Charles Green loses court battle to force Rangers to pay legal fees for fraud trial

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Former Rangers chief executive Charles Green has lost his legal fight to force the Ibrox club to pay the legal fees for his upcoming fraud trial.

Green argued Rangers were contractually obliged to pay the costs of his defence as he fights charges relating to alleged criminal dealings during his time at the club.

The clause stated: 'The Company will pay any reasonable professional (including, without limitation, legal and accounting) costs and expenses properly incurred by the Employee after the date of this Agreement which arise from having to defend, or appear in, any administrative, regulatory, judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings by a third party as a result of his having been Chief Executive of the Rangers Football Club or the Company.'

Former Rangers chief executive Charles Green, pictured in October, has lost a legal battle with the club

Lawyers for the Yorkshireman argued that the clause bound Rangers International Football Club to pay 'the reasonable professional costs and expenses' for his forthcoming criminal trial relating to the takeover of Rangers in 2012.

After hearing arguments from both sides, however, a judge at the Court of Session in Edinburgh dismissed Green's claim. Lord Docherty ruled that on a proper construction of the clause those criminal proceedings 'do not fall within its ambit.'

Rangers hold their Annual General Meeting in Glasgow on Friday.

Green wanted Rangers to pay for his legal fees for his upcoming fraud trial but a judge ruled otherwise