NEIL Doncaster has predicted being able to deal with “professional and credible” officials at Rangers will allow the SPFL to forge a constructive working relationship with the Ibrox club again.
Doncaster, the SPFL chief executive, has welcomed the appointment of Stewart Robertson, a qualified chartered accountant and former Motherwell board member, as the new Rangers managing director.
He revealed it had not been “altogether easy” to engage in “open dialogue” with the Glasgow club, which has been run by a succession of different regimes during the last four years, at times.
However, he is confident that situation will improve with Robertson, as well as new directors Andrew Dickson and Paul Murray, now involved and expressed hope Rangers will be able to assume a greater role in the running of Scottish football in the future.
"I am absolutely delighted Stewart has been appointed at Rangers,” said Doncaster. “I knew him from his time at Motherwell and always found him to be an entirely thorough, professional, business-like and intelligent individual.
"The reality of Rangers' recent history is that there have been a number of things perhaps not as we might wish. You always want to have as open a relationship, as open a dialogue, as possible with all clubs. I'm not sure with all our clubs that that's been altogether easy in recent years.
"We have all, together with Rangers, come through that period and we are in a position where they have appointed the likes of Stewart. That certainly helps with dialogue. It's best to look forward. The professionalism of Stewart will make for a positive dialogue between Rangers and the league.
"It's always much easier for any league if you are dealing with professional, credible people at any big club. There is no doubt in Stewart that we have such a person. That makes things much easier than they might have been at some points in the past.”
Robertson failed in his attempt to get elected onto the eight-man SPFL board as one of the two representatives of the Championship clubs at the governing body’s AGM at Hampden on Monday.
However, Doncaster has revealed that Andrew Dickson, the Head of Football Administration at Rangers who was co-opted onto the board at Ibrox back in March, has taken up a place on the SPFL Football Regulatory Advisory Group.
He said: "It's important that all of our bigger clubs are properly represented. With that in mind, Andrew Dickson has been appointed on to the FRAG and the Scottish FA's new congress.
"Andrew is the same as Stewart. I'm delighted he has got the recognition of being involved after many years working in different roles at Rangers. It's important that all of our clubs have a voice and that our bigger clubs are properly represented.
Doncaster, who announced a two-year £4 million deal with Ladbrokes to sponsor the Premiership, Championship, League 1 and League 2 back in May, believes the increased involvement of Rangers in the running of the SPFL will help the organisation flourish.
He said: “You want the most professional people at the bigger clubs feeling like they are contributing to the debate and policy. We are a members' organisation and it's the clubs who ultimately decide. You need to have dialogue with all clubs to properly function.”
Doncaster admitted he had not spoken to Dave King, the Rangers majority shareholder who was cleared to take up his place as chairman at Ibrox after being passed as a fit and proper person by the SFA in May, since he assumed control.
He said: "I haven't met Dave. I haven't had any conversations with him at all. It's important that any club puts forward those people they feel most appropriate to have dialogue with the league.
"I wouldn't necessarily have dialogue with some of the major shareholders at the other clubs. It's up to individual clubs to put forward individuals to have positive lines of communication. We have that with Stewart and Paul Murray at Rangers.”
Meanwhile, Doncaster believes Scottish football is, despite the continued absence of Hibs and Rangers from the top flight, in a healthier position following the amalgamation of the SFL and SPL back in 2013.
He said: "We are undoubtedly stronger. The SPFL chairman (Ralph Topping) made that point in his opening remarks at the AGM on Monday.
“Two years ago, we all sat down for the merger and some clubs no doubt left with a heavy heart, perhaps concerned by the demise of the SFL. I'd imagine all clubs now probably reflect that it was the right decision to come together and unify.
"They are all to be commended for doing it as the SFL clubs took a massive leap of faith that they would continue to have influence and wouldn't suffer financially. Their confidence is the new organisation has been well justified and the bigger clubs are to be commended for giving up money to make it happen.
"For Ladbrokes to recognise the strength and value in Scottish football is a huge endorsement of the decision the clubs took in 2013.”
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