SPFL vote fiasco: The Dundee ballot that didn’t count

This is the controversial Dundee ballot paper that has sparked seismic reverberations throughout the Scottish game.

The voting slip which Dundee originally intended to send to the SPFL.

It clearly shows that the Dens Park club intended to vote against the resolution to bring an immediate end to the Scottish season for the three lower divisions. And, had it been counted, because of the rejections lodged by Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Partick Thistle, would have resulted in the proposal falling through ensuring it would not obtain the 75 per cent support of Championship clubs.

It is now the subject of claim and counter-claim as to whether it was submitted. On Radio Scotland, Inverness chief executive Scot Gardiner stated he was informed by Dens Park secretary Eric Drysdale at 4.52pm on Friday that his club had voted against - eight minutes before the requested time for returning ballots by the SPFL. However, the governing body have maintained they were later told by Dundee, who have offered no comment, that they were not to count the ballot. At the same time, the SPFL have suggested that it was not initially received.

The chaos surrounding the vote has now led Rangers to call for an independent inquiry into what took place, and for SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster to be suspended while this takes place. They have claimed they have “whistleblower evidence” that “raises serious concerns surrounding the SPFL’s processes relating to its stewardship of the voting on the resolution presented to member clubs.”