Green’s hopes of securing SPL place for Rangers hanging by a thread
Six top-flight clubs could be in ‘no’ camp
THE prospect of Scottish topflight football without Rangers for the first time in the 122-year history of organised professional leagues in the country appears increasingly likely ahead of the hotly debated SPL vote at Hampden on 4 July.
Charles Green’s newly constituted Rangers FC require at least seven of the 11 current SPL members to back them if they are to be granted the share of the Ibrox club which has been consigned to liquidation.
But the latest declarations of four SPL clubs yesterday suggests the odds are firmly stacked against newco Rangers. In addition to Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov’s blistering declaration that the Tynecastle club will vote against the proposal, Dundee United last night said they, too, would be voting “no” after a meeting with supporters.
A United statement, released at 9pm, explained: “Following what was a robust and constructive meeting, the Club’s position on how we will vote was substantiated by the viewpoint of the various supporters groups. The meeting finished with all in agreement as to what the correct course of action would be.
“The board of directors of Dundee United are unequivocal in the belief that a form of sporting punishment must form part of the reasoning behind any decision made and, therefore, cannot vote the newco into the SPL. General sporting integrity and, more importantly, the integrity of Scottish football must also play a significant part in the decision making process. It is our belief that any form of sporting punishment must be unambiguous in the message it displays.”
Motherwell and Inverness Caledonian Thistle also released statements which indicate they will do likewise after consultation with their supporters.
With Celtic and Hibs also expected to be in the “No” camp, it leaves Green’s hopes of securing the minimum 8-4 vote in favour of admission for newco Rangers hanging by a thread.
Although feelings in SPL boardrooms over the issue have been influenced by the commercial impact of losing Rang- ers, there has been widespread opposition to the newco among supporters of all 11 clubs. It seems that weight of public opinion is being taken on board and that the Ibrox club, founder members of both the Scottish Football League in 1890 and the SPL in 1998, are in line to restart life outwith the top flight.
Motherwell have announced that their vote on 4 July will be dictated by a referendum among their fans. Members of the ’Well Society, along with shareholders, will be independently balloted on whether the Rangers newco should be accepted into the SPL.
“The current board of Motherwell FC are not the owners of the club but are the trustees of the majority shareholding as we transition towards a fan-ownership model through the successfully launched ’Well Society,” said the statement from the Fir Park outfit.
“At a time we should be enjoying the club’s success on the park and development off it, we face
“The board fully appreciates our fans’ strength of feeling on the issue” Inverness chairman Kenny Cameron