McDougall warns a Rangers newco in SPL destroys credibility of game

Livingston chairman Gordon McDougall reckons Scottish football will lose all credibility if a Rangers newco are allowed to start afresh in the Scottish Premier League.

Under proposed SPL rule changes that will be considered on 30 April, the Ibrox club could remain in the top flight even if the debt-ridden outfit are liquidated.

Any new company, however, would be hit with a ten-point deduction for two consecutive seasons following the transfer of assets.

And the newco would face a 75 per cent reduction in SPL revenue for three straight campaigns.

Livingston were hit with a double relegation from the first division in 2009 after plunging into administration following the mismanagement of Angelo Massone, with McDougall picking up the pieces.

And the Lions shareholder insists the SPL would be setting a dangerous precedent if the dethroned champions are allowed straight back into the top flight as a new company.

He said: “If, for instance, they were liquidated and got to come back, what about other clubs that have severe debt built up just now?

“They could just say we’ll go to the wall and come back as whatever. And what credibility does that leave the game of football. You wouldn’t have any credibility at all.

“If Rangers go and they lose all their debt and nobody gets a penny, what happens then?

“There are clubs sitting just now that don’t know how to get out of their debt and then all of a sudden, Rangers go and come back as a newco.

“No matter what restrictions are put on them, they might be thinking ‘that’s worth it’. ‘All our debt it is gone’ but what does it do for the good of the game? It would set a precedent for other clubs to perhaps do the same thing to ease their own debt problems. The reputation of our game will certainly be tarnished if that happens.

“I’m not one that’s on a witch-hunt against Rangers, I understand the role they play in Scottish football.

“We had the double relegation to the third division when we went into administration and we just had to get on with it.

“I don’t want it to sound like Rangers should go to the third division although I’m sure the clubs in that division would welcome that.”