Rangers and SPFL
● Ibrox club’s own resolution for ending the season thrown out because it was ‘not competent’ – but governing body rejects claims they ignored pleas for assistance
On an extraordinary day of claim and counter-claim, Rangers became embroiled in a war of words with the Scottish Professional Football League yesterday.
The Ibrox club, bitter opponents of the SPFL’S resolution to terminate the season, had submitted a proposal of their own with a request for prize money to be released early in order to help clubs in Scotland stay afloat.
Rangers said they had discovered yesterday morning their members’ resolution was “not competent”, and claimed they had sought assistance with the details from the SPFL executive “on several occasions” without response.
The SPFL refuted those comments with its own statement, in which it said it had not received a request from Rangers until 10.18pm on Thursday night.
Rangers have vigorously opposed the SPFL resolution which would see the immediate curtailment of the Championship, League One and League Two campaigns, with the right to decide the Premiership on a points-pergame basis handed to the SPFL board if the coronavirus was to prevent its resumption.
Rangers put forward their members’ resolution on prize money separately, but yesterday morning they released a statement voicing frustrating after the SPFL’S legal adviser said it was not competent.
“As a member club, we sought assistance from the SPFL executive on several occasions yesterday, to ensure our resolution was deemed competent,” a club statement said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, no advice was forthcoming prior to the meeting starting.
“Now that the SPFL has belatedly identified the reason why our members resolution was not competent, we will immediately resubmit our resolution, based upon their advice.
“If this advice had been forthcoming earlier, we would not have lost valuable time in this process. We are confused as to why attempts have been made to slow the progress of Rangers’ resolution.”
The SPFL responded, saying it would work with Rangers on the revised submission.
“For the avoidance of doubt, only at 10.18pm yesterday did the SPFL’S lawyer receive an email from Rangers seeking advice on the content of their resolution, which was put before the SPFL Board first thing this morning,” the statement released yesterday said.
“Rangers have expressed a desire to submit a further resolution. The SPFL’S lawyers will work with Rangers, as they will with any other member club, who wishes to put forward a resolution.
“The offer to help clubs with the drafting of their resolutions was made during the divisional conference calls on
Wednesday. Rangers chose to proceed without seeking that help, with the result that their resolution was ineffective.”
The league had announced proposals to immediately end the three divisions below the top flight and determine final placings by points per game in league matches played to date by each club.
Wednesday’s resolution also recommends that the Lad
“For the avoidance of doubt, only at 10.18pm did the SPFL’S lawyer receive an email from Rangers seeking advice on the content of their resolution”