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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Is he `Up on the Roof`?
An dun @ 8.40
Agreed, many clubs will be fed up with Sevco’s crusade.
But the SPFL’s very prompt response to the dossier contents (basically saying – “nothing to see here”) will have some scratching their head, wondering how the SPFL could possibly have dissected the complete 200 page dossier so fast.
It looks like the SPFL haven’t even bothered to read the dossier.
Call me Gerry,
i have read some reports saying the dossier was 19 pages
Gordybhoy64
Yeh…I’ve seen a link to the dossier. It includes a contents menu, followed by 19 pages of contents. The contents menu also list numerous appendixes, which I assume make up the bulk of the pages (not attached to link that I have seen)
HH
Gerry, I’d imagine the report has a summary outlining the relevant details of their evidence.
The SPFL have stated an initial opinion today based on the report’s summary but have highlighted they need more time to respond to the full report.
Infact, the SPFL have been given one day to respond due to the bank holiday weekend – a coincidence I’m sure…
An dun
Yeh. I’m maybe reading too much into it. Just don’t want the SPFL to give Sevco any ammunition.
HH
I gave this pish a quick look earlier, theres a executive summary on it,
I don’t think the SPFL had any other option but to get something out today, Gerry. Albeit a provisional response.
Leaving Sevco the news narrative over the full day was never going to be allowed to happen.
HH
The dossier was 200 pages long but because it was written in crayon it only contained 300 words..
CALL ME GERRY on 7TH MAY 2020 8:33 PM
So, the SPFL issue a statement barely an hour after the huns 200 page dossier is released.
Am I the only one to be suspicious of the SPFL’s speedy reaction?
I don’t think it reflects well on the SPFL, and this could be how their premature response is perceived by the clubs. Imo.
HH
———-
Think the SPFL have been quite clever. They knew it was coming today so I’m guessing they had a team sitting in wait to look through it. Wouldn’t surprise me if Peter had a couple of our in house solicitors going through it when it landed in the inbox and perhaps loaned a helping hand. The SPFL would have known that the huns have support in the smsm and wouldn’t have wanted the narrative to get away from them. They shut it down quickly which i think was deliberately thought out PR.
AD- beat Sevco to the punch, and took the wind out their sales,they should publish how much money clubs have lost in legal/inquiry fees covering Sevco.
I’m thinking there may be a wee bit of sectarian bias in the clubs being admitted into the 4th tier of Scottish football.
First, there was Sevco, then last year we had Cove Rangers. This year it is to be Kelty Hearts AND there is a possibility of Brora Rangers being admitted ot the bottom tier too.
It’ll be Larkhall Boys Brigade 11 next.
Bada – good idea.
Also – the point made above needs rammed home – to waste so much effort on a pathetic, weak attempt at justifying their own squalid, bitter objective of having the SPFL deemed null and void (because that is the Genesis of this whole facade) – at a time when their tiny needs are so far down the world’s list of prioritie, truly shows that mob for what they are – rancid.
HH
BGFC
prioritieS, obviously 🤪
Just wow! The justgiving account set up by Hamilton Tim in memory of his wonderful wife and our friend, MInx1888 has crashed through the 10k barrier ( plus gift aid to add )
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/helen-dunese-stewart
God Bless Chris, Helen, their family and all those kind people that have donated
HH
CRC
I canny copy and paste,but someone on facebook
has Robertsons quote about never mentioning bullying or coercion,
side by side with the Sevco statement saying the exact words,complete liar of a man.
CELTICROLLERCOASTER
hi Marc sent a wee donation direct to your good self today by paypal…..hope that wis ok …
smiley thank you thing
Braw
NEUSTADT-BRAW on 7TH MAY 2020 10:35 PM
CELTICROLLERCOASTER
hi Marc sent a wee donation direct to your good self today by paypal…..hope that wis ok …
smiley thank you thing
Braw
————
Yes received and sent you an email with a question about another CQNer
Thank you
HH
CRC
Michael Stewart
@mstewart_23
Stewart Robertson has just made things even more embarrassing for Rangers. To claim that the club haven’t spoken about bullying is beyond belief. Their statement on April 11th which the club RT’d today literally uses that word!
CRC Gift Aid exceeds 2k so overall it has smashed the 12k. mark. Initial target was 1k.
It has been a mind boggling response, I have never seen anything like it.
I look at the figures a few times over the day and I just shake my head in disbelief.
I sincerely hope it is some comfort to Chris & to Helen’s family.
CRC you have mail….
thank you
Braw
CorkCelt@10.43
👍 fabulous response to Minx’ sad passing and her legacy.
Today’s ludicrous Sevco contradictions are typical of an organisation with no direction , structure or vision.
Who in their right mind would take a month to bring forth conclusive evidence to follow up their serious allegations of
Malpractice intimidation and coercion of associate members.
Why the delay knowing the current state of affairs with regards to covid and its potential impact on our national sport ?
SELF INTEREST !!!!!
SEVCO are not interested in the welfare of the game.
They have tried to control the narrative over the last four weeks with daily statements and now they’ve spouted so much Lillian Gish that they are contradicting in a matter of hours what they spent four weeks preparing.
Stuart Robertson is either looking for a way out with his performance or the Klan are really so out of touch and up their own buttocks that being in a rancid hole is more preferable than shedding light on the truth.
Something stinks with this mob.
They need sanitised and sorted.
Hope the rest of the clubs take note and dismiss their pitiful attempts at bringing the game to its knees.
THEY are the club who are in trouble and they want to bring everyone down crashing just like them are any cost.
They will do and say anything to stop the success of the best run club in the country and it has choked them.
Third Klanark is not far away after today’s
Abysmal episode.
I have not read the dossier yet but heard Stewart Robertson on Clyde say it was about achieving better governance of the game in Scotland.
Join the bloody queue mate, join the queue, but lets not base it on questions.
Lets base it on “knowns” as set out in https://www.res12.uk or the stalled SFA JPDT into the UEFA licence process in 2011 where the falsehood period was removed from scrutiny or the Terms of Reference for the LNS Commission, ironically skewed by the same action TRFC accuse the SPFL of i.e withholding key information.
A wee reminder here of that. https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/was-lord-nimmo-smith-duped/
Finally Scottish Football Monitor FM covered the glaring governance deficiency that does need address at
https://www.sfm.scot/jpp-perverting-justice/ and it is independent oversight of those deciding which direction they want any enquiry or a 5 Way Agreement to go. How is it done? Who decides? is it minuted and published?
If Robertson is to be believed that its about improving governance, he should have no objection to using an evidence full dossier that supports TRFC’s case for it.
If Celtic want improved governance, why don’t they use the evidence on the Res12 archive and information sent to Doncaster and copied to them in 2014 about key information not provided to LNS or is it more of not interrupting your enemy as it keeps attention on them?
Helen still creating a feel good factor in her memory
God bless 🙏
night night y’all
my thoughts and prayers go to those who have lost loved ones
Anyone know what Paul67 is on about
when he tweets that “serious breach of fiduciary duties”
is likely to feature in news reports soon.
Didn’t someone mention yesterday that the SPFL had received
an advance copy of the dossier yesterday meaning they had
24 hours to look at it before the statement today
Gives a bit more credibility to having had to read 200 pages
in 24 hours rather then 1
I’m curious as to what
Ross McCarthur, (Dunfermline) a FtSPFL board member, has done wrong in talking to clubs
Did Gardner, Budge, Britton and a couple of other Not admit to trying to influence others votes ?
Ken Ferguson, ( Brechin) talking to clubs to encourage to accept the vote
Can Sevco explain the difference in who talks to who ??
Mulraney (Alloa) on FtSFA, what has he done wrong, to be called out by Sevco ??did he disagree with Robertson, oh dear bad man
Then there is Dundee owner John Nelms, he changed his mind, wow
🤔🤔🤔
An dun
David17
Bada
Apologies. Got sidetracked on box set tv. :-)
Makes sense now – for the SPFL to get on top of today’s release with a quick reply. Trying to nip it in the bud, do to speak.
I don’t want proxy votes to caboosh the need for a vote on Tuesday. I’m hoping for a resounding GIFUY to Sevco from the vast majority of club’s at the EGM.
HH
Michael Stewart has called out Robertson as using same bullying words
so it hasn’t been swept under the carpet
CALL ME GERRY
Didn’t someone mention yesterday that the SPFL had received
an advance copy of the dossier yesterday meaning they had
24 hours to look at it before the statement today
Gives a bit more credibility to having had to read 200 pages
in 24 hours rather then 1
Celticforever @ 11.18
That would make more sense.
We stroll down memory lane tonight.
Couple of links to BRINGING MARTIN HOME and WEE OSCAR 4 LIFE fund raising events.
Oor Helen (Minxy1888) with her beloved 🎤 plus many more of CQN’s finest.
Enjoy the stroll ghuys n ghals.
As ever I’m in every pic but on the other side of camera. I know pride is one of the deadly sins. But I am proud that I got to meet Helen via BMH campaign and get to call her a friend.
Enjoy.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dannybhoy67/albums
https://www.flickr.com/photos/61614987@N07/albums
MWD
I’m aff back to my box set tv.
Catch up later
HH
!!Bada Bing!! on 6th May 2020 2:37 pm
Ragers have officially now sent their dossier to the SPFL.
GORDYBHOY64 on 7TH MAY 2020 11:12 PM
Anyone know what Paul67 is on about
when he tweets that “serious breach of fiduciary duties”
is likely to feature in news reports soon.
———
Hard to say but reading between the lines it may have something to do with Stewart Robertson being on the SPFL Board and perhaps some form of breach of responsibility to shareholders. Maybe breach of confidentiality or some other action which has brought harm to the company. Ultimately if the motion for an investigation is voted down, Stewart Robertson’s position on the board of the SPFL is untenable. if he does not resign he may be forced out on the basis of what Paul is alluding to. I cannot imagine his board colleagues or other clubs are impressed with his behaviour.
You don’t know it Danny, but you are a genius with posting those pic links
HH
CRC
gordybhoy64 on 7th May 2020 11:12 pm
Anyone know what Paul67 is on about
when he tweets that “serious breach of fiduciary duties”
is likely to feature in news reports soon.
Pretty sure it’s about Sevco stating that Sky could claim £10 million back when that was information protected by a non-disclosure agreement in line with the terms of the contract, which they have now breached :-)