Alan Brazil: Mike Ashley is worse news for Rangers than EBTs

YOU can’t change the past. It’s as true in football as it is in life itself.

So, for the life of me, I can’t understand why the Rangers title-stripping debate continues to rage.

At the third time of asking, the courts have ruled against the Ibrox club over their use of EBTs, and the clamour for repercussions has been intense.

But I don’t think it’s healthy for Scottish football to get itself wrapped up in the past.

All of us fans, clubs, players and pundits should be looking to the future. And the best way to do that? It’s a no-brainer.

Scottish clubs should use Rangers’ EBT successes as motivation to prevent them lifting another major trophy for a long, long time.

Don’t get me wrong. I understand people’s desire to see justice served.

I’ve even heard it suggested the players should hand back their medals as their crime is akin to that committed by the Russian athletes who’ll be stripped of their Olympic gongs over the London 2012 doping scandal.

That’s complete nonsense. The Rangers players during the EBT years were not cheats.

The best way for anyone aggrieved by the club’s success at that time to get back at them is to ensure that when they return to the Premiership, they are not given an easy ride.

If I was a manager, it would be a straightforward team talk.

“Right lads, this lot won things that they shouldn’t have. They won things our club could have won. Now get out there and stuff them for it!”

That’s what football thrives on.

Certainly, when I was a player, if you felt you’d been wronged by another team, you’d be going all out to make sure you got them back for it in the next game.

That’s the attitude Scottish clubs need to take here.

Never mind the past, concentrate on the present and plan for the future.

In that respect, they could take a leaf out of Mike Ashley’s book. Say what you like about the guy, he certainly seems to know exactly what’s he’s doing in his war with Dave King.

His moves taking King to court, then doing the same to the SFA have been cool, calm, and calculated.

Given the pressure he’s under from furious Gers fans, keeping your head can’t be easy.

I reckon Dave King may have been banking on him losing it but I don’t know if he really knows who he’s taking on.

I’ve never met Mike Ashley, but I know the guys around him very well.

They have indicated to me that, initially, they were caught a wee bit unawares by the massive scale of Rangers Football Club.

But they have adjusted now very much so and they are digging in hard. They will not be pushed out of the club without a battle.

If Dave King is up for a big fight, then fine, no problem. But Mike Ashley is a man of serious means and serious determination and he is willing to use the courts to get what he wants.

Does Dave King really want that? Does the SFA?

At this point, with scandal landing on top of scandal on a near daily basis, I don’t think anybody really knows.

One thing that is certain, however, is that the Gers are flying on the park and should be back in the Premiership next season.

And whatever nonsense is going on off the park, that will be brilliant for Scottish football.