The Scottish Football Association has appointed a former judge to investigate Rangers and expects findings to be returned within two weeks.

In a statement, the SFA said: “The Scottish FA can confirm that it has appointed as Chair The Right Honourable Lord William Nimmo Smith to inquire independently into Rangers FC.”

Lord Nimmo Smith, who was one of the five judges in Abdelbaset al-Megrahi’s failed appeal against his conviction, will head an independent panel which will investigate possible breaches of the SFA’s Articles of Association.

The panel will also include Professor Niall Lothian OBE, a Past President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland,  Bob Downes, former Director with the BT Group and currently Deputy Chairman of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, and current SFA chief executive Stewart Regan.
 
The governing body has confirmed that the independent inquiry will be given the same powers as the association itself.

“I am delighted Lord Nimmo Smith has agreed to Chair the Independent Inquiry,” SFA chief executive Regan said. “I am certain the experience contained within the panel will enable us to achieve more clarity on the situation regarding Rangers FC.

“There will be no further comment on the investigation until it is complete and its findings presented to the Board.”