MURDO HEADS THE SPFL
From Back Page of the Press Association, an Honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow’s Adam Smith Business School and the 68-year-old has been the Chancellor’s Assessor at the Court of the University of Glasgow for the last eight years.
He is also a former managing director of the Daily Record and Sunday Mail.
MacLennan got the backing of the SPFL board after league chiefs hired headhunters Noal Partners to cast the net wide in search of a new chairman.
SPFL chief Neil Doncaster hailed the work of the outgoing Topping and is adamant the new man is ideal to lead Scottish football in to the future.
Doncaster said: “Murdoch brings with him a wealth of top-level business and media experience and has been at the cutting edge of the digital revolution as CEO and now deputy chairman of the Telegraph Media Group.
“He demonstrated a real passion for the role and a clear insight into the opportunities and challenges we will face.”
MacLennan will take the reins next month and insisted he is relishing the challenge with the Scottish game looking to renegotiate the terms of their TV deal – currently secured until 2020 – in the next 18 months.
MacLennan said: “I am thrilled to have been selected to be the next chairman of the SPFL and to build on the achievements of Ralph Topping. I am so proud to be a part of its future.
“I greatly look forward to working with Neil Doncaster and to the opportunities and challenges that are ahead for the whole of Scottish football.”
Doncaster paid tribute to Topping for the chairman’s efforts in the frantic last few years in the Scottish game.
He said: “I have enjoyed working with Ralph, who has played a key role in steering the SPL and SPFL through some turbulent times. He has been a huge and positive influence behind the scenes, particularly in the successful 2013 merger of the SPL and SFL.”
Topping added: “I’ve enjoyed my time in Scottish football and it was an honour to be chairman of the SPL and SPFL, especially during a period of substantial change and challenge.”