The report prepared for the SPFL General Meeting alleges its chief executive, Neil Doncaster, breached his duties as a company director. His “guiding hand”, apparently, did not provide material information to clubs ahead of their vote last month, misrepresented the situation through non-disclosure, did not exercise care, skill and diligence. It concludes there is “reasonable grounds for suspecting” he breached his fiduciary duty as a director of the SPFL.
Let’s be clear on the allegation, it is weak “suspecting” he was in breach, and was qualified by the adjective, “reasonable”. Not overwhelming, indisputable or even good, just reasonably good. It is not a good start.
It is alleged the SPFL could be on the hook for £10m in refunds to broadcasters and sponsors as a result of the lower leagues being curtailed and the possibility that the Premiership is also cut short. As the latter is yet to take place, this point is not credible. Broadcasts are overwhelmingly of the top flight, which will only be cancelled when all details are correct.
It is contended that future SPFL revenues could be restricted if, in future, the SPFL parts with other marketable properties e.g. league sponsorship rights. It is clear that none of this may happen and even if it does, it is not clear what, if any, alternatives would potentially be available, as these events have not happened.
Clubs may suffer financial loss if the SPFL is subject to future financial claims, which it subsequently loses, “Why was this not disclosed?” Again, any number of future events may or may not happen. But they have not happened!!
The report then alleges clubs were erroneously told they could only receive cash by voting for the SPFL resolution. Neil Doncaster examined this point in detail on BBC Sportsound on Saturday. It was the board’s view that loans to 42 clubs were not practical and limited scope existed to provide advances to the 30 lower league clubs, as money due to those finishing bottom of each table have almost been reached with the payment made in March.
The report asserts that there will be “significant difficulty” in getting the required agreement of SKY TV to league reconstruction and that this was not disclosed to clubs. I have seen no evidence of this significant difficulty and would be astonished if Doncaster had not received positive correspondence from SKY on the matter.
On corporate governance, it is claimed that Aberdeen got an assurance from the board that the Premiership would not be called without the board consulting with Premiership clubs, that this assurance was not disclosed to all 42 clubs and this, therefore, becomes a failure of corporate governance.
Agreeing to consult before taking a decision is not often regarded as a corporate governance failure. Dare I say this is a bit of a stretch?
There is a semantic point, “Clubs were given the misleading impression that they had to vote by 5.00pm on Friday.” The SPFL email asked them to vote by that time “if possible”. Frankly, despite the lack of weight thus far, I am amazed this point reached the final report.
Not relating to these issues, the minutes of 15 SPFL meetings were “unapproved”, the board took less than 24 hours to review 118 pages of detailed notes and an update on the vote status was given on Friday 10 April, before it was complete. The latter point was definitely a Hobsons’ Choice matter, but none of this amounts to misconduct.
The SPFL’s QC’s opinion on the “Rangers [sic.], Hearts and Inverness” requisition was “leaked” to SPFL board member Ross McArthur (yes, really) and the SFA vice president Mike Mulraney. Honestly, we’re not in smoking gun territory here, are we?
Dundee’s vote gets a bit of attention. “Why was Dundee’s email address not whitelisted?” No assertion was made that this suggestion was put to the board, even by board member Stewart Robertson. And “Why was the quarantine not checked until 8.30?” I know this one! Because the vote was still open and it was only after Dundee got in touch to cancel their vote that someone realised it had already been sent.
They also challenge Dundee’s process for cancelling their vote, although not their right to cancel it. Yes, actually.
Dundee chairman, John Nelms, comes in for the heaviest treatment, although he is not in the firing line. It is alleged that in a conversation with the Partick Thistle CEO he offered to negotiate with Dundee United and Raith Rovers to forgo some of their fee payments in order to offer Partick and Stranraer a higher fee – and to try to arrange friendlies with “big-hitters”
No claim is made that Nelms was empowered by the SPFL to act in this way. He will no doubt answer for himself soon enough.
Threats were apparently made by SPFL solicitor Rod McKenzie to the CEOs of Dundee and Inverness that if they did not agree to the proposal, Championship payments would be split in 10 equal ways. This possibility was also made by Neil Doncaster on Sportsound, who made it clear that demand had been made on them, so it is not as though McKenzie was acting alone or either acted frivolously or off the record.
Douglas Park’s allegation of bullying centres on Rod McKenzie’s email to him, stating “Can we not simply resolve this by a confirmation that such an allegation will not be repeated in connection with these events and that the suggested course of action will not be proceeded with?”
I honestly put my head in my hand at this point. “Can we not simply resolve this….?” is not how bullying works. ‘Snowflake’ does not being to address this level of sensitivity. Mr Park, have some self-respect.
Uefa were approached with a joint letter from the SPFL and SFA on 4 April, when they stated “the vast majority” of clubs wanted the season curtailed. This was before the vote, so they were working on other feedback from clubs, or not at all. The former option is supported by the SPFL vote on 10 April. The report does not cite the SFA as co-conspirator, which is nice.
That’s all, folks! As a friend said earlier, go easy on them, they are a new club learning the ropes. The SPFL will enjoy a landslide win on Tuesday’s vote.
Message from HamiltonTim then Lennybhoy in memory of Helen Dunese Stewart, Minx1888:
“After the sad passing of my wife Helen (Minx 1888) on Saturday 2/05/20 the family have been inundated with offers from people wishing to send flowers or make donations to a cause. Consequently, we’re asking that donations be made to Strathcarron Hospice.”
JustGiving account for Strathcarron in memory of Helen
“Ghuys as you will know from reading CQN we recently launched the WalkwithShay Legacy Fund and set out our purpose. However, given the news of Helen’s death and on Chris launching his just giving page we would like to invite any of you that have not already donated a chance to either do so through the above just giving page or if you are unable to do so then send a donation to the WWS Legacy Fund account:
Account Name: Walk with Shay
Sort Code: 80-22-60
Account No.: 15326765
Please put your moniker as the reference. If you are unable to do either email us at walkwithshay@yahoo.com
We have already ordered flowers, done so before Chris launched the just giving page. The flowers are from you, ‘CQN’.
Helen was a massive part of the CQN family, many more worthy contributors to this blog have listed causes that she was instrumental in helping.The CQN family are second to none and always rise to the challenge, I as always have faith in you all. Helen had faith in you, please please donate via the just giving page or the WWS Legacy Fund account.
Chris’s target was £1,000 at time of this post the amount donated stands at £3,091.00
Thank you in advance CQN…
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!”
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Belated birthday wishes Paul
Hail, hail!
NEUSTADT-BRAW on 7TH MAY 2020 1:33 PM
https://i.imgur.com/XvjMVfC.jpg
smiley Park disnae look so sure thing
Braw
BIGRAILROADBLUES on 7TH MAY 2020 1:36 PM
Neustadt-braw. Ffs hahahaha
heheheehhehehehehehehe
Roddy Forsyth at 11:30 news on Radio5 confirmed that Rangers ‘ whistle blower’ was their own Chief executive Stuart Robertson .
He’s on the SPFL board !!
Hunbelievable
https://postimg.cc/4mL0FWyV
Some of the content. You couldn’t make it up – well you could actually.
https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A8ddac248-fac7-45c8-afdd-7d452c803b97
In essence the dossier says “A big Bhoy did it and ran away but we can’t tell you what he did in case he comes back.”
If you cook cheap meat slowly and long enough it can result in a tasty dish….however not always.
Example Text
The SPFL board has convened an emergency summit for Thursday afternoon at which they will discuss the contents of Rangers’ dossier.
A 200-page legal document was released today by the Ibrox club outlining their concerns over SPFL governance, which the league body has dismissed.
It’s anticipated Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson will be part of the conference call that is due to begin at 2pm.
….
The Huns issued another statement minutes ago to say that “Rangers will not be bullied into silence”.
….According to BBC News Scotland…The Dossier was 19 pages long. ?
HH
The huns have commissioned a new club anthem to be penned by Holland Dossier Holland.
nowheretorun csc
Vote still standing at 39 – 3
Belated happy returns to Paul67; thanks for posting the link to the JustGiving Page.
But do the 3 have a ‘game in hand’?
Benjamin Aidoo seen at ibrox. Was seen with a few others warming up.
Ewan Murray from the Guardian has been desperate to find something. He’s settled on 2 points.
The one that Paul listed above regarding payments to the Scottish Championship Clubs.
The second is more curious. Rangers claim Ken Ferguson called League Two clubs and told them ICT are changing their vote to yes. So there is no point in voting no.
So if what Sevco claim about Ken Ferguson, if it is a fait-accompli, no point in voting no, there is equally no point in voting yes. So, what point are they trying to make here?
Bullying? It’s more like a pillow fight.
The Dossier was obviously written by a bunch of Tossiers.
Paul67 et al
“…..they are a new club learning the ropes..”
Let me edit that for you Paul;
“…they are a new club….on the ropes”
Ernie, Bhoys & Ghirls,
Re : Football Insurance.
As anticipated by many on here, footie in Germany has presently been cleared for a restart on May 16th.
How have they addressed the Insurance dilemma, which has been obviously equated ?
Cheers and HH to all. 🌈
AVE! AVE! on 7TH MAY 2020 2:15 PM
I’m not really sure what would happen if clubs chose to abstain rather than vote.
I think the point is, we’re only getting half the story right now. Rangers have packed it with various claims. He said she said.
a Ship of Fools
Excellent work Paul, and may I say you don’t look anywhere near 67, must be all that clean living :-)
Oor Phil sure has a low opinion of the SMSM….
“the copy and paste fusileers in the Stenography Corps happy to obediently regurgitate anything sent to them from Ibrox”
in this case his opinion is bang on.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 7TH MAY 2020 1:31 PM
page 129 of dossier………………….’ then we delivered two tubs of hand sanitizer to the needy ‘
——————
Fekn magic :O)
MONAGHAN1900 on 7TH MAY 2020 9:52 AM
Missed you…were the FFek you been ?
Stuart whistleblower Robertson’s position is unTENable?
Shirley CSC
Robertson’s position on the SPFL Board must be untenable, he was the whistleblower? He will resign in a flounce,and play the victim….
Snap
Bada
Don’t think he’ll flounce – I understand we alternate with Sevco on board representation.
“They might find a wee nugget in there, it might have been written by a wee nugget“👍
Jim Spence
So Dossier Thursday is in fact Dossier Turd Day.
For anyone who’s read it – why did it take from Good Friday to produce it. Were their brain cells self isolating. 🤔
Loved the post from George Paterson on twitter:
“Turned out the ‘smoking gun’ was a water pistol filled with
warm pish!”
Happy late Birthday Paul and keep safe!
Your site has been a positive life saver to all of us self-isolating
Celtic supporters during this terrible pandemic
Hrvatskijim at 11.41 on previous article.
Have just spent almost 3 hours reading the wonderfully written
sporting stories in the Stransky Tales series. Thank you for the
link – these stories really stand the test of time!
Hail! Hail
Sevco Castore deal hits a snag as the manufacturers say they can’t produce the jersey in IBROXXXXL sizes.
The guff on Bears Den takes some reading.
“We have played a blinder here.We are keeping all the real incriminating stuff for our Lawyers to produce in court”
“We never said we had a Smoking Gun,we never accused anyone of corruption,this was all the Tabloids work”
All written in Crayon.
“The report asserts that there will be “significant difficulty” in getting the required agreement of SKY TV to league reconstruction and that this was not disclosed to clubs.”
I take it Budgie was informed of this ??.
Whole thing is a joke. The huns need to disappear or be charged and fined.
Father Michael.
1 hr ago
Retired Greenock priest has passed away after a long battle against multiple sclerosis
https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/18427019.retired-greenock-priest-passed-away-long-battle-multiple-sclerosis/