“Seriously, genuinely not been following any of the SPFL stuff. At all. Someone send me the best up to date scenario. Genuine request,” Gerry Braiden asked on social media.
Seriously, genuinely not been following any of the SPFL stuff. At all. Someone send me the best up to date scenario. Genuine request.
— Gerry Braiden (@BraidenGB) April 11, 2020
“Dundee issued an 800 word statement which didn’t actually say which way they would vote. Then they voted no but it wasn’t received, and when the guy went to resend it, his boss said ‘don’t’. In other news Rangers are angry at the SPFL and are threatening them for being bullies,” Slimshady helpfully replied.
Dundee issued an 800 word statement which didn’t actually say which way they would vote. Then they voted no but it wasn’t received, and when the guy went to resend it, his boss said ‘don’t’. In other news Rangers are angry at the SPFL and are threatening them for being bullies.
— Slimshady (@Slimshady1961) April 12, 2020
The Internet Bampot gave it a go: “Summary. Needs one vote to carry terminating the season. Dundee Fc said they had voting against it, but they hadn’t sent the email. Now holding off voting at all, and hanging in the balance. If the vote NO…no prize money, no end of season…if the vote YES, season ends, and £.”
I added, opening up an theme that we’re going to be pursuing after the Rangers new Interim Chairman got involved in their Day of Derangement yesterday.
“So the Daily Record and Sunday Mail conclude that the season should be Null and Void. And the Rangers are refusing to hand over their (fake?) evidence after the SPFL called them out. Parks of Hamilton remarkably still provide @celticfc with the team bus.”
So the Daily Record and Sunday Mail conclude that the season should be Null and Void. And the Rangers are refusing to hand over their (fake?) evidence after the SPFL called them out. Parks of Hamilton remarkably still provide @celticfc with the team bus.
— The Celtic Star Editor (@CelticStarMag) April 12, 2020
Cockoo Cockoo https://t.co/qPTe36VvXN
— ScouseTims (@ScouseTims) April 12, 2020
Hugh Lynch replied to that and picked up on the bus angle. “Don’t understand why
Celtic get these buses while the owner is involved with that joke of a club. Surely Celtic can afford their own bus . Like Aberdeen etc?” he asked. This is a subject that has been raised at the Celtic AGM previously and dismissed as being petty by Peter Lawwell.
Craig Anderson provides a decent summary saying:
The SPFL could definitely have controlled the narrative on this voting fiasco much better, but there’s a lot of absolute nonsense flying about, even from folk who should know better.
1. The 28 day deadline is in the rules for an ordinary resolution, which this is. The 5pm on Friday was a suggested time (to get clubs paid sooner if it passes), but clubs are well within their rights to wait, for example to seek advice from insurers etc.
2. The SPFL Board didn’t have to put this out to the clubs. They have the power to decide it on their own. However clearly putting it to the clubs is fairer for all involved. Board is Doncaster, McLennan and reps from Rangers, Motherwell, Hamilton, Dunfermline, Alloa & Brechin.
3. The Premiership is treated differently because they can’t make a decision on that until UEFA say so. It’s also the only one that can realistically be played behind closed doors and be somewhat profitable.
4. The decision to call it mainly came at the behest of the lower league clubs, who need the money. I agree with Rangers that the finish and the prize money should be decoupled in some way, but anything involving loans to clubs is a bad idea.
5. Reconstruction of the top flight needs a stronger vote, including 11-1 from the top flight. I think that will struggle to pass. 14 maybe possible, 16 definitely not. So Dundee are not going up regardless. May be more possible to expand the lower leagues.
6. Just because Dundee said to a journalist that they would vote one way doesn’t bind them to that. They still have weeks to decide if they want. They are well within their rights to mull it over, and they’re hardly going to rush it along because Chris Sutton says so.
7. However, if they’re holding out to try to negotiate, that seems daft. Just reject it and get everyone back round the table. If it’s about some financial benefit (eg compensation for missed play-offs), they’re not going to be the only ones profiting from that.
8. If they are trying to negotiate, I don’t think they’re in a particularly strong position. The clubs who can give them what they want (money or promotion) are those affected least by the delay of this resolution – the Premiership clubs, who won’t get paid yet anyway.
9. Talk of corruption or bribery seems far-fetched, when the only club who could afford that are Celtic and it doesn’t seem that worth it for them. They’re going to win the league whether it is played to a finish or called early – null and void is completely off the table.
The whole thing is a mess, but it’s not helped by a media in this country who favour sensationalism over facts. Even those you’d expect to be more level-headed have tried to dramatise the whole situation as though they’re on the verge of breaking a new Watergate.
I’d prefer it to fail and for the cash to be dished out now whilst still giving every chance to get things finished on the park. However, actually playing before about July is looking increasingly unlikely, so if the lower league clubs just want to stop that’s fair enough.
I also think in light of everything that has happened now, they have to withdraw this resolution and start again. The process has been tainted by all this nonsense.
Also, journalists retweeting completely unsourced Whatsapp conversations with absolutely no provenance is highly irresponsible. They may well be true, but we don’t know that.
Hello, here is your unroll: @craig_killie: The SPFL could definitely have controlled the narrative on this voting fiasco much better, but there’s a… https://t.co/4xKVoMWjp9 See you soon. 🤖
— Thread Reader App (@threadreaderapp) April 11, 2020
The Athletic are claiming that the Rangers will NOT cooperate with the SPFL’s request to submit their evidence that they claim to have that they base their call for the heads of Neil Doncaster and SPFL in-house lawyer Rod McKenzie.
Here’s their latest angry statement form the Rangers which involves the Parks of Hamilton owner, who supplies Celtic with our team bus.
WE have been presented with evidence via a whistleblower that raises serious concerns surrounding the SPFL’s processes relating to its stewardship of the voting on the resolution presented to member Clubs.
Rangers’ Interim Chairman, Douglas Park, attempted to discuss this evidence with SPFL chief executive, Neil Doncaster, who initially refused to do so. The SPFL followed up that call with an e-mail, which we believe was a thinly disguised attempt to silence legitimate concerns.
Rangers will not be bullied into silence. We believe it is in the interests of all Scottish clubs and supporters that the evidence, which is alarming, be addressed as quickly as possible.
The voting debacle and the evidence we possess raise serious questions concerning the corporate governance of the SPFL.
Mr Park said: “The lack of leadership and responsibility from the SPFL as a members’ organisation has shocked me. If ever there was a time for complete openness and transparency, it is now. Crucial decisions are being made on the issues of promotion and relegation behind closed doors and without proper time for consideration or debate.
“The farcical conduct of this affair seems to me to bring the corporate governance and business operations of the SPFL into sharp focus. It is an example of an undemocratic culture, which has existed within the SPFL for far too long.
“As a member club, we are disturbed by the evidence that has been presented and feel there is no choice but to call for an independent investigation into this entire matter. Each member of the SPFL board has a duty to its members to ensure that such an investigation is instructed without delay.
“All we ask for is equality and respect. In the past few days, we have become alarmed at a seeming lack of even-handedness and fair play from the SPFL. This is surely unacceptable and, if substantiated, must be remedied.
“Other member clubs, who have seen the evidence we hold, share our concerns.
“We call for the suspension of the SPFL’s Chief Executive, Neil Doncaster and its legal adviser, Rod McKenzie while an independent investigation is conducted.”
The SPFL responded almost immediately with a statement of their own asking for the Rangers to put up or shut up. Show the evidence that you have claimed to have that justifies calling for the two resignations.
“Would accusing your football governing body of various things, possibly without foundation, constitute bringing the game into disrepute?” @Aitkensdrum asks?
Would accusing your football governing body of various things, possibly without foundation, constitute bringing the game into disrepute?
— Judging EBTs:guilty (@AitkensDrum) April 12, 2020
Evidence seemed to emerge during the day that the WhatsApp conversation screenshots doing the rounds on social media are likely to be fake. Surely the Rangers haven’t relied on this as the basis of their assault on the SPFL?
Meanwhile the Ayr Utd Chairman has distanced himself from any social media stories saying he hasn’t been involved in any such groups while the Chairman at Raith Rovers has warmed Dundee of the consequences they will face if they vote no.
Celtic said nothing but will have been watching. If they have had a look at the Rangers forums they will see that anger levels, blind bigotry and hatred for anything to do with Celtic has gone off the scale – even for them, even in those sewage sites.
They think they are at war and are about to avenge the injustices that they suffered in 2012 when they were ‘demoted’ to the old Third Division (forgetting of course that on those very same sites that is exactly what they were call for themselves).
Celtic’s relationship with Parks of Hamilton is something that we’d like your opinion on. Should Celtic terminate their contract with Parks of Hamilton as soon as it is possible to do so? Please vote below…
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