Prediction: Neil Doncaster – survives

Neil Doncaster was appointed chief executive of the Scottish Premier League in 2009.  After graduating he worked with a legal firm before joining Norwich City as solicitor and company secretary in 1997.

In 1999 he became operations head at Norwich before becoming chief executive in 2001, a position he held until he resigned following the club’s relegation to League One two months before taking up his position at the SPL.

An articulate and sharp mind saw Doncaster appointed director of both the Football Association and the Football League during his spell at Norwich.  He was an excellent candidate for the vacant SPL position in 2009.

After revelations of activities at Rangers, the SPL board initiated an inquiry into improper player registrations in March with a date of 6 April set for clubs to provide information.  Over six weeks later Doncaster still tells people he does not know if Rangers have a case to answer.

While this is going on, Doncaster has alarmed many football fans with his strong advocacy that if Rangers go into liquidation, a Newco-Rangers should become the first club in Scottish football history to parachute straight into the top division.

In failing to manage the inquiry into Rangers, or to give fans updates ahead of votes on rule changes, Mr Doncaster looks to have lost control of events.  By 9pm tonight he will know that tomorrow is the most important day in his professional life.  What he says and does tomorrow morning will determine the trajectory of his career.

The opportunity to deploy robust crisis management techniques exists but will be deploy them?

Prediction: Neil Doncaster is legally trained and smarter than he’s letting on.  He will act appropriately and will survive.

REQUEST FROM THE HOUSE

I urgently need a list of all teams, at all levels, who are resident in the territory of one national association but play in the territory of another, for example, Berwick Rangers, Derry City, San Marino Calcio.  Please email me if you can add to the list, celticquicknews@gmail.com.

I know there are examples in New Zealand-Australia and across many small nations.  If anyone has some time to spare to research it would be appreciated.  Time critical or I would do it myself.

You can buy a hard copy of the new issue of CQN Magazine via Magcloud here.

The graphic below is just for a flick through, to read the magazine go here to it’s dedicated site.