Ralph Topping steps down from SFA board commitments

SPL chairman Ralph Topping has resigned his SFA board commitments due to pressure of work. The 60-year-old, who is chief executive of bookmakers William Hill, will continue in his non-executive role with the SPL which he has held since 2009.

At the start of this season, Topping was appointed to the new Professional Game Board (PGB) of the SFA which was created as part of chief executive Stewart Regan’s radical restructuring of the organisation. Topping was also elected onto the main SFA board of directors as a representative of the PGB.

Topping’s decision to step down from SFA duties leaves a vacancy on both the main SFA board and PGB. The SPL are allowed three representatives on the PGB – the others are currently SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster and Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell.

One of those two could now be in line for a place on the main SFA board, while an SPL appointed replacement for Topping will join the PGB.

Doncaster, meanwhile, has admitted that the continuing uncertainty over Rangers’ participation in the SPL next season is hampering efforts to finalise the new £80 million television contract with Sky and ESPN, as well as attempts to find a replacement for title sponsors Clydesdale Bank.

“We have agreed terms with Sky and ESPN for a new five-year deal from this summer,” said Doncaster.

“But, as is the case with many commercial contracts, long form commercial contracts follow the initial agreement.

“We still have another season with Clydesdale Bank as our main sponsor who will exit in the summer of 2013. So discussions remain ongoing. Generally, having clarity going forward would be helpful to everyone. Not merely to ourselves in the SPL centre, but to all 12 member clubs.

“To have that clarity, to understand what the league looks like next season, would be helpful to all.”

While the main business of yesterday’s SPL general meeting was adjourned, it did approve a new financial disclosure regulation which includes the requirement that clubs have no outstanding sums due to other SPL members as at 31 December any year.

“The essence of it is that it brings our rules more into line with the SFA’s on financial disclosure,” said Doncaster.

“It makes it clear that it’s important clubs don’t have any outstanding sums due to any other clubs. You can still have staggered transfer payments, as long as there are no outstanding payments.”