FORMER Rangers owner Craig Whyte has denied the alleged fraudulent purchase of the club.

The 45-year-old has also pleaded not guilty to a further charge of a breach of Companies Act legislation during a hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The businessman faces charges relating to his purchase of the club from Sir David Murray in 2011 and the case is now scheduled to go to trial before judge Lady Stacey at the High Court in Glasgow in April.

The Crown has alleged that Whyte, who is living in London, fraudulently obtained through his firm Wavetower Ltd, a controlling stake in the Ibrox club’s shareholding.

It is also claimed that he induced officers of Murray MHL Ltd to negotiate and conclude a share purchase agreement on May 6, 2011 to take a controlling stake in the shareholding of the club by fraud.

It is alleged that directly and through representatives Whyte pretended to executives including Sir David Murray and others that funds were available to make payments necessary to acquire the majority stake in the club.

It is argued that there there was a pretence in negotiations that Mr Whyte’s Wavetower had available immediately from its own and third party resources on an unconditional basis, the cash to meet obligations.

These included alleged obligations under an agreement to pay £18million under an agreement with the Bank of Scotland, contribute £5m investment in the playing squad, a £1.7m for a health and safety liability, an amount to cover a ‘small tax case’ liability of £2.8m and to fund “ongoing working capital requirements of the club of £5m.

The second charge under the Companies Act centres on an £18m payment in connection with the takeover.