A KEY associate of Craig Whyte accepted it could have been “misleading” not to have revealed the role of a tickets firm in the Rangers takeover.

Philip Betts was quizzed about “cash flow projections” made ahead of the May 2011 buyout.

A jury heard how the involvement of Ticketus was removed.

Prosecutors went on to claim the information had been “actively concealed”.

The evidence was made on Friday at Whyte’s trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

The 46-year-old denies a charge of fraud and a second allegation under the Companies Act in connection with his takeover.

Prosecutors state Whyte took out a loan from the firm against three years’ season tickets to help fund the takeover.

The court heard how cash flow projections had to be prepared before the purchase of Sir David Murray’s majority stake at Ibrox.

Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC asked if there been a “desire” to keep “the involvement of Ticketus confidential”.

Mr Betts said the company had not wanted the Murray group to know and that he believed this involved a non-disclosure agreement being signed.

Any mention of Ticketus was then taken out of the financial projections.

Mr Prentice suggested this could be “highly misleading” to the the Murray team.

Mr Betts replied: “It would be misleading, yes.”

Mr Prentice went on to state the information had been “actively concealed” from the Murray side.

The jury earlier heard how Whyte’s buy-out was clinched with a £1 coin being flicked across a table in Sir David’s Edinburgh office.

The trial, before Judge Lady Stacey, continues.