SPFL urge clubs to respect outcome as probe vote fails
MacLennan and Doncaster want focus on pandemic as investigation falls through
AFURTHER investigation into the SPFL will not take place after the majority of Scotland’s clubs voted against Rangers’ call for an inquiry.
Scotland’s 42 professional teams met via video call yesterday to vote on the Ibrox club’s fresh request for a probe into the league governing body’s handling of the vote to terminate the football season early.
In chaotic scenes on Good Friday, Dundee dramatically changed their ‘no’ vote to a ‘yes’, which meant the SPFL were given the green light to call time on the Championship, League One and League Two.
They were also handed the power to crown Celtic Premiership champions if topflight fixtures could not be played before UEFA’s summer deadline.
Rangers joined forces with Hearts and Stranraer to force a general meeting off the back of the controversial and drawnout vote.
A total of 32 teams were required to back the proposal and that number had to include a minimum of nine Premiership clubs, 8 Championship clubs and at least 15 clubs from both Leagues One and Two.
Ultimately, the Ibrox club were dealt a blow with the resolution getting the support of only four clubs in the Premiership, one from the Championship and eight in the two lower divisions.
Another two teams from the combined ranks of League One and League Two abstained.
Aberdeen, Partick Thistle and Stenhousemuir had all given the resolution their public backing while Inverness and Falkirk had launched scathing attacks against the league hierarchy.
Speaking shortly after the EGM, SPFL chairman Murdoch MacLennan urged all clubs to respect the democratic process and unite behind efforts to restart football as soon as it can be done safely.
He said: “The last few weeks have been bruising ones for many people in our game. Far too many words have been spoken and written which have sown anger and division amongst clubs. That is a matter of the deepest regret to very many people in our game, myself included.
“I know those who proposed this resolution will be disappointed, but I trust that everyone involved, on both sides of this argument, will now respect the clear, democratic and decisive result we have seen today and allow our game to move forward together.
“The overwhelming majority of clubs voted to oppose this resolution and it’s now incumbent on all clubs to put their differences aside, otherwise we will all suffer together.
“I have taken careful note of
If Scottish football is to survive this, we simply must unite
the concerns expressed by the minority of clubs which voted in favour and when we are back to playing football in a safe environment, I will bring clubs together to discuss the lessons learned.
“Every single one of us understands that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought huge challenges for our game, which we must overcome soon if we are to save all 42 clubs and restart the sport we all love.
“That is a daunting prospect in its own right – one of the gravest our sport has faced and it’s no exaggeration to say that it threatens the very existence of many of the SPFL’s clubs if we get it wrong.
“If Scottish football is to survive this, we simply must unite and use the enormous talents, resources and creativity at our collective disposal to rescue our game.
“Time is short. In reality, we must do everything humanly possible to get games back up and running by the end of July.
“We simply cannot afford the distraction of further infighting or legal challenges.
“I’m sure we can all agree that the quicker we get back to playing football, the better.”
Chief executive Neil Doncaster added: “It was a good meeting, there was some good exchanges of views, but ultimately the clubs have spoken.
“They have given a very clear indication that they do not want to see this independent review that was being sought by three clubs.
“My view is very clear that the board should devote all of our time and our attention to the crucial work of getting the game back up and running in Scotland as soon as we can and as safe as we can.
“I am very pleased with the result and the work starts
now. It was a very respectful exchange of views and you would expect that.
“I think statements can often be misconstrued, but there was a good exchange, we had all 42 clubs represented in the meeting and ultimately the clubs have given a very clear indication that they see the way forward being engaging with the Scottish Government, getting games up and running as soon as it is safely possible and that is what we will be doing immediately.”
The Rangers board now face a decision on whether to drop their case or press it further at the Court of Arbitration or possibly even the civil courts.
The club have called for SPFL chief Doncaster and legal advisor Rod McKenzie to be suspended from their roles following the controversial vote outcome.
Rangers directors say that Doncaster “breached his duties” during the voting procedure, but the SPFL stand by their man saying he was cleared of any wrongdoing in the original Deloitte’s investigation, which came at the end of March.