A DECISION is due to be taken today on whether Mike Ashley broke the rules on holding power over two clubs with his Ibrox funding.

The Scottish Football Association hearing sat late into last night at Hampden Park to debate Ashley's influence at Rangers.

The disciplinary tribunal met to consider two charges against the Newcastle United owner of failing to act in the best interests of football and breaching a rule relating to holding power over two clubs.

Ashley was not present and neither was the Rangers chief executive, Derek Llambias - who was Ashley's managing director at Newcastle United.

A representative of MASH Holdings put the case for the Sports Direct retail magnate. Through the sportswear chain, Ashley has provided loan funding to pay salary bills and other costs in a club that continues to lose money - around £6 million a year, according to the most recent estimates.

The boardroom landscape has altered with the departure of plc director, James Easdale, last Wednesday and the resignation on Monday morning of chairman David Somers.

Ashley, through his loans and Sports Direct contracts which provide income from Rangers merchandising, still maintains a considerable grip of the club's cash flow.

Barry Leach, the Rangers finance director, is also head of Sports Direct's Brands Division. He and Llambias are the only two surviving members of the Ibrox plc board which invited Ashley to provide emergency funding rather than accept a £16 million takeover attempt mounted by Dave King in October. Their continued presence suggests strongly that Ashley has cards still to play to shield his commercial interest at Rangers.

When King requisitioned this week's EGM, Rangers' plc board issued a statement to the London Stock Exchange which included a caveat that read: "It is important to note, contrary to media speculation, that neither Mr Mike Ashley nor Sports Direct International plc controls the Company."

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One way or another, this week will mark another notable milestone in the club's history. The Daily Telegraph revealed that both King and his allies and the Rangers plc directors accept that the South Africa-based businessman has the voting support to force change.

However, King will also have to pass tests to satisfy both the SFA and the AiM market that he is a fit and proper person to be a Rangers director before he can appoint himself to the board. He has consistently expressed confidence that he will satisfy the criteria of both organisations.

Assuming that King passes both tests, the question is - can he and Ashley operate to mutual benefit as well as that of Rangers? The Daily Telegraph understands that Ashley has not been impressed by King's decision to requisition an EGM, but that King has also been angered by the Rangers board's persistent references to his convictions in tax cases brought by the South African Revenue Service.

The pair have not met - Ashley avoided face to face contact when King tried to effect his takeover in October - and it is believed that Ashley calculates that he can proceed if necessary with his business at Rangers without engaging personally with King or his allies.

It's been a season of complete turmoil at Ibrox (GETTY IMAGES)

In the meantime, Rangers fans reacted with scorn to the parting words of Somers as he relinquished the position of chairman. In his statement to the Stock Exchange, Somers echoed Margaret Thatcher's famous "where there is discord" quote when he said: "I...have always tried to bring harmony to boardrooms and with stakeholders."

The Rangers Supporters Trust responded derisively to the 66-year-old Scarborough-born fund manager, calling him "inept and embarrassing" in a statement which read: "We are delighted that David Somers has finally resigned as chairman of Rangers.

"We note that his parting comments are entirely in keeping with his behaviour during his time at the club. His lack of ambition or ability, rampant self interest, contempt for shareholders and fans, and disastrous dearth of understanding of the position of responsibility he held will be his legacy.

"He will be remembered as one of the most inept and embarrassing chairmen of our wonderful sporting institution. Our focus now turns to the remaining directors. They should do the right thing, appoint the nominee directors and then follow Mr Somers out of the door.