the issue of equity seems to me to be to allow one of the ex-directors to trade (sell) the 1 million + shares acquired virtually free in the 2004 deal. So thats just about more shares coming to the market - the RNS probably cost the company more than it raises from the options!!
As far as the new CTO is concerned it's an important function - but is it too late? Difficult to make bricks without straw. It may be that his main function is to provide a quorum on the board so that Sibley & Booth can withdraw when the board discusses how to pay them back their 1.3 Million pounds over the next few months.