Stephen Thompson last night said he doubted that Rangers could win the eight votes necessary to join the Scottish Premier League as a newco without negotiating with the other clubs.
If a proposed Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) from the consortium led by Charles Green is rejected by Rangers creditors on Thursday, that group is likely to form a newco and seek immediate entry into the SPL. Thompson, the Dundee United chairman, has made his mind up on which way he would vote if that was put to the 12 chairmen and, while he stopped short of saying he would vote 'no', he indicated he had taken the views of his club's supporters – hostile to a newco – into account and urged others to do the same. Rangers would then, he argued, be forced to barter their way back in to the SPL.
"Rangers are going to have to get eight clubs to vote them back in as a newco. That certainly won't be easy," said Thompson. "If Rangers come back with a proposal for a newco, they're going to have to work helluva hard to get eight votes. That much is guaranteed. It won't just be a case of saying 'let us back in boys'. They're going to have to negotiate with all the clubs."
The United chairman added that opinion within football had shifted since Rangers took their case against a 12-month embargo on the registration of players over the age of 18 to the Court of Session. Fans are also putting pressure on the clubs and Thompson insisted they should be listened to.
"There's been a lack of remorse shown," he said. "Taking things to a court of law hasn't helped. That's certainly hardened views of people within the game.
"A lot of people are just fed up with the whole thing and none more so than the fans. I get people shouting at me, 'no to newco'. Fans are feeling very strongly about it, which I can understand. Any business which ignores their customers is doomed to fail.
"I've got hundreds of emails and letters from fans who have been season-ticket holders for 30 or 40 years expressing their disapproval.
"Rules are rules and people should stick to them. We've seen appeals to the courts, but that's not how sport should be dealt with. We don't want FIFA putting pressure on the SFA, either. Their job is to look after all member clubs and not just one.
"I've made my mind up, but I won't be going public on it. Other clubs have got to decide what they want to see. I'm trying to listen to the fans, but I've also got a responsibility to the club as a company, so it's not easy."
Thompson said one of the primary concerns from a business point of view was the SPL's relationship with Sky. "I don't know if Sky would walk if anything happened, which would be a PR disaster," he added. "There's a current two-year deal but where we would go with a five-year deal I really don't know.
"The SPL can survive without Rangers under a different business model, but whether that's what people want is another thing."
After Hearts confirmed they have a shortlist for their managerial vacancy, Thompson added that he was trying to prevent the departure of Peter Houston. " I've had no discussion with them [Hearts], but if it happens that's the nature of football," he said. "Any approach would be most unwelcome.
"I'm in discussions with the manager's agent about extending his contract. He's done a fantastic job."
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