Rangers played a total of 47 competitive matches during the 2012–13 season. Prior to the Rangers first team even kicking a ball in a football match that season, there were a series of off-the-field issues that had to be resolved. In June 2012, a criminal investigation was launched into Craig Whyte's takeover of Rangers Football Club Plc after a preliminary examination of the information passed to police by administrators Duff & Phelps.[1] While 4 July saw ten of the other eleven Scottish Premier League clubs vote against Rangers being admitted to the league for the 2012–13 season, meaning the club had to apply for a place in the Scottish Football League.[2] Over a week later, on 13 July, twenty-five of the thirty SFL member clubs voted to offer Rangers a place in the Third Division of the Football League for the start of the season.[3] However, as part of the transfer of SFA membership from oldco to newco, both companies along with the SFA, SPL and SFL had to agree to a five-way agreement.[4][5] The club received a twelve-month transfer ban which prevented it from registering any players over the age of eighteen, which began on 1 September and concluded at the end of the 2013 summer transfer window.[6]
Further to this the SPL instigated an investigation into Rangers transfer dealings between 2001 and 2011, after allegations of dual contracts between Rangers Football Club PLC (the company that formerly owned Rangers) and its staff. The investigation was conducted by a commission headed by Lord Nimmo Smith and concluded in February 2013.[7] The commission's findings concluded that Rangers Football Club PLC did not fully disclose to the football authorities all payments that it made to players and staff; however, this non-disclosure did not effect the playing staff's eligibility. Therefore, instead of a potential penalty that included the stripping of titles won by the first team, the punishment was only a fine of £250,000 for Rangers Football Club PLC.[8] Alongside the SPL investigation, HMRC's first tier tax tribunal's came to a conclusion during the season. On 20 November, the First-tier Tax Tribunal ruled that the Rangers Football Club PLC had not contravened tax law with its use of Employee Benefit Trusts,[9] however HMRC subsequently launched an appeal against the first-tier verdict in March 2013.[10]
Turmoil continued inside Ibrox Stadium despite the return of Walter Smith as a non-executive director in November 2012.[11] The company owning the club, Rangers Football Club Ltd, was floated on the stock exchange the following month, raising over £22m from an Initial public offering.[12] The tenure of Charles Green as chief executive proved volatile, with a number of contentious issues arising throughout the season. This included the sacking of Spanish striker Francisco Sandaza for reportedly attempting to negotiate transfer away from the club,[13] and allegations from former chairman Craig Whyte that he and Green had an agreement over the purchase of Rangers that allowed Whyte to retain a stake in the company.[14] An internal investigation by the club later concluded that there was no link between Green and Whyte.[15] The culmination of Green's tenure resulted in him resigning as chief executive[16] after the club launched an internal investigation into alleged racist remarks Green had made to commercial director Imran Ahmad.[17]
The off the field drama was to be mirrored by some on field, at least initially, as Rangers struggled to get to grips with life in the Third Division. The very first match in August away to Peterhead ended in a 2–2 draw and that was only thanks to a late goal from Andrew Little with the Toon out playing Rangers for large spells in the match. The away day league formed resulted in subsequent draws to Annan Athletic and Berwick Rangers. The side clinched the Scottish Third Division title, and promotion to the Second Division, on 30 March after a goalless draw away to Montrose and second placed Queens Park losing.[18]
On a busy day in April, the SFA wrote to Rangers chief executive Charles Green seeking clarification about his business dealings with Craig Whyte,[19] the Police carried out a series of searches relating to the purchase of Rangers Football Club by Craig Whyte from David Murray[20] and, Whyte was ordered to pay £18m to the finance firm Ticketus after he lost a claim against him at the High Court in London.[21]
Last updated: 4 May 2013 Source: Wikipedia article 1Rangers goals come first. National flags for Ground and Opponent columns are only shown when different from that of Rangers. M = Match; Ground: H = Home, A = Away, N = Neutral, HR = Home replacement, AR = Away replacement.
Last updated: 2 February 2013 Source: Wikipedia article 1Rangers goals come first. National flags for Ground and Opponent columns are only shown when different from that of Rangers. M = Match; Ground: H = Home, A = Away, N = Neutral, HR = Home replacement, AR = Away replacement.
Last updated: 26 September 2012 Source: Wikipedia article 1Rangers goals come first. National flags for Ground and Opponent columns are only shown when different from that of Rangers. M = Match; Ground: H = Home, A = Away, N = Neutral, HR = Home replacement, AR = Away replacement.
Last updated: 29 July 2012 Source: Wikipedia article 1Rangers goals come first. National flags for Ground and Opponent columns are only shown when different from that of Rangers. M = Match; Ground: H = Home, A = Away, N = Neutral, HR = Home replacement, AR = Away replacement.
Last updated: 10 April 2013 Source: Wikipedia article 1Rangers goals come first. National flags for Ground and Opponent columns are only shown when different from that of Rangers. M = Match; Ground: H = Home, A = Away, N = Neutral, HR = Home replacement, AR = Away replacement.
^ abcdefghiDickson, Andrew (18 May 2012). "Nine Kids To Leave". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
^Melvin, David (14 September 2012). "Loan Move For McAusland". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
^Dickson, Andrew (11 January 2013). "Calum In Alloa Loan". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
^Herron, Lindsay (15 January 2013). "Stella Moves On". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
^Dickson, Andrew (31 January 2013). "Gregor In Forfar Loan". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
^Melvin, David (15 February 2013). "Urquhart In Dumbarton Loan". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
^Smith, Neil (16 March 2013). "Kevin Kyle Leaves Gers". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 19 March 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
^Melvin, David (28 July 2012). "Together We Are Stronger". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
^Herron, Lindsay (31 July 2012). "Ally Wants More Deals". Rangers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 11 August 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
^Melvin, David (15 February 2013). "Aird Pens Five Year Deal". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
^Melvin, David (4 February 2013). "McAusland Extends Contract". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
^Melvin, David (14 February 2013). "Hegarty Pens New Deal". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
^Dickson, Andrew (16 February 2013). "Kal Extends Ibrox Stay". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
^Dickson, Andrew (19 February 2013). "Luca: Heads I Win". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
^Dickson, Andrew (18 February 2013). "Gall Signs New Deal". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
^Smith, Neil (14 December 2012). "Lewis Wins November Gong". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 17 December 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
^Herron, Lindsay (15 March 2013). "Little's National Recall". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
^ abcHerron, Lindsay (17 October 2012). "New RFC Appointments". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
