MURDO GO CALL
Rangers last night called for SPFL chairman Murdoch MacLennan to quit after being refused an investigation into his links with Celtic chief Dermot Desmond.
The Ibrox club are adamant that his role as a director with Dublin-based firm INM is a clear conflict of interests, with Parkhead shareholders Desmond and Denis O’Brien
having significant stakes in the company.
But the SPFL have ignored Rangers’ requests and now the club have demanded MacLennan step down.
The Ibrox hierarchy also cal led out SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster for being aware of MacLennan’s dual interests and doing nothing about it.
A Rangers statement read: “As chairman of a company in the difficult position that INM f inds it sel f, Mr MacLennan will be required to review evidence and materials relating to INM’s dealings with its shareholders, including Mr Desmond and Mr O’Brien.
“Has Mr MacLennan notif ied the SPFL chief executive of this conflict?
“If the chief executive was notified can he confirm why he did not notify the SPFL Board of this interest?
“It is surprising that Mr MacLennan does not acknowledge there is clear scope for conflict of interest between the duties owed by him to the SPFL and the duties owed to INM, Mr Desmond and Mr O’Brien.
“Because there is no route of appeal against the decision (not to grant an independent investigation) Rangers is left with no alternative but to call for Mr MacLennan to stand down as SPFL chairman.”
Rangers a l so want answers from MacLennan and the SPFL over alleged comments he made about the club in a previous job.
The statement said: “Our concerns are heightened by the fact Mr MacLennan has yet to offer an explanation for the serious allegations that he used inappropriate language when speaking about Rangers whi le working in the media.
“In the interests of proper governance, the SPFL should have agreed to an independent investigation of this matter and should not have refused to answer all questions and address the concerns put to them.”
Last night an SPFL spokesman said: “The board has already made its strong support for the chairman very clear and we consider the matter closed.”