SPL chief Neil Doncaster’s pay hike enrages fans

SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster has been criticised by fans after taking a 16 per cent payrise despite falling income for both clubs and the Scottish game in general.

• Fans groups criticise Neil Doncaster after SPL chief given £28,000 wage hike

• Payrise comes as SPL income and payments to clubs fell

Doncaster’s salary has risen from £172,000 to £200,000 in an inflation-busting increase that came as the SPL’s accounts revealed a six per cent fall in total income from £22.7 million to £21.4 million.

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Total payments to SPL clubs also fell by almost nine per cent, falling by £1.6 million, according to figures which account up to last May.

Doncaster’s payrise has caused further puzzlement as a replacement sponsor for Clydesdale Bank, whose deal ends this summer, has yet to be found.

Andy Kerr, president of the Rangers Supporters Assembly, told the Daily Record: “It’s hard to believe that at a time when the game is struggling, Neil Doncaster is taking such inflation-busting rises.

“And that’s before we even get into the cost of appointing the legal eagles.”

Steve Kilgour, general secretary of the Federation of Hearts Supporters Clubs, said: “How can they justify a wage rise like this for Doncaster? They withheld payments to Hearts when we were struggling to make payments on time.”

The SPL had earlier delayed payments to member clubs from sponsorship and broadcasting revenues. The league had also spent £350,000 on an independent probe to investigate Rangers over wrongdoing over their use of EBTs.

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