Green refutes tribunal claims

Published Dec. 12, 2012 7:15 a.m. ET

foxsports

Rangers chief executive Charles Green says reports that 67 current and former players are still in dispute with the club are wide of the mark.

Reports over the weekend suggested the players were going to an employment tribunal, referring back to last summer when their contracts were transferred from the old club, now liquidated, to the new club that started life in the Third Division this season.

But Green issued a statement on the club's website on Wednesday to try and clarify the situation, admitting that six players are continuing their action and three more have been dealt with.

"There are three separate disputes or litigations ongoing. The first is the club's action for damages which has been lodged with an SFA Arbitration Tribunal," Green said.

"A number of players - Alan McGregor, Kyle Lafferty, Rhys McCabe, Sone Aluko, Steven Davis, John Fleck, Steven Naismith, Steven Whittaker and Jamie Ness -objected to their contracts of employment being transferred under TUPE regulations from the oldco Rangers to the company as it now stands.

"Discussions took place with representatives of some of the players and agreements were reached with Davis, Fleck and McCabe.

"Representatives of the remaining players have challenged the right of the club to be involved in the SFA process and a preliminary hearing has been fixed for 7 January next year to determine these jurisdictional issues.

"Separately PFA Scotland has raised an employment tribunal claim against the Club supposedly on behalf of 67 unnamed players, alleging a failure to consult on the part of oldco prior to the players' contracts being transferred on 14 June.

"Senior counsel has given a robust opinion that PFA Scotland has no locus or standing to raise such a claim in the circumstances of the case, and the fact that many of the supposed 67 players are still at Ibrox and have indicated they have no part in this action begs the question why it is being raised at all.

"Also, a number of former players have already signed agreements with the Club waiving any right to participate in this claim. In reality, we are talking about six players who have some form of dispute rather than 67.

"Finally three players - Aluko, Lafferty and Ness - have also raised constructive dismissal claims against the Club as it stands now.

"We have challenged their right to do so and these are low value claims. It should be noted that the players were employed by new clubs almost immediately on terms we believe to be at least as beneficial as those they enjoyed at Rangers.

"It is disappointing that players who have left the club to further their own careers rather than play in Division Three should be continuing with these actions or allowing them to be progressed on their behalf. I am in no doubt that the supporters who are showing such outstanding loyalty to Rangers will form their own views as the club continues to rebuild."