Rangers say they will consider legal action against SPFL and reiterate suspension call

Ibrox club describe passing of proposal as ‘deeply flawed’

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MARCH 15: Ibrox Park on 15th March, 2020 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)

Rangers have declared they will consider “all legal options” open to them in order to challenge the SPFL’s controversial resolution vote and to ensure the 2019-20 Premiership season is played to a finish on the pitch.

The Ibrox club have condemned the passing of the SPFL board’s proposal to end the campaign, describing it as “deeply flawed”.

Rangers have repeated their demands for an independent investigation into the process which led to Dundee being able to withdraw the initial ‘No’ vote they cast last Friday and then change their mind to provide the decisive ‘Yes’ which pushed the plan through on Wednesday.

Partick Thistle, one of the other seven clubs who opposed the resolution along with Rangers, have decided not to take legal action against the SPFL despite being informed by a senior QC they have a strong case.

But Rangers remain determined to exhaust all opportunities to complete the scheduled 38-game top flight season and will contest any move from the SPFL to declare Celtic champions, as they have already done with Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers in the Championship, League 1 and League 2 respectively.

In their statement, Rangers appear to allude to 2007-08 when their request for an extension to the season due to a fixture backlog when they reached the Uefa Cup Final was denied by the then SPL.

“It is imperative that constructive engagement begins immediately with members to evaluate all options for completing the 2019-20 Premiership season, including on the field of play,” said Rangers.

“The SPFL must allow every opportunity to do so. There is precedent within Scottish football that a league must not be compromised by changing the rules during the course of the competition.

“The anger of our fans is understood and shared by our board, who continue to examine all legal options available.

“The most important issue facing all of us at this time is the Covid-19 pandemic and the board of Rangers sincerely hope all of our fans and their families are staying safe and healthy. Hopefully we will all be back supporting our team as soon as possible.

“However, given events of the past week, we feel we should make comment on the SPFL resolution vote. No fair minded person can take the outcome of this vote seriously. The SPFL has conducted a process which has been misleading and deeply flawed.

“In particular, publishing the outcome prior to all clubs having voted has undermined the democratic process and demonstrated unacceptable standards of corporate governance by the SPFL executive.

“We are extremely concerned that member clubs were not provided with enough information, or time, to allow them to make fully informed decisions.

“Also, we are aware several club directors claimed they were being bullied at a time when Scottish football should have been acting in unity to alleviate the financial hardship of many of our clubs. Addressing the latter was one of our primary objectives and the resolution we presented could and should have been progressed.

“The SPFL chose to obstruct our resolution which would have given clubs the required financial support, without the precondition of ending the season. The fact that this solution was not afforded sufficient consideration defies belief and further underlines the view held by many clubs that the processes and behaviours of certain individuals must now be the subject of forensic examination.

“For our part, (interim chairman) Douglas Park has already requested an independent investigation into the conduct of the executive. The SPFL appears to have acknowledged the need for an internal investigation – but only an independent investigation will provide satisfactory, credible answers.

“We repeat our call for the immediate suspension of (chief executive) Neil Doncaster and (legal counsel) Rod McKenzie pending the outcome of the independent investigation.”