that the time taken will see people responsible for the scandal either retire or become unavailable, along with vital paper work. Retired sheriff Douglas Cusine told the Herald on Sunday that work on the inquiry could and should have been carried out in parallel with the civil actions, without prejudicing any court cases. He said: "I suspect what the SNP are doing is waiting and waiting and they are taking the view is that if people cannot remember the debacle, there is no need for an inquiry. "If you go into the street and ask about the Rangers case, they won't remember. They rely on people forgetting." Mr Cusine, said the inquiry should have started way before now and with preparations happening alongside the compensation cases before any public hearing. "The longer the delay goes on the less likely It is that people in the Crown Office or are there no longer can remember the precise details of what went on. That is why it is doubly important to get the paper work and get someone to compel their production," he said. "Someone needs to look into what happened if only because of the enormous amount of money involved to take the case in terms of legal costs and of course the payouts. He also questioned why the current Lord Advocate had recused herself from dealing with it and queried why Mr Wolffe agreed to malicious prosecutions in the first place, and believe that should be part of what is looked into in any public inquiry. Mr McAskill, the former defence agent who set up Edinburgh-based legal firm Erskine Macaskill and is now leader of the Alba Party said: "Given the cost to the public purse we need answers which only an inquiry can give. Everything and everyone must be subject to scrutiny. There can be no one and nothing off limits. "Any inquiry would need to look at role of Crown and actions of the Lord Advocate. They’re pivotal." A Crown Office spokesman said: “The Scottish Parliament has agreed there should be a judge-led inquiry into the Rangers cases and the Crown is supportive of that. “There are long-established and robust processes to minimise the possibility of wrongful prosecutions. We have strengthened these processes further. “Shelagh McCall KC has been instructed to independently consider reports of criminal conduct relating to the Rangers prosecutions. “This is to ensure that any allegations are considered fairly and objectively. It would not be appropriate to comment on specific details while this process continues.” A Scottish Government spokesman said there was a "commitment to a process of inquiry into the circumstances of the malicious prosecutions". The spokesman added: "This process of inquiry including the details of the inquiry process will be progressed once all related investigations and proceedings are concluded.” Police Scotland was approached for comment.

They'd struggle to keep up with a Flute Band.

Don’t forget most of our lot are so unfit I doubt they could walk for ninety minutes

Aye. And the whores, the rogues, and the comic singers will be next.... (In reverse order, naturally.)

Sad to see the old professions die out.

No. I too was a fan but now @Uilleam has got me thinking. And worried. Think he's dead right about the group stages in Europe.

It seems I stand alone in my admiration for Martin...

Don't think cow pie is on the menu at Auchenhowie!

Should that not be 'Mk II'? Honestly, the standards in this country...

.....and will recruit some hard, ugly, cu nts, who can run all day. (Controlling a ball, etc. not an optional extra, mind.)

Always liked Ole...

Ridvan Yilmaz - Besiktas "It was learned an agreement was reached between Yilmaz and Besiktas, negotiations are now ongoing with Rangers"

Your pace, clearly, is the result of your years as a bookie's runner. Glad to hear you have retained it.

Martin is a vegan soy boy. We need a desperate Dan type who can consume whole cows.

Can't see Dessers playing at speed I'm as quick as him

So, what would Mr Russell Martin actually bring to the table? As far as I can see, he is a candidate who is comfortable with a DoF model, and will be 'happy' coaching and selecting the First XI. He has a plan A, which he refuses to change, even when errant passes, and aggressive pressing by the opposition, means loss of goals, and his teams tend to ship shiploads of them. His dogmatic stance cost him his job at So'ton, and contributed massively to that Club's relegation. Rejecting tactical pragmatism, in any and all circumstances, he seemed not to care that staying in the EPL would mean significant income for the Club that he managed. Wow! On the plus side, it is suggested to me that he likes to play fast, attacking, 'expansive' football. I suspect that it would have to be blindingly fast, and accurate, with players able to beat a man, or draw the defence; otherwise it would founder on the low block employed by most SPL teams, and degenerate into slower paced trundleball, with the inevitable horseshoe shape, and crosses, chips, and passes trying to find an attacker among 9, even 10, opponents in the box, plus goalkeeper. Scoring shots from outside the compact, congested, penalty area would be as rare as hen's teeth. Does any of this sound familiar? Putting the philosophical, style over substance, Martin in charge of a team in the Group Stages of the CL, would risk ritual slaughter. I stand to be corrected, as always, of course. One thing that nags: is Martin the type of coach to develop players? Is he the kind of coach you would put i/c of a........feeder Club?

Not even tims are as bad as that. What would have happened if PSG had lost? I hope all the middle class Scotch hand wringers who get themselves into a frenzy if a Rangers supporter drops a crisp bag are taking notice.

It may have had five goals but this was a dire advertisement for the top game in Europe at times I got so bored I thought I was watching Rangers

Oh, that's a stretch. He 'gets it', right enough.

If David Healy gets the Dundee job and makes a success of it, he might be a future option for us. Bluenose.

If the new owners employ Martin any excitement and positivity from Friday instantly disappears. Warburton Mk11 is not what we need.

And signing a few players. Couple CB’s top priority

Whoever it's going to be we need him in position asap