Scottish Third Division club Rangers "are being urged to conduct greater background checks on potential board members after fresh details emerged of the troubled past of two brothers who last week signalled their intention to join the board," according to Paul Hutcheon of the HERALD SCOTLAND. Former Rangers CEO Charles Green "is intending to sell his shares" -- worth nearly 8% of the club -- to James and Sandy Easdale. Although it is widely known that Sandy Easdale was jailed in '97 for VAT-related offenses, files from the National Records Office and Registers of Scotland "give a more detailed account of the Easdale family's problems during this period." Both brothers were initially charged with VAT-related offenses, although "the case against James Easdale was dropped." Both "were blocked from disposing of their assets as part of the probe by Customs & Excise." Sandy Easdale "was jailed" after police found £45,000 ($69,000) in a carrier behind his settee. There "is now a strong appetite among Rangers fan for the club to perform greater due diligence than has been the case." Rangers Supporters Assembly spokesperson Andy Kerr said, "Greater checks have to be made regarding potential board members, as the past 18 months do not read well. We need to be aware about any skeletons as early as possible." A spokesperson for the Easdale brothers said, "This is ancient history -- a 17-year-old story. The facts concerning Sandy Easdale are well known, and he makes no secret of it. He and his brother now run a hugely successful group of companies and employ over 1,000 people" (HERALD SCOTLAND, 5/12).
