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!”
615 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- »
I remember when Big Billy signed him, I thought Jim Melrose was going to be the better buy.
One of a long line of misjudgements on players I have made
Round 5: wHoops am I?
(Up to you when you want to guess, but you have 1 guess only. 5 additional pts to the first person to guess correctly)
1 Born in 1963, I signed for Celtic in 1983 ( 10 pts)
2 I played no games under the Manager that signed me, but went on to score 99 goals for Celtic
3 In the 1984/85 season I turned out regularly wearing the No 4 on my shorts
4 I was part of the team that won the league at Love Street on the last day of the season, scoring 2 goals (2pts)
Round 5: wHoops am I?
(Up to you when you want to guess, but you have 1 guess only. 5 additional pts to the first person to guess correctly)
1 Born in 1963, I signed for Celtic in 1983
2 I played no games under the Manager that signed me, but went on to score 99 goals for Celtic
3 In the 1984/85 season I turned out regularly wearing the No 4 on my shorts
4 I was part of the team that won the league at Love Street on the last day of the season, scoring 2 goals
5 Nicknamed Choccy, I left Celtic to signed for Man Utd (1pt)
McClair
And the answer is Brian McClair who is currently living in Newton Mearns
And the final scores
33 SETTING FREE THE BEARS
28 BADA BING
23 JOBO BALDIE ( joint 3rd)
23 CORKCELT ( joint 3rd)
12 EMERALDBEE\O/ STILL PROUD TO BE AN INTERNET BAMPOT
10 GREENPINATA (joint last :-) )
10 NORRIEM
Congrats SFTB, a great guess and smash and grab at the end. Thanks for all that took part and lurked and apologies re round 2 hiccup! :-)
HH
CRC
CRC – just brilliant, thank you.
SFTB – a great gamble on the final round and a well deserved winner.
Thanks CRC, & well done SFTB,
perfectly executed quiz,
maybe improperly registered.
well done CRC
Thanks Marc,well done SFTB, great guess last round, 0/5 in the odd even round done me in.
Congrats SFTB.
Thanks crc for the break in lockdown boredom.
Bada’s form forced me into an early guess. Who else did we sign that summer apart from Melrose & McClair?
AH SFTB give us an easier one,
Melrose was a terrible signing. I remember he scored at Tannadice and did a GIRUY to the Celtic fans who had been giving him a bit of stick
HH
CRC
EK well represented. Bridies done well! Eastercraigs connection does well!
Apologies just entered the room at end of picture round
Got 5 of them, thought Peter grant was 3
Thank you Marc. Again much appreciated.
Well done SFTB.
Normal service resumed top and bottom 😀
Cheers and HH.
SFTB
Davie Hay as Manager 😂
so
my puzzle for tonight.
I am ok with VE Day celebrations.
some union flags. bunting, remembering grandas, i can even be ok with regimental flags. my in laws, all very celtic, did this stuff for their granda.
a good celtic family moved on the end of the street, very young, never see the kids in anything other than cellik taps. they also have a load of family there, distanced, bunting, a scottish regimental flag, ok, respect that.
in between our houses a corner bungalow roof on it.
a gigantic union jack, a navy english flag, every window with a flag,
one with a UVF on it, another with Ulster is British
WTF,
Norrrie
Melrose & McClair were signed by Big Billy who left that same summer because he had been paid less than other Scottish managers.
Davie Hay got the benefit of Billy’s buys before he too got shafted by the Desmond White Pay-For-It-Yourself approach.
Melrose gave the jungle the vicky as well,
Wee Jim Spence reporting
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/1315761/jim-spence-rangers-fc-spfl/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
HH
Marc/lennybhoy
Great effort Celts
HH
Did CRC, not manage to get Davie Hays tracksuit from the St Mirren league winning game, for one of the fundraisers in the kerrydale, as an auction prize ??
Saint Stivs,
some of them cant help themselves,
its all they have these days
NORRIEM on 8TH MAY 2020 10:44 PM
Did CRC, not manage to get Davie Hays tracksuit from the St Mirren league winning game, for one of the fundraisers in the kerrydale, as an auction prize ??
==========
Not me Norrie
CRC, I remember it getting auctioned off at a function there
Thought it was one of the CQN table do’s ?
Setting free the bears , congratulations on your win in the quiz.
We also signed the late Brian Whittaker in August 1983 much to the puzzlement of some of our support as he was not thought of as a good enough player.
John Colquhoun was signed about that time too or possibly a bit later into the season.
CRC Thanks for your efforts. Much appreciated.
VE Day god bless my grandad and all your grandads who if today were here , would love to give us all a great big cuddle 😪
Thanks grandad
I’ll just put this out there ,two guys from the oppest side of the divide through the war fighting side by side, god bless you, I wish I could speak.to you grandad
Watching top researcher from Oxford University re vaccine, very promising outcome so far
Sorry god bless you grandand
God bless all of you let’s hope your all here next year, god bless
“The ‘smoking gun’ evidence in their 200-page dossier presented on Thursday – which they hoped would blow the lid off an SPFL board they think is out to get them – turned out to be the equivalent of alcohol-free beer.”
Jim Spence
……..to avoid disruption to the game, each team will only have three opportunities to make substitutions; substitutions may also be made at half-time.
“The temporary amendment comes into force with immediate effect, and has been made as matches may be played in a condensed period in different weather conditions, both of which could have impacts on player welfare.
://news.stv.tv/sport/rule-change-allows-football-teams-five-substitutions-each?top
CRC
Once again thank you for the Friday night quiz. Even reading it 9 hours later I am once again in the relegation zone. Are you sure I’m not a him?☘️
Maybe a him? Had a look,yes I am a him! Maybe a hun?
Had another look, maybe not handsome but definitely not a hun