THE APOLOGY AFTER THE COVER UP - RANGERS SEX ABUSE SHAME

Rangers have finally issued an apology to victims of child sex abuse at the club, however, they are being criticised for still trying to deflect blame and responsibility for what happened, with one victim saying their apology was hollow and was “too little, too late”.

The Ibrox club ended their long silence to finally say sorry over the dossier of abuse, which said clubs must be held accountable for the actions of the depraved predators they employed.

But one victim, who was targeted by beast Harry Dunn, blasted the length of time it took to deliver the apology.

The man, now in his 50s, said: “It is too little, too late.”

The former Rangers youth player was targeted and abused by beast scout Harry Dunn when he was 16, praised the club for finally apologising over the SFA abuse report - but said it should have gone further.

The Ibrox club earlier said sorry a month after an SFA dossier called for “unreserved” apologies from clubs over staff who targeted youngsters in historic incidents.

But an ex-starlet said the Light Blues statement, which apologises to “anyone personally affected by abuse within Scottish football”, looked more like an attempt to say; "Look, it wasn't just us, other clubs have had to say sorry too".

The man told the Scottish media: “They’ve not directly apologised for what happened at Rangers - it’s more about what happened in Scottish football.”

The report revealed abusers at a number of clubs, with Hibs, Celtic and Rangers called to make an "unequivocal and unreserved public apology". All other clubs immediately set about apologising and seeing what could be done to help those affected, but Rangers stayed silent for over a month, and when they did finally say sorry, it was done in a manner that appeared to shift responsibility for what happened at their own club, onto the rest of Scottish football.

“It was an opportunity for Rangers to step up and own their mistake, but they failed spectacularly. 

“They need to take responsibility for the people they employed. They’ve not admitted it’s happened at Rangers - they just seem to be saying it’s happened in Scottish football.

“I think it’s at least good that they’ve spoken about it. But it wasn’t just one employee connected to Rangers - there were more, Gordon Neely is another who comes to mind.”

Beast Harry Dunn died aged 85 while awaiting trial over abuse charges in 2017.

The ex-Rangers youngster previously reported being plied with booze aged 16 and pinned down on a bed by Dunn at a youth tournament in 1984.

The report commissioned by the SFA into historic abuse in the game does not focus on Dunn’s alleged assaults while working at the Ibrox club.

But it does list a series of incidents involving ex-Gers coach Gordon Neely, who died of cancer in 2014 aged 62.

The former youth player previously urged the club to apologise after there was a delay in them speaking out, and they issued their statement yesterday.

The club said: “We are in receipt of the report published by the SFA following the review of sexual abuse in Scottish Football and have taken some time to consider its lengthy findings and recommendations.

“We are firmly committed to ensuring openness and transparency in relation to this issue and agree on the uninterrupted ethical obligation of clubs over time, irrespective of changes.

“We express our sincere sympathy to all individuals who have suffered abuse within the Scottish game and commend the bravery of all survivors who have come forward.”

They said the report “concerned one former employee” - and it is known to be Neely.

They added: “We note the report accepts that when former senior managers were provided with a direct allegation this was taken seriously and dealt with promptly.

“The report commends the action taken and acknowledges Rangers have previously said publicly the matter was reported to the police at the time.”

However, this does not hold up to scrutiny, with the BBC, who have been banned from Ibrox for a long time, reporting that: Rangers had covered up reasons for one of the beasts leaving the club.

Rangers told the BBC in 2017 that Neely was sacked and immediately reported to the police. Two years later, the club told The Sun: "It was important Rangers took both steps without delay to address this matter."

Rangers wished Neely well for future

However, this has been called into question after the BBC obtained an article in the club's newspaper marking his departure, which made no mention of abuse concerns and wished him "every success in the future".

The boy who made the complaint which led to Neely's sacking has broken his silence and says Rangers' statements that a police report was made are "total lies".

In an edition of the in-house weekly newspaper Rangers News on 20 March 1991, a story titled "Neely Moves On" appears on page two.

It states that Neely "resigned last week after spending four years at Ibrox".

It continues: "Neely, who was previously with Dundee United and Hibernian, has decided to go into business.

"The club wishes him every success in the future."

When shown the article, John told the BBC: "Well, there you go. On one hand they tell you they went to the police. And on the other hand, he went with their best wishes. A paedophile? Unbelievable. A cover-up."

"It would concern me if any institution knew that somebody presented a potential risk to young people and didn't follow it up with due care. And from what I know now with Rangers, that appears to be the case."