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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David 17/ Magnificentseven
cheers for the replies
Guys – could someone post the link to the JustGiving page as requested by HT please – struggling to locate current page (sorry!).
Many thanks.
HH
BGFC
BGFC
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/helen-dunese-stewart
We are Celtic
Is Fess 19 out there??
NORMAN STREET49
Just catching up with THE Statement.
Is there anyone out there in Celtic world or am I alone?
Hello again all you young rebels.
And G’day to you Fess19.
H.H . Mick
Well ghuys what about those Burlesque Bigots? i’m actually feeling
a bit sorry for them, the smoking hun, sorry gun, i was thinking about
their idiot CEO there, turned out to be the usual bumph and bluster.
Now if ever a person was out of their depth it must be that poor man
and as we all know to be a good liar you’ve got to have a good memory
and he can’t remember saying something very important a coupla
weeks ago.
O.K i know you don’t believe i ‘m feeling sorry for them, but i do honest
8-))
In other news Oz is moving forward now with our plan to get people back
to work, and kids to school.
97 souls have lost their lives in the whole of Australia and i think the quick
reaction to get a lockdown was very effective although mistakes were made
by various state health departments and if they had done the right thing
our total would probably been half that, but no wavering from the Vic. premier.
No relaxing of lockdown restrictions even though Mothers day here on Sunday.
He’s taking a lot of stick and pressure but he’s not for moving and i applaud him.
Update on BIGYINMILAN
No word back from anyone regards Professor Peter Boyle, i’ve now sent more
emails asking for information of any kind, but so far nothing.
I just can’t get my head round that.
H.H . Mick
Good morning and a big Hail! Hail! to all Celts throughout the world. Looking forward to being crowned Champions again next week and to the return of the Bundesliga. Stay indoors and keep safe everyone. 🍀🍀🍀
MWD 11:40 pm
Thanks for posting the photos. I have been on CQN since its very early days (originally as HamptonTim) but have never knowingly met another CQN’er.
It was great to be able to put faces to a few blog names – thanks again.
TIM MALONE
I take it you’ve forgotten about the time we
met up in Bairds bar and i lent you 10 quid but
it’s o.k i’ll get it next time 8-))
H.H . Mick
Good morning and a happy VE day anniversary from a rather cloudy North Staffordshire.
Perhaps the dossier should be sent to Bletchley park for deciphering ,- the smoking gun must be in there somewhere.
Mick
I thought it was £20?
MWD
Great pics , can’t even remember that night so it must have been a cracker ⚽️⚽️
All for a great cause
Helens just giving just under £11k fantastic going again
TIM MALONE
Nae probs. we’ll put the other 10 quid towards
the resurrection off Sevco 2 and that will be two tims as shareholders.
8-)))))))
Oh wait! should we just kill them off forever?
Let me think.
H.H . Mick
And as Blantyre TIM said, fantastic from the Celtic nation again.
If anybody thinks Celtic are just another football club, think again.
Whether it’s Helen and Chris, wee Oscar, or any other shining star
in our family, you will never walk alone.
Hail..Hail.. Mick one proud tim.
Mick
£20 would buy us 20 x Sevco…the huns could have their own league.
TIM MALONE
Right enough, Craigy bhoy Green bought them for a pound
so thats 20 x Sevco and their own league.
So what could we call it?
The Orange Empire League.
The Cludgie Ludgie League.
The Goat fiddlers league.
Add your own, i’m sure we could make a list.
H.H . Mick
Tim Malone Will Tell & Blantyre Tim
That trip down memory lane was more apt than I first thought when posting last night
6 years ago today Wee Oscar left us. He’ll be waiting patiently on Helen joining him.
Didn’t even realise that at the time I was looking through those pics a couple of days ago on my laptop before it blue screened on me. Fecker needs a wee restore from backup so I’m hoping I did a recent backup to restore from.
Took me couple of hours to find my old Flickr pages via google yesterday.
MWD
Here is another link I found from Belfast cycle for WO4L campaign.
https://www.flickr.com/groups/weeoscar4life/pool/
MWD
So… Sevco’s ‘dossier’ reminds me a bit of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dLNKHtQTWw
MWD
Fantastic pictures and thanks for posting!
Hope you are well on the road to recovery!
Take care.
Philbhoy. Back to work Monday coming. Still have wee breathing issue when climbing stairs etc. But defo 90% better.
Cheers. It’s only been 4 and a half weeks but every day is better.
MWD
MOONBEAMSWD
Absolutely stunning pics, so many happy memories out of
sad circumstances, but shining through is the love and compassion
of THE CELTIC FAMILY.
I can’t say that enough, because thats what makes us more than a
football club.
H.H . Mick.
MWD
Good news and take it easy!
Take care.
Melbourne Mick.
There isn’t another support who feel the connection to others like the Celtic family do.
MWD
I see Bawwy Fergushun has been out ” shopping for essentials in Larkhall”.
What, i wonder, would constitute essentials in that neck of the woods?
Good morning CQN from another beautiful sunny day in the Garngad
Stewart Robertson of the zombies is Actualy trying to give advice to SPFL on running a business, I find that incredible.
Where’s your clubs accounts Stewarty boy, let’s see them, I also think Hummil, elite, Mike Ashley, Puma and 250 creditors of your old/same club pish might question your club trying to give advice on running a business ya feckwit.
D. :)
MOONBEAMSWD on 8TH MAY 2020 9:59 AM
Thanks D, great photographs.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
O.K. RAY WINSTONE
I’ll start, how about a …Lambeg drum ?
H.H . Mick
Baseball bats, knuckle dusters
Maybe wee Bawwy was going out for his essential buckfast brekkie.
Are Zombies not immune anyway???💀
D. :)
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/sport/football/scottish-football/peterhead-fc/rangers-dossier-surprise/amp/
Just reading on Facebook that today is 6 years since wee Oscar joined the angels.
Couldn’t believe it.
Time really does fly. enjoy today & everyday.
DAVID 66
As we all know , to kill a Zombie you have to destroy their brains.
Eh ? thats us all fecked.. he he..he
H.H . Mick
MM – 😂😂😂
D. :)
MELBOURNE MICK,
Hi Mick re Bigyininmilan, I was thinking if you are sending emails to educational establishments such as @strath.co.uk you may not get a reply due to them being closed during lockdown. Just a thought.
I hope all is well down on the peninsula.