SPFL’S Doncaster fires back against renewed criticism of club payments
Neil Doncaster last night gave a bullish defence of the SPFL in the face of renewed criticism of the ruling body’s financial response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The League has been drawn into controversy over their refusal to pay out loans to clubs to tide them over the lockdown period, sums which could be repaid at the conclusion of the season.
Rangers had a resolution asking for just such action dismissed as “not competent”.
Arguing that loans were not viable, the SPFL instead pushed through a vote to call time on the lower leagues – a move which has given them the power to end the Premiership on the same basis and crown Celtic champions.
The decision – and the calamitous nature of the vote, which saw Dundee left as kingmakers after their vote went into quarantine – infuriated Rangers who called for the suspension of Doncaster, the chief executive, and legal advisor Rod Mckenzie.
They have since forced an EGM, to be held on Tuesday week, and are expected to release evidence to the other 41 clubs on Tuesday.
Their campaign against the League appeared to be lent support by revelations from Hearts owner Ann Budge that she had been party to the award of a loan made by the body.
But Doncaster, who reiterated his view that Rangers’ actions had been “unhelpful”, insisted that was not the case.
“Quite simply, Ann Budge is mistaken. No loan was approved while Ann was on the board of the SPFL,” he said, speaking on BBC Sportsound.
“What actually happened was in 2016 when Rangers returned to the Premiership, all non-old Firm clubs had budgeted to get three OID Firm games prior to the split.
“And because of a fixture anomaly with Rangers returning, three clubs lost out.
“Par tick, Hamilton and Motherwell were all given two Old Firm games pre-split, rather than the three they had budgeted for.
“The board was very sympathetic to the situation they found themselves.
– bearing in mind the board approves fee payments to clubs throughout the season – the board decided that in the case of Partick and Motherwell, those two clubs would be entitled to invoice the league for £ 150,000 each which they got earlier than other clubs.
“At the same time, Celtic agreed to forego £300,000 in fees that they would have expected to receive at that time.
“So there was no cash- flow impact on the league, nor the other nine clubs in the league.
“Hamilton didn’t want to take an earlier fee payment. There’s a big difference between loans and fee payments and it’s important to make the distinction.
“They were fee payments subject to VAT, which loans are not. Those advanced payments were invoiced by the clubs. Loans are not invoiceable.
“And loans, by their very definition, have to be repaid. These advance fee payments did not.
“Whatever people may wish to think, they were not loans.”
Meanwhile, there was some good news for Rangers fans yesterday when it was revealed their fraught relationship with Sports Direct will finally be over when the current contract runs out this summer.
The seven-year association was heavily-weighted in controversial Mike Ashley’s favour, which led to numerous court cases.
The Ibrox megastore didn’t sell the Hummel kit of the last two seasons, and was still selling tops branded with Puma despite that contract ending in 2018.
But now, Light Blues fans will be able to buy next season’s kit – the manufacturer has still to be announced – once lockdown restrictions have been lifted.
Commercial director James Bisgrove said: “The club is incredibly excited to introduce its new kit & retail partner to Rangers supporters world-wide imminently.
“This represents a clean slate and marks the start of a new era in the club’s commercial retail operations.
“The partnership will be a significant step forward in Rangers’ recent history.”