Private Hearing For Ex-Rangers Boss

Former Rangers owner Craig Whyte was today featuring in a behind-closed-doors High Court hearing after becoming embroiled in a legal dispute with a ticketing firm.

Case lists indicated that the hearing - before judge Mr Justice Henderson in London - would be held in public.

But private'' signs were placed on the doors of the court and reporters were barred.

A court official said the judge would not sit in open court to explain the reason for the private hearing. The official said the private hearing had been ordered by another judge.

The judge is thought to be analysing Mr Whyte's finances. Mr Whyte, who was at today's hearing, had been told to pay more than £17 million damages to Ticketus in 2013.

Ticketus had said Mr Whyte fraudulently or negligently made representations which induced the company to enter into agreements related to the sale or purchase of Rangers season tickets.

Mr Whyte had disputed the claim - but a judge had ruled against him.

Ticketus has said that the latest stage of legal proceedings involves its ''continued activity to enforce'' the damages order.

Mr Whyte, who will turn 44 on Sunday, last appeared at the High Court in relation to the dispute in December - at an open court hearing before a different judge, Mr Justice Newey.

The judge heard at the December hearing that Mr Whyte had failed to attend a hearing earlier in 2014 and had been made the subject of a ''suspended committal order'' - under which he could have been jailed if found to be in contempt of court.

But Mr Justice Newey discharged that committal order at the December hearing - lifting the threat of jail - after lawyers for Mr Whyte said he had been out of the country and would co-operate.

And Mr Justice Newey said in December that the next stage of proceedings would involve an examination of Mr Whyte's finances at a private hearing.

Mr Whyte's appearance at the High Court today marked the latest stage in a saga which has seen Rangers slide down the ladder of Scottish football.

He took control of Rangers in 2011 - administrators were appointed early the following year.

The Scottish Football Association concluded that Mr Whyte was unfit to hold a position in football after an investigation.

Rangers were ejected from the top-tier Scottish Premier League and relegated to the fourth tier.

They have since climbed back into the Championship - the second tier.

In September this year, Mr Whyte was disqualified from being a director for 15 years after proceedings were launched by regulators the Insolvency Service.

It was alleged that he had failed to promote Rangers' interests and to avoid conflicts of interests.

Business minister Jo Swinson said Mr Whyte had harmed Rangers and its fans and had shown a ''lack of regard for proper corporate behaviour''.

In November, Mr Whyte appeared in court in Glasgow after being charged with fraud - and was released on bail - following an investigation into the purchase of Rangers in 2011.

Lawyers representing Mr Whyte had told Mr Justice Newey in December that because of the ''strength of feeling'' in Scotland, police had offered Mr Whyte some security advice.