Zoom day scenario
After the virtual EGM came the statements... but it remains to be seen if peace will break out
AS exPecteD, yesterday’s SPFL eGM delivered defeat for Rangers’ bid to launch an independent investigation into the handling of last month’s key vote to end the season.
that, however, is unlikely to be the end of the infighting in Scottish football. the possibility of legal challenges from both Rangers and Hearts looms in the background.
Almost a third of clubs backed the Ibrox call for an inquiry into the actions of the league leadership, but many others are keen to move past the issue and concentrate on the immense challenges of the coronavirus crisis.
Here, Sportsmail reflects some of the views expressed after yesterday’s Zoom video meeting.
ROSS COUNTY CHAIRMAN ROY MacGREGOR
‘We hope this will now allow all of the clubs and authorities to move forward together to find the best solutions for securing the safety of our game here in Scotland.
‘the current pandemic is the biggest threat that has ever faced Scottish football and we need to all come together to ensure we come out of this at the other end, protect as many jobs as possible and ensure that our game can prosper when we get back to action.
‘Failing to address the key vulnerabilities for clubs and leagues at this time, and how we plan for the future, could have a detrimental effect on how we come out of this and that should be of central importance right now.
‘today, a decision has been reached in regards to the independent enquiry and in the interests of democracy we hope this decision is accepted by all and that we can move on from this and come together to secure the future of Scottish football.’
STRANRAER VICE-CHAIR SHAUN NIVEN
‘I’m not overly surprised that it didn’t get passed, although I’m somewhat heartened that almost half of League One and two clubs supported it.
‘I’ve no idea why further up the chain there was such a strong vote against. Maybe they’re more satisfied with their lot at the middle or higher levels.
‘Ultimately, that’s it for us now. We won’t be in a position to do anything that involves finance such as a legal challenge.
‘It’s time for us to put up and shut up and prepare for what’s ahead of us rather than what’s behind us.’
MOTHERWELL CHAIRMAN JIM McMAHON
‘Did the evidence produced meet the high threshold required to merit an independent review of that decision and indeed an open-ended and unlimited enquiry into the whole corporate governance of the SPFL? In our view it did not.
‘We also took into account two other factors in our decision not to support the resolution.
‘Is this the appropriate time to divert resource into an investigation? In our view, it is not and we are surprised by the amount of effort and energy devoted to this at a time when Scottish football faces an existential crisis.
‘Secondly, it is very likely that a large number of clubs will need help to get to the other side of this, which might in turn entail accessing money from external sources.
‘the chance of getting that sort of funding is much reduced if we continue to fight in public.
‘For that reason, can we not all come together as a group to try and get the best possible outcome?’
SPFL CHAIRMAN MURDOCH MacLENNAN
‘I have taken note of 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 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.’