Rangers decision in SFL hands

"I'm actually quite comfortable that the SFL are in a position to have a strong role in this because there's a lot of people in the SFL who are passionate about the game, including myself."

Regan was last night forced to clarify his role in the proceedings at the meeting after it was claimed that the SFA would block any attempt to allow Rangers newco into the top flight.

When asked if Regan had stated during his address to SFL representatives that the Scottish FA would stand in the way of Rangers newco playing in the SPL, Livingston chief McDougall remarked: "In his opinion, yes".

In a statement Regan said: "For the avoidance of doubt, any decision regarding the future status of Rangers FC requires not only the transfer of the SPL share but the transfer of the Scottish FA's membership. The Scottish FA board will approve this only when all relevant information has been provided and the directors are satisfied that the solution presented is in the best interests of Scottish football."

Regan's clarification comes as Raith Rovers chairman Turnbull Hutton launched an attack on the SFA and SPL for their handling of the Rangers saga. Hutton claimed before yesterday's Hampden summit that SFL clubs had been "bullied, railroaded, threatened and lied to" and that the game was "corrupt". It appears as though Rangers' fate will be decided by the Football League and Stark's Park chief Hutton has slammed the Hampden hierarchy for their conduct during the long running saga.

Hutton said: "I'm just disappointed that a situation of the SPL's making finds itself in an SFL meeting where we are the sheriff, the undertaker, the roadsweeper and the whole of Scottish football depends on SFL clubs. That's an abdication somewhere of responsibility. It never was an SFL problem but pressure is being applied. That's unfair.

"The SFA are there, the SPL are there. Between them they got Scottish football into this mess. It's not the SFL's job to get Scottish football out of this mess. There's an element of hospital passes and buck-passing going on."

Rangers yesterday made their move in an attempt to win over clubs ahead of the Hampden vote, with chairman Malcolm Murray apologising for the club's conduct in recent months. The Ibrox side have been heavily criticised for a perceived lack of contrition during their financial crisis but have now extended an olive branch to the counterparts.

"I personally think there is [a case for an apology], the board think there is," Murray said. "Events have been triggered by a few individuals in the past that have caused this crisis that now embroils the whole of Scottish football.

"I would like to apologise unreservedly for the deep crisis caused by events at Rangers that now has caused Scottish football to look over an abyss and I think it is now time for common sense to prevail," he added. tive Stewart Regan and the SPL's Neil Doncaster also joining the debate. Today, the Ibrox club will discover whether they will be granted permission to play in the top flight next season but with at least eight votes expected to go against them, that bid looks doomed to failure.

That will place the problem of where to put the newco club firmly at the SFL's door and after a lengthy consultation yesterday, they will meet again on Thursday, July 12, where a vote could be held to determine what league Ally McCoist's side will play in next season, with only a majority required to sanction the move.

"The commercial impact of Rangers was made starkly clear to everyone today and will help inform the next 48 hours," Longmuir said. "I think it will be a very important part, but I also think the passion and the need to take the game forward in a structured and better way so that hopefully we never get into this position like this again, is actually just as crucial."

He added: "The magnitude of the situation and the effect of the crisis that we've found ourselves in, it really doesn't matter how the situation has arisen. It will have a massive impact on the future of the game.

"I'm actually quite comfortable that the SFL are in a position to have a strong role in this because there's a lot of people in the SFL who are passionate about the game, including myself."

Regan was last night forced to clarify his role in the proceedings at the meeting after it was claimed that the SFA would block any attempt to allow Rangers newco into the top flight.

When asked if Regan had stated during his address to SFL representatives that the Scottish FA would stand in the way of Rangers newco playing in the SPL, Livingston chief McDougall remarked: "In his opinion, yes".

In a statement Regan said: "For the avoidance of doubt, any decision regarding the future status of Rangers FC requires not only the transfer of the SPL share but the transfer of the Scottish FA's membership. The Scottish FA board will approve this only when all relevant information has been provided and the directors are satisfied that the solution presented is in the best interests of Scottish football."

Regan's clarification comes as Raith Rovers chairman Turnbull Hutton launched an attack on the SFA and SPL for their handling of the Rangers saga. Hutton claimed before yesterday's Hampden summit that SFL clubs had been "bullied, railroaded, threatened and lied to" and that the game was "corrupt". It appears as though Rangers' fate will be decided by the Football League and Stark's Park chief Hutton has slammed the Hampden hierarchy for their conduct during the long running saga.

Hutton said: "I'm just disappointed that a situation of the SPL's making finds itself in an SFL meeting where we are the sheriff, the undertaker, the roadsweeper and the whole of Scottish football depends on SFL clubs. That's an abdication somewhere of responsibility. It never was an SFL problem but pressure is being applied. That's unfair.

"The SFA are there, the SPL are there. Between them they got Scottish football into this mess. It's not the SFL's job to get Scottish football out of this mess. There's an element of hospital passes and buck-passing going on."

Rangers yesterday made their move in an attempt to win over clubs ahead of the Hampden vote, with chairman Malcolm Murray apologising for the club's conduct in recent months. The Ibrox side have been heavily criticised for a perceived lack of contrition during their financial crisis but have now extended an olive branch to the counterparts.

"I personally think there is [a case for an apology], the board think there is," Murray said. "Events have been triggered by a few individuals in the past that have caused this crisis that now embroils the whole of Scottish football.

"I would like to apologise unreservedly for the deep crisis caused by events at Rangers that now has caused Scottish football to look over an abyss and I think it is now time for common sense to prevail," he added.