Sir Minty, a Dodgy Bank, a Shady Company and a Goat-Bothering Brotherhood

Interesting connections-

Gavin Masterton, former boss of the Bank of Scotland and close friend of David Murray, retired from BoS in 2001 and started up a company called Stadia Investments Group. All SPL clubs at that time were BoS customers (except Celtic) and they almost all needed major improvements to their grounds which, coincidentally, were provided by SIG.

This was good for the business of Murray International Metals whose book value was bumped up just in time to be sold for £125 million when the new BoS bosses didn't like the look of Murray's enormous bank debt and pressed him to do something about it.

SIG was liquidated in around 2004 or 2005 with debts of £25-28 million.

The relationship between Masterton and Murray seems to have been consistently helpful to Murray to an excessive degree.

Masterton is still a director of Dunfermline FC who famously lay down in their final match of the 2003 season at Ibrox, allowing the Huns to win the SPL title on goal difference.

It also appears that Murray's takeover of the Huns in 1986 was made possible by Masterton's guarantee, on behalf of BoS, to underwrite the £6million which Murray needed at that time. Ever since, the two of them appear to have been - how shall we put it? - as thick as thieves . .

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