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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TIMHORTON
SOT was reporting Italy’s covid19 figure’s daily, then stopped.
I believe his Dad is in his 90’s and lives in the UK, so hope he is OK.
So we’ve had Robertson’s a decent bloke and Doncaster’s been abused by Park.
They’ve made their bed ……..
Bada Bing,
its amazing that the zombies think the SPFL/SFA
are both anti sevco bodies run by PL and the unseen fenian hand.
All car dealers will be closed until at least June 1st. I’m sure Mr Park has had his thought process affected by this fact.
Naw, if it thinks like a hun and talks like a hun then it is definitely a hun.
There’s the macaroon bars, spearmint chewing gum and worthless shares, 3 for a pound.
Someone post on here awhile back that Park supplies the transport for Celtic for free, to help his advertising.
I still think we should punt him.
I’m sure there’d be a queue to take his place.
Pog
Where doescit say that about car showrooms ?
Does it
MONAGHAN1900 on 8TH MAY 2020 3:55 PM
VOGUEPUNTER on 7TH MAY 2020 2:38
Missed you…were the FFek you been ?
In the jail for a while, VP. All a big misunderstanding. Out now on a tag.
———————–
That’s good ,thought something bad had happened :O) hh
the rangers media…
“Can we not just sort this all out with a ****Ing square go…what is this **** all about ?
The letter states that the SPFL has been “asked by a number of clubs” if action will be taken over “gross breaches of confidentiality” in the rangers dossier. It says the issue will be returned to after the EGM.
Aye very good come ahead ya bunch a ****”
SPFL now officially trolling the huns: 😂
https://postimg.cc/B8gjtk9h
Helen’s Memorial Fund for Strathcarron Hospice including Gift Aid is currently just a wee bit short of 15,000 pounds. Pride & Sorrow.
“Unfortunately vitriol is driven towards Rangers and the Rangers family as a whole by bigoted stories of regurgitated oppression, religious intolerance, lack of respect for an indigenous culture, political ambition, greed and just plain jealousy of past accomplishments. We have been cast as Union Jack waving insular bigots/ thugs, who have cheated and stolen our way to success and victory, a culture has emerged where pride in the union/ nation is sensationalised as ‘anti’ (Irish, catholic, Scottish, take your pick I could go on and on…) instead of just pro British, an alliance that has served the 4 nations well and allowed us to prosper whilst upholding the very freedoms that allow all to have a voice in society.”
hellmendthem.
ADI_DASSLER on 8TH MAY 2020 4:29 PM
I’m waiting to have a tow bar fitted on my wife’s car by Arnold Clark, it was supposed to be done this Monday morning at 9:00. We drove to Inverness to find the dealership closed along with all the other dealerships. Park has 3 or 4 along the road.
I got a message in the afternoon cancelling it. When I called to rebook they said they will not be opened again until at least June 1st.
I expect it will be cancelled again.
They are still intolerant bigots.
https://www.parks.uk.com/honda/contact-us/inverness/
Pog
Cheers.
Also if your car is due an MOT after 31st March the date has been extended by 6 months, message on Arnold Clark answer machine.
Pog
K was due a new car end of March but Volvo closed factory in Belgium.
No big problem but they aren’t even answering enails , they are open for key workers though 👍
I am looking forward to a 9 in a row party, the Huns in liquidation…..all in a Pub…….but it would be a TREBLE Celebration, the 9 IAR, The Huns being totally fecked…and the fact that I am once more in a Pub drinking beers
I just cant get enough.
HH
Just out of sheer curiousity..
.I wonder IF there are any Huns out there who may have half a brain cell…who MIGHT be going mental with their own Club at this time, and totally embarrassed and who will freely admit that their club have behaved shamelessly once again….and who MIGHT even be fed up/pissed off with their Club that are once again playing the “Victims” card at every opportunity, whenever they dont get their own way, and having most …if not all of Scottish fitba laughing at them ?
HH
Having been shown up as a complete shill you would think Tom English would keep a low profile.
‘Scottish football at war with itself’.
No Tom. One klub didn’t get its way and they don’t like it.
Of course at no point during this whole debacle has he addressed the huge, stinking elephant in the room: Sevco want the season voided. They were told to gif and now want the heads of those who dared not comply.
BT,
Arnold Clark up here have the barriers down and the lights off, they are not seeing anybody. The Frau can live without the tow bar at the moment as we can’t go anywhere for obvious reasons. 😉
I meant to say we had a wee Skype bevvy session last Friday. 2 mates one who lives in Germany and one who lived in Germany and the illustrious Kölncelt. Both my mates know Kölncelt. The wife and youngest Bhoy were good enough to leave me to it in the living room so no subject was left untouched with copious amounts of hun slagging and plenty of swearing. We intend to do it again if and when Celtic are awarded the league.
Taken from the Daily Record…sorries..
The Scottish FA have urged struggling clubs to opt into a government scheme providing interest-free loans to small businesses.
Some clubs have been struggling since the March 13 shutdown of all Scottish football due to the coronavirus outbreak.
With 43 per cent of Scottish clubs’ income coming from gate receipts, the virus has presented a massive funding challenge.
But the SFA have urged sides to join the Bounce Back Loan Scheme announced by the UK government last month.
It allows for loans up to £50k to be dished out to clubs with no interest due for a year.
Thereafter the interest rate is a tiny 2.5 per cent, and the application process requires no checks, fees or personal guarantees.
….
I wonder if the Huns would be interested in a £50,000 loan…would it do them any real good ?
I seriously doubt it.
HH
I honestly can’t be assed with Tom English anymore. I’ll be giving Sportsound and his articles a wide berth for a while.
He’s either just an arrogant fool that can’t admit he’s picked the wrong horse, or, he’s attention seeking.
Doncaster should have been advised to read ‘Frankenstein’ back in 2012.
Will any journalist have the balls to ask Park/Sevco what was said to Doncaster ?
An Dun
I’d say both
The blogger
Or maybe get a dictionary to look up LIQUIDATION
I look into the window of my mind
Reflections of the fears I know I’ve left behind
I step out of the ordinary
I can feel my soul ascending
I’m on my way
Can’t stop me now
And you can do the same
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
It’s never too late to try
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
You could be so many people
If you make that break for freedom
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
Good evening CQN, and we have a special Friday night quiz tonight in memory of our dear friend Minx1888, who passed away last week and indeed we also remember, Wee Oscar who lost his battle to cancer 6 years ago today. May Minx, Wee Oscar and all other dearly departed friends and family be resting peacefully and perhaps looking in tonight on us all. God Bless
Watch out for some very special announcements soon from the Walk With Shay Legacy fund in memory of Helen.
See you all at 9pm
HH
CRC
Obvious member of the public ‘plant’ on uK briefing just now …asking about Brexit. FFS
As others have already alluded to, Tom English’s opinions this week reek of a man being told by his employer to push the blue agenda no matter what to get them back onside at Ibrox. A deal, allegedly, has been done.
He is being ridiculed by the likes of Spiers and Stewart but just keeps on going.
They’ve burnt every bridge they ever crossed without once looking back – and now they want sympathy!
hellmendthem
No league reconstruction in Scotland
From Jim Spence on Twitter:
League Reconstruction dead in the water so
@JamTarts relegated. Good for crowds but tougher for @DundeeFC @officialdafc @ArbroathFC and others who will now have the Jambos in the championship next season. Tough enough league at the best of times.
Wonder if Budge will invite Nelms in for a drink when Hearts host Dundee next season . . . .
The players have been told to return to training on June 10,latest deadline date..
VE Day (Victory in Europe) 8th May
VJ Day ( Vicrory in Japan) 15th August
Just as well we didn’t fight Denmark. 😉
Hearts go down. Lovely.
Two horse race between them and Sevco for the admin championship.