Nicola Sturgeon gave “short shrift" to a plea from financial experts to help Rangers during attempts to secure the club’s financial future, a court has heard.
David Whitehouse, 55, told the Court of Session today the First Minister didn’t want the Scottish Governmen t to intervene when the club was placed in administration in 2012.
The former administrator told lawyer Kenny McBrearty QC he and his colleagues approached Ms Sturgeon, before she became First Minister of Scotland.
He said Ms Sturgeon ruled out giving help to Rangers because of concerns about bias.
Mr Whitehouse said: “We got short shrift when we approached her. She said ‘we can’t be seen to be biased.’”
The managing director of financial services firm, Duff and Phelps, gave evidence for the second day at the court.
He was called as a witness in an action which has been brought to the Court of Session by BDO, the liquidators of Rangers.
The financial services firm is suing Mr Whitehouse and Mr Clark for £56.8 million.
BDO believes that Mr Whitehouse and Mr Clark didn’t cut costs sufficiently well enough after they were drafted into sort the then ailing club.
Lawyers for BDO claim that the pair could have raised more money for the club. Both Mr Whitehouse and Mr Clark deny allegations of negligence and are contesting the claim.
Prosecutors admitted the case against the duo was “malicious” and conducted “without probable cause”. They both received multi million pound settlements.
Prosecutors admitted Mr Green, who was also arrested during the probe and eventually acquitted, was wrongfully taken to court - and that the prosecution against him was malicious.
The hearing continues.
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