Rangers have tonight hit back at the SPFL over claims that end-of-season prize money could not be released to members clubs without final league placings being declared.
The Ibrox club had a resolution on finishing the 2019/20 season – which called for payments to be made now and the Ladbrokes Premiership to be played to a finish at a later date – deemed not competent by the SPFL last week.
Murdoch MacLennan, the SPFL chairman, yesterday stressed they were unable to forward the money without the season being concluded in a letter to all 42 members clubs.
But Rangers, whose interim chairman Douglas Park had called for SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster and legal adviser Rod McKenzie to be suspended pending an independent investigation on Saturday, quickly countered that.
On another day of tit-for-tat statements over the governing body’s handling of the vote into a resolution that was presented to member clubs last week, they claimed they had received an email from McKenzie which stated that loans could be provided to member clubs at any time.
“Rangers Company secretary, James Blair, has had several email exchanges with the SPFL legal adviser, Rod McKenzie,” a spokesman said.
“Remarkably, we have learned from an email received from Mr McKenzie that our proposed resolution is deemed unnecessary because the SPFL board already has the authority to provide loans to member clubs which can be exercised by the SPFL at any time.
“The Inverness CEO, Scot Gardiner, confirmed on national radio yesterday that SPFL representatives made it clear on several conference calls that it was necessary to approve the SPFL resolution in order to release funds which would relieve the financial hardship being experienced by many clubs.
“Member clubs will be shocked to learn this is not the case and any club facing short term financial difficulties should request a loan from the SPFL immediately.
“Our resolution was never intended to release end of season fee payments, but instead to provide loans as an advance on such payments. It is now apparent that this is already within the power of the SPFL. This provides further evidence that an independent investigation is urgently required.”
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