Rangers

Scottish football chiefs move to 'relegate' Rangers into First Division

Rangers could be playing in the First Division this season under plans drawn up by Scottish football's authorities.

STV understands clubs have received a letter from Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan, following talks with his SPL and SFL counterparts Neil Doncaster and David Longmuir respectively.

They propose a significant overhaul of the Scottish league structure, which would also see the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League merge by the start of the 2013/14 season.

Charles Green, who purchased Rangers' assets from the old company recently, had applied for the club's member share of the SPL to be transferred to his new business.

That move required an 8-4 majority vote of top flight clubs but enough teams have already declared they will vote no on July 4, leaving Green to look to the SFL for a league place.

It is understood however that a compromise could be found which would instead see Rangers, who are still shareholders of the SPL, formally relegated to the second tier in exchange for a modification to financial distribution and the immediate introduction of a play-off between the top two divisions.

The SPL are also understood to have proposed paying close to £1m to include Rangers' First Division games in their current TV deal with Sky and ESPN.

STV contacted the SPL to question whether it was possible for them to relegate Rangers, given that Dunfermline Athletic had already been demoted to the SFL. The league declined to comment or point towards the specific rule which would allow such a situation.

In response to the letter sent to clubs, SFL chief executive Longmuir said: "The Scottish Football League, for the last number of days, has been involved in intensive discussions with The Scottish Premier League, The Scottish Football Association and other crucial stakeholders in our game, to try and address, in a positive way, the current critical issues affecting our game.

"The Scottish Football League will today send a briefing document to its member clubs – a logical and positive communication which will hopefully eliminate some of the understandable doubt, threats and insecurities that are apparent within the game at the moment. The consultation document will fully explain the short and long-term benefits of a number of scenarios which we will be considering at a full Club Meeting next week.

"The Scottish Football League is trying to address the question of whether we are in a position to accommodate a solution to the Rangers F.C. scenario. We are trying to achieve a solution which will be in the best interests of The Scottish Football League and the wider game."

A spokesman for Scotland's top flight released a statement which read: "The SPL today held constructive talks with 11 member clubs ahead of the general meeting on 4 July.

"Following today's meeting, the SPL will continue to work with the Scottish FA and SFL to discuss the best way forward for Scottish football.

"All member clubs will meet on 4 July to formally decide whether to approve the transfer of Rangers FC share."

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There are 33 comments

Sack Stewart Regan now.

He has proven that he is willing to change the rules to accommodate one club, at the expense of all of the other members of the SFA.

He has shown bias towards one club, and must be removed. He can no longer be considered to be impartial.

Declan Murphy 28/06/2012 Report this place
We can only hope that the SPL and SFL clubs show more integrity than the SFA and the governing bodies of the leagues. It is questionable, given their conduct since going into administration, whether there should be a place anywhere in Scottish football for Rangers

Wolf 28/06/2012 Report this place
NO NO NO not good enough NEWCO must start in D3 anything else not good enough what i would propose is merge the SPL/SFL for the start off the 2013/14 season two leagues a premier league off 20 teams and a D1 off 22 playing each other twice so the premier leauge play 38 games and D1 play 42 with bottom 3 off the premier leauge going down and top 2 from the 1st coming up with 3-6 going into a playoff to come up.
This would mean NEWCO going into D3 for 2012/13 and would end up in the new 1st if this happened therefor be gone for a min 2 seasons from premier league instead off the min 3 if we go buy the currant set up but a the end off the day its D3 or nothing for else.

madman willie 28/06/2012 Report this place
Regan, Doncaster and Longmuir should all resign. The fact that they are colluding to rewrite the rules to benefit "NEWCO" is an absolute disgrace. This makes a complete and utter mockery of Scottish Football. The lengths they are going to to help out their cheating west coast pals is nothing short of disgusting. I am not even happy with the division 3 situation, there are other teams who have applied and trying for years to get into the SFL, NEWCO should join the bottom of that queue. What about Livingstone, a possible lawsuit for loss of earnings when they were put down to Div 3 instead of 1 and were not guilty of a fraction of the controversy and law breaking actions taken over a number of years by Rangers. This makes me so angry, I have already bought my season ticket for next year, however Im considering asking for a refund and walking away from Football for good. With these people in charge, how the hell can we have a fair league run impartially with no favoritism shown when they have quite blatantly shown they are completely biased in favour of the biggest cheats ever to disgrace the Scottish game!

Derek Adamson 28/06/2012 Report this place
@ Declan

Declan, are you that obsessed with Rangers?

I personally wanted to go to Division 3, the majority of Rangers fans do (this is when you come in and say Rangers don't exist anymore) Rangers Football Club DO exist and ALWAYS WILL exist.

You are obsessed (again) with the idea that Rangers will disappear, what you seem to be unable to understand is that the FOOTBALL CLUB, with all it's HISTORY still exists, the BUSINESS ENTITY has moved to a NEWCO, thus allowing the FOOTBALL CLUB to continue.

Division 1, Division 3, makes no difference to us. We only want to draw a line under all of this and get back to football.

We do not expect a helping hand from the SFA/SPL or any football club in Scotland, they hated is before, they hate us more now.

- beware though, as they say ''He who laughs last laughs loudest''

We will not forget.

David 28/06/2012 Report this place
@Derek Adamson

Go for it, ask your club for a refund, on the basis that you bought it to see a fair competition, and it turns out that the competition is rigged for the benefit of one club.

When you are asking your club for your money back, make them aware it is down to the actions of Regan and Doncaster, and that you will not be supporting Scottish football in any form, as long as this corruption is permitted to continue.

Declan Murphy 28/06/2012 Report this place
@David

I'll explain very simply.

A club is not an asset of a company. A club is a company. The shares which form the company are the club, irrespective of what form those shares take, whether privately owned, or publicly traded.

When those shares cease to exist, so does the club.

If the shares were not the club, then why even bother trying to buy them from Craig Whyte?

If I buy a pie from Rangers FC (In Liquidation), is that pie Rangers FC?

If I buy a player, is that player Rangers FC?

If I buy Ibrox, is that Rangers FC?

In all these cases, the answer is no.

Buying assets of a club does not mean that you have bought the club, the only way to do so is to buy the shares of the club. Seeing as how they are being liquidated, there is no more Rangers Football Club.

Charles Green FC is not eligible to play in Europe for 3 years because it is a new football club. This is what UEFA recognise it as, so I have no idea why you would view the situation any differently.

Nice try at deflecting the conversation away from the small matter of the entire game in Scotland being corrupt at all levels tho.

Declan Murphy 28/06/2012 Report this place
@ Declan

Go for it, ask your club for a refund, on the basis that you bought it to see a fair competition, and it turns out that the competition is rigged for the benefit of one club.

Your comments there speak volumes. I though we did not exist? I thought we were a new club?

I though we didn't have a history so therefore how can we be corrupt?

It's in everyone's interests to get this sorted out now so everyone can focus on the coming season.

Some people like you will never be happy though, no matter what punishments are handed out, it won't be enough to bitter people like you.

David 28/06/2012 Report this place
@David (It's not Longmuir is it by any chance?)

I have no idea why you wish to keep drawing the conversation away from the matter being discussed...

"I though we did not exist? I thought we were a new club?"

Yes, Charles Green FC is a new club. At least we can agree on that.

"I though we didn't have a history so therefore how can we be corrupt?"

I never said that any club was corrupt, I said that the game in Scotland was.

"no matter what punishments are handed out"

Charles Green FC has not been handed any punishments. Quite the reverse, it's a club two weeks old, which is being helped by the SFA to a position which it is not deserving of. Believe it or not, being asked to follow the rules, is not a punishment.

Now would you care to stop dragging the conversation away from the corruption being shown by the Chief Executives of both the SFA and SPL?

Declan Murphy 28/06/2012 Report this place
David,

Clearly this dreamer wishes the sins of the father to be visited on their sons; he should know of this!

Co-ordinator 28/06/2012 Report this place
Spot on Declan!

Derek Adamson 28/06/2012 Report this place
@ Declan

You clearly have a solution to all of Scottish Football problems, you seem to know to who is corrupt, who isn't, and exactly what should be done.

Let us hear it?

David 28/06/2012 Report this place
Jeez Celtic fans arriving late to the party, we've been asking for Regan to be sacked for over a year now - although with all possible respects Declan, i think you forget he's pretty much placed there for the benefit of those at Parkhead.

SPL clubs all now quaking in their boots at the fact Rangers WILL be back sooner rather than later.

bluenoseam 28/06/2012 Report this place
@David

What should be done?

The rules should be adhered to.

What do you think should be done?

Declan Murphy 28/06/2012 Report this place
@ Declan

No Declan, I haven't given the impression I know what should be done, you have.

Let us hear it?

You post here on a daily basis about this subject so you clearly feel you have a good knowledge and I can only assume your integrity must be sky-high.

Your lack of response goes to prove you haven't got a clue about the matter at all.

David 28/06/2012 Report this place
"lack of response"

So who were you replying to?

Declan Murphy 28/06/2012 Report this place
He did reply, he said the rules should be adhered to, not changed to suit one individual club. If this were ANY other club, this conversation would not be taking place because any other New Company would not be offered a jump up into Div 1. Corrupt to the core!

Derek Adamson 28/06/2012 Report this place
@Derek Adamson

It's a scandal! They're not even attempting to hide the fact that they are making special measures to benefit one club at the expense of every other club. At least when it was Jim Farry and Co. they attempted to cover it up, this is just blatantly favouring one club.

Declan Murphy 28/06/2012 Report this place
@ Declan
@ Derek Adamson

You both are obviously completely neutral on the matter.

I'll leave you two to get on with this topic.

I'm sure the SFA will be in touch with both of you soon for your highly-sought and highly respected opinions.

David 28/06/2012 Report this place
Any entry off Sevco 5088 or Sevco Scotland Ltd into the 1st Div is a disgrace to not only Scottish football but football as a whole. Its time FIFA stepped in and ended this farce once and for all. Rangers may still exist until BDO liquidate it but any newco has no rights to have rules bended to suit them. Rangers no longer have any rights to play in any Scottish league and if there is now a place in the SFL leagues it should be opened up for other clubs that have a past and a history the right to apply for the vacancy.

Scott73 28/06/2012 Report this place
If I was in charge of my team - namely The Jags - I'd take the slice of TV money and our two games against Rangers or whatever else Declan wants to call them - the boy need to lie down in a darkened room unitl Autumn - as this IS our only chnace at moving Scottish football forward.

People like Declan and all this rubbis habout sporting integrity - this is about moving the game fwd, regardless of the rest of us havng to swallow hard and accept that Rangers are being helped in the procees. Every Rangers fan I know wants to got to Div 3 but it aint gonna help anybody!

Chico-La 28/06/2012 Report this place
Chico-La

You proffer the common sense that is required to move Scottish football forward; however it will remain unwelcome to the obsessed whose post rate indicates which subject wholly occupies their mind.

Clearly there are clubs and supporters groups who hate Rangers and their supporters; I feel some will try to walk back from their statements and many may wish in the future that they had not declared publicly.

This proposal was floated a good few days ago which triggered the responses from Falkirk, Dundee and Dunfermline.

Sky indicated they would be prepared to consider a television deal with games televised from the SPL and Division 1; clearly the deal may not be as lucrative for SPL teams but may well benefit division 1 and other division's teams.

I feel there will be those who will never be pleased whatever the outcome; these individuals do not have the interests of Scottish football as their number one priority!

Co-ordinator 28/06/2012 Report this place
People like Declan will not be happy until Ibrox is turned into Lidl, the name "Rangers" is wiped from existence & Celtic are handed the trophy on the first day of the season every season - so nothing is acceptable to them.

The truth is that the reason this "parachute" thing exists is purely because if it didn't Sky would pull the plug completely & kill off the teams in this league who have accepted mediocrity as their standard for the last 30 years. Personally, I would love it if Green said "well, you know what, have what you want, we'll start from Division 3" and then see as a bunch of chairmen suddenly go "oh ****" as Sky say "fair do's we're off". Because they are as aware as anyone that without Sky, Hearts will be wound up within 12 months by HMRC, Motherwell & Killie have both acknowledge the real threat that they WILL enter administration and the reality is that they will not be the only ones.

The turkeys who voted against Christmas all know that's true, they are all sitting high & mighty knowing that yes, they "listened" to supporters, but had a plan B to fall back on. Ultimately their plan B is predicated on Rangers playing ball, lets be fair, no Europe for 3 years means that we can scupper that plan very easily and stick a spanner in the works, bringing the whole charade of "professional football" in Scotland crashing down around them.

bluenoseam 28/06/2012 Report this place
as a Rangers fan yes declan its correct we should go to div 3 as so many of us Gers fans actually want but the spl putting us into div 1 aint for the Bennifit of Rangers its the opposite its to protect their sky deal and sponsers.... i think gers should be applying to the 3rd div now and work our way back up and let what ever happens to everyone else happen .........

moni 28/06/2012 Report this place
as a Rangers fan yes declan its correct we should go to div 3 as so many of us Gers fans actually want but the spl putting us into div 1 aint for the Bennifit of Rangers its the opposite its to protect their sky deal and sponsers.... i think gers should be applying to the 3rd div now and work our way back up and let what ever happens to everyone else happen .........

moni 28/06/2012 Report this place
@bluenoseam @Declan

Totally agree about Sky - the other clubs want to preserve sporting integrity whilst having the TV money. They can'tdo that, Sky want paying punters & means the old firm so compromise is the only solution.

If newCo are in division 3 them 2 then 1 then SPL, that 3 years of heavily reduced TV money, so clubs have to look at their situation,at least two are struggling, pull the TV money or reduce it and short term losses become long term losses and that's insolvent.

The next club to go bust could go into administration this year - what happens then? What if HMRC say no to their CVA's? It could be dominoes failing and no one wants that.

still water 28/06/2012 Report this place
@ David ... see when you say "We won't forget", it would be nice if you didn't forget to settle the debt you owe. Oh wait a minute, not your fault right? Let me tell you something ... many people belonging to many clubs won't forget the corruption and cheating at the hands of Rangers Football Club, carried out over many, many years. I've yet to hear any kind of apology from anyone connected to the club and you have the cheek to say YOU won't forget! People are not obsessed with Rangers, sorry to burst that bubble for you - but people might well be obsessed with making sure the authorities don't allow Sevco to rename as Rangers and then begin life in Division 1. People want to get on with the game and look forward to the new season but we can't with all this nonsense hanging over us.

MacBloscaidh 28/06/2012 Report this place
Apparently, several other Scottish football clubs face financial hardship if Rangers are booted out of the SPL, possibly going into liquidation themselves. So, rules have to be bent and sporting integrity compromised to lessen the effect of the fiasco that Rangers brought on scottish football? This is the fault of RANGERS and any clubs affected should sue David Murray as it is an utter disgrace that they can do what they did then ask for leniency because of the 'fall-out'created by THEIR actions. Reading comments here, and other forums, i really cant believe the arrogance of Rangers, and their fans.

kaspar_hauser 28/06/2012 Report this place
The only outcome which will please the 99% of fans, is if Charles Green FC abides by the rules.

Anything else is cheating, and will not be tolerated.

New club.

No history.

3rd division.

That's what any other club does, and this one shall be treated no differently.

Declan Murphy 29/06/2012 Report this place
lets calm down and think this way....Dunfermline and Dundee should play over two games to see who goes up and who stays down,lets assume Dunfermline wins the play of Dundee would have to stay in the first division,so my question is,there is no place for newco to go,i think the way to go is to scrap the spl and make two leages div 1 and div 2,at the end of the season 3go down and three go up

freedom 29/06/2012 Report this place
I thought Jim Farry had left the S F A

vikingnz 29/06/2012 Report this place
Scottish football chiefs think they can bully clubs to accept Charles Green newco into the first division - If the clubs reject this they say they will start a SPL2 with Rangers and 9 other clubs from the first division - Where are they going to get these clubs from as most of them have voted against newco being in the first division in the first place - Would all these clubs meet the SPL criteria for their grounds, I doubt it. After the SPL reject to transfer the shares of the oldco to the newco, a place for membership becomes available in the SFL - The SFL should then invite clubs to apply for membership - All members of the SFL should vote on which club should gain membership and put in division 3 - This is what would normally happen but I think it won't as the football chiefs are biased. Why is taking so long to decide what punishment the oldco/newco should receive after the Court of Session refered it back to the football authorites. It appears to me that everybody in SFA/SPL or SFL is only interested in looking after themselves and one club in particular

BIGT 30/06/2012 Report this place
Looking forward to playing Pacific Shelf 595 Ltd very soon.

offended by everything ashamed of nothing 09/07/2012 Report this place

Rangers

Scottish football chiefs move to 'relegate' Rangers into First Division

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