Agreement for First Division nearly reached

[johnnyk 158]

Ibrox club set to be given Division One lifeline after talks between league bosses

 

SCOTTISH footballâ??s bosses are on the brink of securing a revolutionary rescue package which will see Rangers play in the First Division next season.

 

SFA, SPL and SFL chiefs were locked in talks last night as a six-hour summit went on past midnight.

The meeting was aimed at reaching agreement on radical proposals to deal with the chaos created by the financial carnage at Ibrox.

 

SFA chief Stewart Regan hosted the secret gathering aimed at bringing an end to the Rangers crisis.

After days of talks between the three ruling bodies, Record Sport understands SFA chief executive Regan, SPL counterpart Neil Doncaster and SFL boss David Longmuir thrashed out a four-point blueprint to revolutionise football in Scotland.

The trio have been tasked with reaching a broad agreement over the future of Rangers as well as reforming the league structure.

 

This is to bring clarity to the current chaos as the clock ticks down to the SPL general meeting on July 4 when the members will vote on the Ibrox clubâ??s fate.

But negotiations could now deliver a cast-iron deal which would allow the SPL to offer guidance on a way forward and that in turn would see the emotive vote become nothing more than a box-ticking exercise.

 

As Record Sport revealed this week, proposals are in place for Rangers to go to Division One and common ground has been reached on host of issues.

A key part of the plan would see SFL clubs handed compensation payments from the SPL as part of a deal with Sky to broadcast live Rangers games in Division One.

Clubs across the country will now get the chance to give historic plans the green light.

 

The four key points on the agenda were:

●Finding a mechanism that will allow Rangers to parachute straight into the First Division next season.

●A guarantee that play-offs are introduced immediately at the top of the First Division for a place in the SPL.

●The distribution of short-term payments to SFL clubs from the SPL to allow Rangersâ?? First Division games to be shown live on Sky.

●A timeline to form one body, the Scottish Professional Football League.

 

Regan has managed to unify both leagues and mediate over the squabbling which has been the stumbling block.

Assurances have been made to SPL chief Doncaster that the Sky deal will remain in place but he has been playing hardball over the amount paid to First Division clubs to have Rangersâ?? games broadcast live.

 

Longmuirâ??s battle for a fair deal for the SFL will have huge implications for lower league clubs as they will gain historic capital from a merger with the top flight.

Also on the agenda was the SFLâ??s bid to install a strong representation within a new SPFL set-up and a stumbling block has been the SPLâ??s insistence they get a 3-1 ratio in favour of board members.

 

The SFL demanded an even split on any new board which will also include a new chief executive as well as one independent sitting on the ruling panel.

Reganâ??s bid to deliver a broad consensus over the way forward also involved discussions over the appellate tribunalâ??s transfer embargo on Rangers.

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2012/06/23/rangers-in-crisis-ibrox-club-set-to-be-given-division-one-lifeline-after-talks-between-league-bosses-86908-23899716/

[GovanAllan 0]

So when it comes to the crunch what is it that drives them, integrity, fair play, justice, or any of the other gibberish I've heard?

 

No it's money always has been always will be, ya shower of two faced wankers.

 

Just to be clear I'm all for league reconstruction it's long overdue, but don't dress it up as Rangers fault we have to do this.

Edited June 23, 2012 by GovanAllan

[der Berliner 3,263]

But, but, but ... we ought and need and must be punished!

 

As it looks, "sporting integrity" has gained a new Scottish meaning, much like "sectarianism" and "bigotry".

[bluebear54 0]

What a stitch up. As far as I'm aware, the SPL don't have jurisdiction over TV rights for the SFL. Also Rangers haven't signed any contract. How can they decide what happens to our media rights?

They actually need us to keep their SKY deal alive but won't fucking admit it. No Rangers on SKY, no deal.

So they want us to have kick offs on Fridays,Mondays and God knows when, but they'll keep all the dosh and give our share to the SFL.

The laugh is that they want the 11-1 vote scrapped, yet they want a 3-1 voting structure for an amalgamated body.

Hypocrites. I'm spitting.

Edited June 23, 2012 by bluebear54

[Craigy1881 79]

While I agree with everything everyone is saying if all we get is a drop down one divison that's good right?

[andy steel 0]

So when it comes to the crunch what's is it that drives them, integrity, fair play, justice, or any of the other gibberish I've heard?

 

No it's money always has been always will be, ya shower of two faced wankers.

 

Just to be clear I'm all for league reconstruction it's long overdue, but don't dress it up as Rangers fault we have to do this.

 

If I could have clicked the 'agree' button a million times I would have done so. Totally spot on.

 

A 3-1 balance in favour of the SPL? The body which has overseen our game, never healthy, collapse into complete chaos? And they still think they have the right to lord it over others? What has happened to humility?

 

And btw: The Scottish Professional Football League? You couldn't have chosen a more ironic name if you had tried. The only constant throughout the years of mediocrity has been a total lack of professionalism, from our shoddy accounting to others' chasing of crappy foreigners to rejection of Sky for Setanta...the list goes on and on.

 

This is not reconstruction of our game to aim for a better future - it is the SPL minnows throwing the SFL minnows some sprats in hopes that they will be allowed to remain in their financially slightly better position. It is yet another example of how our clubs never ever see a bigger picture, and it certainly casts their whining about integrity over the last few months in a stark light.

 

If integrity only applies to others, it's not got much integrity at all. You might call it bullshit.

[Guest albeartz]

It sticks in the craw that the SPL are getting their cake and eating it but I just want to get back toSPL as quick as possible, going to div 3 fills me with dread tbh.

[the gunslinger 3,366]

we will need the first division to build ourselves back up.

[Craigy1881 79]

Yeah gs is right its going to be a long rebuilding process. Just wonder what sort of squad we will be left with.

[Gingerger 0]

I haven't posted for a while mainly because I'm sick to the back teeth of this whole business and just want some conclusion. This latest suggestion however sums up everything I've been saying about Scottish football for years. Everybody, including ourselves, including the whole SPL, including the whole SFL, including every agenda driven SFA official, is in this for his own or his clubs own petty short term benefit. Self interest and/or petty vindictiveness has taken over and is driving the process right across the board. I doubt I'll ever find any real joy watching scottish football ever again.