Green awaits response after submitting SFL application

Thursday 5 July 2012

Charles Green has stated that he will accept whatever fate is dealt his Rangers newco after their application to the Scottish Football League.

Charles Green says Rangers newco will play in whatever division they are told

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There is a fierce debate over whether the club are made to start in the Irn-Bru Third Division or are granted entry to the First Division, but Green will abide with what the SFL decide.

Lower league clubs have been warned about the potential consequences of voting against opening the door to the first division for Rangers. Green confirmed the SFL application ahead of a meeting with supporters, and recognised the lower league clubs had been placed in a difficult position."It is entirely a matter for them whether our application will be accepted and we will make no representation to any member club prior to that application being considered," said the club's chief executive. "If our application were to be accepted, Rangers will play in whichever division the SFL sees fit."A package has been proposed to SFL clubs which includes promotion play-offs to the top flight and a £1m payment for television rights, in exchange for voting Rangers into the first division. Clubs have also been warned they could lose a £2m settlement from the Scottish Premier League should they refuse. The SPL clubs have voted against allowing Rangers entry into the top flight, despite Green claiming he had been approached by clubs and given "false hope"."At the weekend, we were approached by representatives from the SPL suggesting our application still stood a chance of success and we should discuss this further with clubs," he said. "This we did in good faith but with the knowledge of the hurdles that lay ahead of us."We had asked the SPL whether it would be more appropriate for us to withdraw our application but were advised against this. We made a presentation to the SPL clubs, detailing our proposals in support of our application and this included what we believed to be penalties and sanctions that would have dealt fairly with the difficulties caused by events at Rangers prior to our acquisition of the club on June 14. Sadly this was rejected and we regret that our club and our supporters were given false hope by this initiative."It also emerged last night that Westminster's Sport Committee is to look at the governance of Scottish football in the aftermath of the collapse of Rangers. A session of evidence due to take place in two weeks' time is expected to hear from leading figures in the game from north of the border and will follow-on from their examination of football governance in England."What has happened at Rangers is a concern to all football fans not just in Scotland but throughout the UK," said Labour's Jim Sheridan, who sits on the committee. "We need to understand just what has happened and how it could impact the future of the professional game in Scotland."The SFA has been asked to send a representative to attend the committee's session a week on Tuesday but has apparently been unable to comply. It is hoped that witnesses will include members of Scottish clubs' supporters' associations.

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Green awaits response after submitting SFL application

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