Jambos, Jags in a rage over Neil writing to clubs
by sending a letter to all 42 member clubs ahead of the first hearing in the Court of Session on Wednesday.
MailSport has obtained a copy of the letter.
And we understand Jags and Jambos believe it tries to sol icit cour troom support for others to join Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers in backing the League’s stance.
The rebels maintain Doncaster has a duty to all 42 member clubs.
But MailSport believes they fear he is trying to turn 40 clubs against two.
And they’re astonished that SPFL lawyer Rod McKenzie appears willing to provide advice to clubs who wish to go up against the pair in court.
In a new twist, Doncaster claims in the letter that c e r t a in c lubs have requested to see copies of the court documents.
But he states it would be “inappropriate” and “arguably unlawful ” to release those papers.
He suggests that an alternative way for clubs to access them would be to join forces with the League in their bid to keep Jags and Jambos down.
Doncaster even offers the services of league legal advisor McKenzie to any club wishing to back the SPFL in court.
The letter has left both clubs livid at what they perceive to be a clear conf lict of interest for Doncaster and McKenzie ahead of the court case.
A joint statement from Firhi ll and Tynecastle yesterday read: “Along with 40 other SPFL clubs, Hearts and Partick Thistle have received a letter, signed by Neil Doncaster, that r e l a tes to the forthcoming court case.
“It is wrong and much of its content is misleading and the timing questionable. We are awaiting legal advice on what needs to happen next.”
The latest development further fuels the fire under a civil war that has torn Scottish football apart and threatens to delay the start of the new season.
It was sparked by the SPFL voting to suspend the season due to the Covid-19 crisis, relegating Hearts from the Premiership, Thistle from the Championship and Stranraer from League One, before they could fulfil their fixtures.
In the letter, Doncaster says: “A number of clubs have asked whether we can provide them with copies of the petition lodged by Heart of Midlothian PLC and Partick Thistle Limited naming The SPFL Limited and the companies owning the three promoted clubs ( Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers) plus Stranraer FC Limited, as respondents in the action.
“Several clubs have also asked us to provide the answers (to the petition) that we lodged in court.
“There is one set of answers for the SPFL and another joint set for the three promoted clubs.
“We and the three promoted clubs have been advised that there are suf f iciently di f ferent interests between our respective positions that to lodge consolidated answers is not possible.
“Unfortunately, we have also been advised that it would not be appropriate, and arguably unlawful, to make available to nonparties to the litigation copies of the pleadings lodged in court.
“This includes the petition, the two sets of answers, and documents (ie productions), lodged in court by the parties.
“We’ve been advised that such items, when lodged, become the property (or at least under the control) of the court and that parties to a l itigation are not permitted, subject to potentially severe sanctions, to circulate copies of such material to non-parties.
“If SPFL Member Clubs wish to receive copies of documents lodged, then it would be necessary for each of them to apply to the court to become a respondent in the action and to lodge its own individual (or potentially joint) answers, or at least to formally associate itself with the existing answers of the promoted clubs.
“I f any Member is considering doing so, it should contact Rod McKenzie on ** or at ** and he will be pleased to advise on the required procedure and the options available.”