Secret Identity of the SPFL Revealed! It’s the SPL Under a New Name!

I wrote briefly about the blessed union of the SPL and SFL to create the super-duper, all-new, all singing and dancing SPFL.

I looked up Companies House to see if I could locate a company called the “Scottish Professional Football League Ltd” and there it was.

The Scottish Football League was not there but as an association of members it was not listed before.

However, there was no trace amongst active companies of the Scottish Premier League Ltd!

Mr Green Gets Angry – 16-10-16 Good – 12-12-18 Bad! “Gers Should Quit Scotland”!

A flurry of activity on the official Rangers website with Charles Green’s reaction to proposed League restructuring in Scotland. I will look at one aspect of it for now. As you will see it indicates how quickly things can move in the business world, and how unforeseen developments can possibly de-rail vital financial planning.

Mr Green is quoted here, under the balanced headline of “Gers Should Quit Scotland” as saying:-

“I haven’t read anything other than what is in the press and if that is what we have sat here eagerly awaiting to transform Scottish football, my advice to the board of Rangers is the quicker we can leave Scottish football the better.

“I can’t see anything that is going to transform the finances, the status or the excitement.”

“On first glance, of course, there is nowhere for us to go because FIFA have made their feelings known on cross-border leagues.

“However, we have noted the comments of Standard Liege recently and what Peter Lawwell said at his AGM a few weeks ago when he discussed the changes in Europe.

“Hand on heart today there isn’t an option but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t start looking for an option.

“If all we have to look forward to over the next four years is more madness then we would be failing as directors not to explore the alternatives.”

Could an SFL2 Team Refuse Promotion If Two Visits By Rangers FC Was More Lucrative?

I will start by saying that the prospect I suggest in the heading is unlikely to happen, as I will discuss.

However, as we saw in the Olympics, and previously as example in the World Cup and in cricket’s Benson & Hedges Cup, the rules can be manipulated, within the letter, if not the spirit of the law.

2012 Olympic Badminton

As the BBC reported here:-

“Eight badminton players have been disqualified from the women’s doubles competition after being accused of “not using one’s best efforts to win”.

Two pairs from South Korea and one each from China and Indonesia made a series of basic errors in Tuesday’s matches.

All four pairs were accused of wanting to lose, in an attempt to manipulate the draw for the knockout stage.

A South Korean appeal was rejected by the Badminton World Federation,  while Indonesia withdrew an appeal.

As well as the “not using best efforts” charge, the players were also accused of “conducting oneself in a manner that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport”.

Can Someone Explain How Rangers FC Fielded Trialists in a Cup Match?

I wrote prior to the Rangers FC v Brechin game about what seemed to me to be technical problems with the match taking place.

There is one further point arising from the game which I know has been raised elsewhere, but, as yet, I have not seen a convincing explanation, apart from the agreement of the SPL, SFA and SFL to “facilitate” Rangers FC’s entry to the Third Division. Maybe someone can enlighten me?

 

From the BBC report of the Brechin City v Rangers game on 29^th July:-

“Receipt of a Scottish Football Association membership, albeit temporary because of continuing negotiations over conditions of entry, had gone to the wire on Friday.

It meant that their first signings – former Hearts midfielder Ian Black and returning forward Little – had to be listed as trialists, while manager Ally McCoist could only muster enough personnel to fill four of the five substitutes places.”

The SFL’s Rules? Ignored in “Exceptional Circumstances” – Guest Post by Hugh

I recently wrote to the SFL regarding the draw for the First Round of the Scottish League Cup.

I pointed out that the Format rules (as published on their website) state that the First Round draw will comprise of the 30 lowest teams of the SFL and SPL as at the end of the preceding season (i.e. the 30 then SFL teams). Thus Ross County should have been included in the draw and not ‘The Rangers FC’. I did acknowledge that this would cause an imbalance with only Eleven SPL clubs joining in later rounds due to Rangers’ absence, unless the Format rules were changed.