Delahunt interview with Whyte just released

[jmo21 15]

On Clyde website

Here is the transcript of Jim Delahunt's exclusive interview with Craig Whyte on Friday, April 6.

JD. First of all Craig, I assume that yesterday's revelations about Rangers' debt levels came as no surprise to you.

CW. I'm not sure why yesterday's figures surprised anyone and actually, since I've been involved, Rangers' total liabilities have been reduced by between £10-

14million. The accounts prove that. It's factual, anyone can look at the figures. The liabilities have actually reduced, not increased as the media have been implying.

JD. Have you spoken to HMRC in the past to get an idea as to whether Rangers would eventually be liable for the £75 million Duff & Phelps have now made public?

CW. I had many meetings with HMRC to try and avoid the administration scenario which in my opinion could have been avoided if they'd done a sensible deal. They refused to discuss the case ahead of the (first tier) tribunal so it was impossible to have a sensible discussion with them. I offered to pay them in full the current liabilities by the end of August this year and I offered to pay £2.5 million a year towards the big tax case whether that be for 10 years, 5 years or whatever. If they'd accepted that deal they would have been paid in full but of course they don't live on the same planet as the rest of us. I was surprised as I didn't think they'd want to see a major institution like Rangers going into administration and seeing the mess that we're seeing now.

JD. They would argue that the reason you're in administration is that you didn't pay you're PAYE and VAT.

CW. They would argue that but part of the reason was some of the leaks coming from them and also that some of the bank accounts were frozen so how were we supposed to pay?

JD. As far as you're concerned, you didn't do anything illegal.?

CW. Absolutely, everything I did was based on professional advice. It wasn't me acting alone, deciding to do things. I was taking professional advice from top law firms, accountancy firms, everything else, every step of the way so I did nothing illegal.

JD. How about the investigations into the Ticketus deal Craig, are you up on where the rest of the money is?

CW. As I've said before, every penny of the Ticketus deal went into the club.

JD. How do you explain that Duff & Phelps say it didn't?

CW. There's money still in the Collyer Bristow client account but that's not part of the Ticketus money.

JD. What is that money then?

CW. I'm not going to go into that but every penny from Ticketus went into the club.

JD. You said last week that you are still in Rangers to the tune of £30 million. Is that correct?

CW. What I've said is that I've got a bigger stake in Rangers than anyone past, present or future will ever have as I have guarantees on the line for 30 million quid. That's more than anyone's ever had personally on the line for Rangers and more than anyone's ever likely to have on the line for Rangers.

JD. Can you explain in layman's terms Craig how you are due £30 million.

CW. Partly because I've guaranteed the Ticketus transaction., that makes up a huge part of it. Obviously there are other amounts that have gone in, there's a huge liability to me and there's no getting away from that.

JD. Do you definitely have a floating charge over Rangers' assets?

CW. Again, that's factual. It's there for everyone to see at Companies' House.

JD. Is there any problem with you in selling to Paul Murray and the Blue Knights?

CW. I don't know Paul Murray. I've met him once or twice but not for about a year. I will do what's best for Rangers in the long term. I've spoken to members of

the Blue Knights and I don't think there will be a problem long term in doing something with them if that's the best deal on the table.

JD. D you have any idea if that is the best deal on the table?

CW. Of course I know what's there but it's not for me to say at this moment in time.

JD. Do you still feel that exiting administration via a CVA is the best way out of this situation?

CW. I think it's the only way out. I think a liquidation and a Newco is a disaster. I can understand from a business perspective why some people would want to do it but the only ones who would want to do it are people who don't understand Rangers. It would be a disaster if the club loses 140 years of history and there are also severe penalties which other clubs will be lobbying for if it's a new start, you can rest assured on that. Any other business, I could see the merits but as a fan, no.

JD. When you were doing your due diligence, did you think administration was a probability, or even liquidation?

CW. Liquidation was never considered but administration was discussed with the sellers at the time and we always knew administration was a serious option.

JD. From where you're sitting now, how do you see this all ending?

CW. I hope we'll exit by CVA and when people look back on this in years to come, they'll see it as the beginning of the sorting out a mess that began years ago so, painful as the last few weeks have been, this is a beginning. Hopefully, we'll get a CVA, the club will be debt free, there will be no tax case any more and the club will be living within its means as it has to for the best long term interests of Rangers. There was no alternative to administration and HMRC were quite within their right to enforce the situation but the bottom line is that Rangers will come out a more viable long term business than it was before I bought the club.

JD. How do you feel about the hostility towards yourself Craig?

CW. I think I've acted in the best long term interests of the club but I can understand how the fans feel. The worst thing for anyone here is the lack of certainty. I'd hoped that this would have been sorted out much more quickly so it's the uncertainty which causes the frustration and it's not helped by the Scottish media winding things up and coming out with inaccurate information as we've seen again in some papers today, trying to blame me for everything that's happened to Rangers in the past 20 years.

JD. You obviously feel you have had a rough ride then?

CW. I've had a horrendous ride from the media.

JD. One of the things which came out yesterday was the question mark over monies from the sale of the Arsenal shares Craig, can you shed any light on that?

CW. The money is there. It's in a segregated client account and that money will absolutely, definitely end up back with Rangers. If what you're inferring is that I have somehow profited from selling those Arsenal shares personally then that is absolutely not true. That's what's being inferred isn't it? By others.

JD. Do you honestly see yourself walking in the front door of Ibrox again Craig?

CW. I very much hope so. It's not going to happen tomorrow and it's not going to happen in a month but when everything's died down I hope to be back supporting the team I followed as a boy, of course I do.

JD. D you now feel it is inevitable that you won't play any part in Rangers future after this process.

CW. That's an interesting question. You can never say never about anything, but you'd have to say it's unlikely. Whether I remain as a shareholder or not though, let's wait and see

[BritishBear 34]

The lies continue, man just can't help himself.

[Mr Soprano 13,964]

Fuck off and die, cunt.

[Marco Negri's Beard 1,423]

Even reading an interview with him makes me feel dirty.

[Bear 72 0]

The money from the Arsenal shares are in a serparate account!! just like he didnt sell the season ticket money, BORN Liar!!!!!!!!!

[BearAbroad 42]

Shameless bastard !!

[Albertzz 975]

hes full of shite

[ayrshiregers 10]

I dont understand Craig Whyte , hes been found out to be a complete fraudster yet he still seems to convince himself hes doing whats best for the Club?

As for question 'Do you honestly see yourself walking in the front door of Ibrox again?' , that will never happen and he's completely delusional if he thinks it will . There will be 50,000 Bears ready to lynch him!

[Blumhoilann 6,712]

Whyte says HE'S guaranteed the Ticketus money,you used the Clubs ST's as your guarantee for the loan you bassa Is there no end to this mans pomposity?

[Marco Negri's Beard 1,423]

I see Delacunt cut out all the shifty 'eeerrrmmmmm's' from the wanker's interview. Shulda left it in to show up the stuttery twat

[MikeBlue 136]

Leaving aside the nonsensical answer as to why he didn't pay the PAYE and the lack of a logical explanation for why he is owed money, my principal problem with him is the poor grammar. Doesn't know the difference between imply and infer

[gunslinger 270]

he's just lying cunt.

the money's all in rangers. really.

[bombaybadboy08 15,660]

[BRITNEY IS NOT FEELING IT 8,293]

Aye nae bother craig , why don't come to the game the morra and stand among the troops ?

Stand up lier of the highest order

[broxieman 14]

Absolutely f**k**g delusional.

[FUDGIE52 9]

Tbh I am feckin sick of all this just wish it was over and done with.

[Sobatai 70]

The guy has to be a few bricks short of a stand, surely?

[Blumhoilann 6,712]

Just read it again,unbelievable,must of had a brass neck fitted before they shut the yards on the Clyde

[Mikhailichenko 90]

Leaving aside the nonsensical answer as to why he didn't pay the PAYE and the lack of a logical explanation for why he is owed money, my principal problem with him is the poor grammar. Doesn't know the difference between imply and infer

Out of all the crap in there this stuck out for me too

[MosesMcNeil 1,664]

"JD. How about the investigations into the Ticketus deal Craig, are you up on where the rest of the money is?

CW. As I've said before, every penny of the Ticketus deal went into the club.

JD. How do you explain that Duff & Phelps say it didn't?

CW. There's money still in the Collyer Bristow client account but that's not part of the Ticketus money.

JD. What is that money then?

CW. I'm not going to go into that but every penny from Ticketus went into the club."

Either Whyte or D&P are lying, then. Again.

Both have a history of it. Whyte any number of times, and D&P with the promise that Grier would play no part in the administration process.

[dan_ger 1,454]

Reading that made me shudder.

[Dennis 1,011]

I thought he done well in that interview.

[RFC55 108,841]

The guy is a fucking idiot! A lying bullshiting bastard! Wonder if his defenders will be on soon

[krazy-ranger 9]

is it just me or can you here this little pricks voice when your reading his lies

[Crespie6 334]

if you just believe what he says, it sounds really really good. i feel optimistic.