Clyde blast Neil Doncaster in statement on SFL meeting

Published on 04/07/2012 15:03

‘SCOTTISH Football is in a very dark place’ according to the directors of Clyde FC, who have slammed SPL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster for delivering an ‘unpalatable proposition’ and only caring about the impact on SPL clubs from loss of money from sponsors and the media following a meeting of the SFL clubs.

• Neil Doncaster outlined how SPL clubs would lose £16 million next season if newco Rangers were not admitted into the First Division

• The implication is that there will be no entry to the SPL, with restructuring appearing to be a real possibility

• Directors blast lack of supporter reaction being factored into plans

The club sent two directors to the five-hour meeting of all SFL clubs, during which restructuring the Scottish leagues was discussed at some length. Scottish football’s governing body have come under fire for fast-tracking plans to alter the current format, in a move expected to benefit the newco Rangers.

In the statement, the directors comment: ‘There is simply no good solution to what is now a structural problem that has gone beyond a one dimensional issue of where Rangers should play next season.

• Read the full statement

“No matter what happens now there is going to be enormous fallout across the Scottish game. Whether some good can be extracted from the impending mess will depend entirely on the SPL clubs, guided by the currently absent leadership of the SFA.

The directors level criticism at Neil Doncaster for using the meeting to ‘get a steer’ from SFL clubs on whether they would allow Rangers into the top division of the SFL. It was also revealed that most of the SPL’s sponsors have exit clauses in their contracts, should either half of the Old Firm be competing outwith Scottish football’s top flight.

The Clyde directors were also scathing of the fact that the impact on club finances, and relevance of the game were not taken into consideration, along with the impact of stay-away supporters.

The statement goes on to say: “The undeniable statement made on behalf of the SPL is commercially understandable.

“The SPL would not allow £16m to flow out of their coffers, the impact would be too catastrophic for the SPL clubs to contemplate and as such the only options are that Rangers enter SFL1 or, as a less attractive backstop, a breakaway SPL2 will be formed.

“There is no prospect, from an SPL point of view, that SFL3 can be allowed to happen.”

The Clyde directors also offered a stark warning on the integrity of Scottish football being damaged: “There will be no winners. Any level of integrity for the sport will be lost by one outcome and financial collapse, we are told, will fall upon the SPL with the other.”

The 30 SFL clubs are due to vote on allowing the newco Rangers into Scotland’s lower leagues on July 12th.