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Charles Green (businessman)

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Charles Green
Born
Mexborough, South Yorkshire, England
NationalityEnglish
OccupationVenture capitalist

Charles Alexander Green is a British businessman and was the Chief Executive of Rangers Football Club. Born in Mexborough in South Yorkshire he started his career as a professional footballer but failed to make a first-team appearance at either Sheffield United or Doncaster Rovers before drifting into non-league. Following a switch to business he has since held a number of positions before taking over at Rangers, including a period as Chief Executive of Sheffield United.

Football career

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Green started his football career as a schoolboy with Sheffield United before playing reserve team football at Doncaster Rovers. He left Doncaster without breaking into the first team and embarked upon a career in non-league football with teams like Alfreton Town where he made 40 appearances.[1] A brief return to the Football League with Barnsley resulted in him again failing to make the first team returning to non-league football. He had spells with Frickley Athletic, Gainsborough Trinity, Goole Town and Cheltenham Town who signed him for £500 from Goole.[2]

Sheffield United F.C.

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Green was officially appointed chief executive of Sheffield United in February 1996 by chairman Mike McDonald following his take over of the club, although in reality Green had been operating in that role since September 1995.[3] It was a period of rapid change for United and Green oversaw the day-to-day running of the club. By 1997 however, he had begun to take decisions over a wider area than his previous remit, including the running of the first team itself, leading to unrest amongst both supporters and staff.[3] Green sacked popular manager Dave Bassett. In a subsequent row over compensation, Green reportedly invited Bassett to settle the issue with a car park brawl, but quickly backed down when Bassett acceded to the request.[4]

In March 1998, manager Nigel Spackman resigned citing interference in team affairs by Green and in protest at a number of the club's better players being sold without consultation and without funds to replace them.[3] After furious protests by United supporters Green stepped down as chief executive a few days later, although he remained on the PLC board for a period before leaving the club along with McDonald later that year.[3]

After Sheffield United

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After leaving Sheffield United, Green held a number of directional positions including a spell as non-executive chairman of Nova Resources Limited.[5]

Rangers F.C.

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On 13 May 2012, a consortium led by Green was named as preferred bidder for administration hit Scottish football club Rangers.[6] As part of the takeover a company voluntary arrangement was proposed to the creditors,[7] but this was formally rejected by largest creditor HMRC on 14 June 2012.[8][9] This meant Green instead agreed a deal of £5.5 million to purchase Rangers' assets, enabling the club to continue.[10] Green was then appointed as the club's chief executive, the same role he held at Sheffield United.[11] During the takeover process there was strong speculation manager Ally McCoist was set to resign from Rangers after a conflict with Green, but he remained with the club.[12]

The new company structure meant that Rangers had to apply for the transfer of their Scottish Premier League (SPL) share and have it decided by a vote between the twelve members of the SPL. The application was rejected on 4 July 2012 after a 10–1 'no' vote, with one abstention.[13] The club then applied to join the Scottish Football League and on 13 July 2012 were voted into the Third Division, the fourth tier of Scottish football.[14] Green then had to enter several days of negotiations with the governing bodies for the transfer of Rangers' Scottish Football Association membership, to allow the club to play football. A deal was eventually agreed on 27 July 2012, with conditions attached including providing the SFA with full information on the club's ownership structure and business plans, accepting a transfer embargo given to Rangers under the old company structure and settling outstanding football debts.[15]

Green was charged by the SFA after claiming motives behind Rangers' punishment involved "bigotry".[16] He was found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute and censured.[17] Green was again charged with bringing the game into disrepute, this time in relation to comments on the SPL's independent panel investigating Rangers' use of Employee Benefit Trusts and alleged dual contracts. The charges against Green this time were found to be "not proven" on 4 October 2012.[18]

On 11 October 2012, Green formally announced Rangers' intention to float shares on the AIM stock market, with the aim of raising up to £20 million.[19] On 5 December 2012, it was revealed in an AIM announcement that Green holds a 14.96% shareholding in Rangers, projected to fall to 8.67% after the flotation.[20][21] It was also revealed that the club had £17 million pledged from the share issue via business investors, and an aim to raise a further £10 million investment from supporters.[21] On 18 December 2012, it was confirmed that the share issue had raised £22.2 million in total.[22]

On 4 December 2012, Green announced that Rangers would be refusing an allocation of tickets for a Scottish Cup tie away to SPL club Dundee Utd, and also advocated a boycott of the match by Rangers supporters.[23][24]

In April 2013, Craig Whyte cast doubt on the Green consortium's ownership of Rangers' assets. Whyte produced secret recordings which showed Green was initially the front man for Whyte's own attempt to secure the assets, via Sevco 5088. Claiming Green had reneged on their secret deal, Whyte announced forthcoming legal action.[25] The Scottish Football Association then wrote to Green asking for clarification of his links to Whyte.[26] On 13 April 2013, following a board meeting, the Rangers board announced that they would commission an independent investigation into the allegations surrounding Green and Rangers Commercial Director Imran Ahmad's management of the club. It was also confirmed that Green himself would not take any part in the probe.[27][28]

Charles Green stepped down as Rangers CEO in April 2013[29] and was replaced by Craig Mather.[30]

He returned to the club as a consultant in August 2013,[31] but lasted only three weeks before leaving the role.[32] He also sold his shares in Rangers to businessman Sandy Easdale.[33]

Police enquiries began first into Craig Whyte's purchase of Rangers in 2011 and then into Charles Green's consortium's acquisition of the business assets in 2012. On 1 September 2015, both Craig Whyte and Charles Green were arrested as part of the inquiry into the "alleged fraudulent acquisition" of Rangers' assets in 2012.[34]

Racism

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In April 2013 Green was publicly criticised by anti–racism charity Show Racism the Red Card for using the term "Paki" in relation to his friend and colleague Imran Ahmad during an interview with a tabloid newspaper.[35] Green also made reference to a former teammate at Worksop Town, whom he branded "Darkie" Johnson.[36] Green defended the comments, accusing the charity of "a knee–jerk reaction," but admitted he would punish any racist players at the club.[37] As the Scottish Football Association served Green with a notice of complaint, SFA chief executive Stewart Regan called the comments from someone in Green's position "surprising and frustrating."[38] Green later apologised for the comments.[39]

References

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  1. ^ "ALFRETON TOWN FC ALL TIME APPEARANCES". www.alfretontownfc.com. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  2. ^ Laycock, Mike (10 July 2012). "Charles Green's road from Goole Town to Glasgow Rangers". www.yorkpress.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 390. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
  4. ^ Gavin Berry (6 April 2013). "Former Sheffield United boss Dave Bassett warns Rangers fans to expect turbulence under Charles Green's reign". Daily Record. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Charles Green". rangers.co.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2013.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Rangers: Charles Green agrees takeover deal for club". BBC Sport. 13 May 2012.
  7. ^ "Rangers' administrators Duff & Phelps issue CVA offer". BBC Sport. 29 May 2012.
  8. ^ "Rangers to re-form after creditors' deal is rejected". BBC Sport. 12 June 2012.
  9. ^ "Rangers creditors formally reject CVA proposal". BBC News. 14 June 2012.
  10. ^ "Charles Green completes Rangers purchase despite Walter Smith bid". BBC News. 14 June 2012.
  11. ^ "Rangers: Malcolm Murray is named new Ibrox chairman". BBC Sport. 14 June 2012.
  12. ^ "Rangers: Ally McCoist talks productive, says Charles Green". BBC Sport. 15 June 2012.
  13. ^ "Rangers newco refused SPL entry after chairmen vote". BBC Sport. 4 July 2012.
  14. ^ "Rangers: Charles Green accepts Division Three vote". BBC Sport. 13 July 2012.
  15. ^ "Rangers: Conditional membership allows cup tie to go ahead". BBC Sport. 27 July 2012.
  16. ^ "Rangers' Ally McCoist vows to contest SFA disrepute charge". BBC Sport. 17 August 2012.
  17. ^ "Ally McCoist given suspended ban as Charles Green is censured". BBC Sport. 30 August 2012.
  18. ^ "Rangers: Charles Green SFA disrepute charge "not proven"". BBC Sport. 4 October 2012.
  19. ^ "Rangers football club to float shares on AIM market". BBC News. 11 October 2012.
  20. ^ "Sch 1 – Rangers International Football Club plc". Regulatory News Service. 5 December 2012. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  21. ^ a b "Rangers share issue aims to raise £27m". BBC News. 5 December 2012.
  22. ^ "Rangers share issue raises £22m". BBC News. 18 December 2012.
  23. ^ "Scottish Cup Tie Statement". Rangers.co.uk. 4 December 2012. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  24. ^ "Rangers to refuse tickets for Dundee Utd Scottish Cup tie". BBC Sport. 4 December 2012.
  25. ^ McLaughlin, Chris (5 April 2013). "Rangers: Craig Whyte prepared to go to court over assets". BBC Sport.
  26. ^ McLaughlin, Chris (10 April 2013). "Rangers: SFA query Charles Green's dealings with Craig Whyte". BBC Sport.
  27. ^ "Rangers Board Statement". Rangers.co.uk. 13 April 2013. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  28. ^ "Rangers: Board orders investigation into Charles Green". BBC Sport. 13 April 2013.
  29. ^ "Rangers: Charles Green steps down as chief executive". BBC Sport. 19 April 2013.
  30. ^ "Rangers: Craig Mather appointed interim chief executive". BBC Sport. 24 April 2013.
  31. ^ "Rangers: Charles Green back at Ibrox as 'consultant'". BBC Sport. 2 August 2013.
  32. ^ Forsyth, Roddy (20 August 2013). "Charles Green to resign as Rangers consultant and sell all his shares in the club following calls for him to step down". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  33. ^ "SPFL: Former Rangers supremo Charles Green insists he was 'driven out of Ibrox'". Sky Sports. No. 7 March 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  34. ^ "Former Rangers owner Craig Whyte and ex-chief executive Charles Green arrested". BBC News. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  35. ^ "Rangers chief Charles Green criticised for 'racist' remark". BBC News. 8 April 2013.
  36. ^ "Show Racism the Red Card condemns Charles Green for 'racist language'". STV News. 8 April 2013.
  37. ^ "Charles Green defends 'Paki' remark but would punish players for it". STV News. 8 April 2013.
  38. ^ "SFA's Regan: I'm surprised and frustrated by Green's 'racist' comments". The Herald. 10 April 2013.
  39. ^ "Charles Green apologises after SFA allege 'racist' remarks". BBC Sport. 10 April 2013.
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