Steve1872 4 Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 David Longmuir is facing calls for his resignation as the Scottish Football League chief executive continues to clash with his members over which division Charles Green's newco Rangers should play in next season. It also emerged that if Longmuir's bid to launch Sevco Scotland Ltd directly into the First Division is rejected by the SFL clubs, then it will result in logistical chaos on the eve of the new season. All 30 SFL clubs will meet at Hampden on Friday, when Longmuir will discover their response to a letter he sent out to them at the weekend. The two main points of that document are that the clubs should first vote on whether or not to accept Sevco Scotland Ltd into the SFL, then, whether they are in favour of allowing the SFL Board (rather than the clubs) to choose which division they will compete in. The second vote will hinge on the SFL gaining certain concessions from the SPL regarding play-offs and a fairer distribution of income. Should Longmuir get his way, Board member and SFL President Jim Ballantyne, who is also chairman of Airdrie United, will decline to vote due to a conflict of interest, since the Lanarkshire outfit would, as losing play-off finalists, automatically be promoted to the First Division if Sevco (like any other new applicant) are forced to begin life in the bottom tier. That will leave Longmuir, vice pres ident Ewen Cameron (Alloa), Anne McKeown (Arbroath), Malcolm Mackay (Queen's Park), Gordon McDougall (Livingston), Gilbert Lawrie (Dumbarton), Ken Ferguson (Brechin) and Jim Leishman (Dunfermline) to decide the newco's fate. However, the contents of the letter have infuriated many SFL clubs, who regard the latest move as an attempt to hijack the democratic procedures of the organisation in order to ensure entry into the First Division for the new-look Rangers. One chairman said: 'What they're attempting to do is scandalous. They're just making up the rules as they go along. 'The two main votes will be decided on a straight 16-14 majority. I don't think that anyone objects to this new Rangers joining the Third Division, but I believe there will be enough dissenters to prevent the Board from gerrymandering them into the First. 'If Longmuir's motion is rejected, then his competence would have to be questioned. This is all part of a bullying campaign, which was underlined last week when the SPL's chief executive, Neil Doncaster, told us that the SPL clubs couldn't afford to pay the annual £1.8million settlement fee to the SFL if Rangers drop into the Third Division and Sky walk away from their TV deal. 'Meanwhile, the SFA's chief executive, Stewart Regan, seems to want to exploit the Rangers crisis in order to push through his own reforms. He's been working away at this for months.' If the clubs allow Rangers to join the SFL, but then refuse to grant their Board permission to decide which division they should compete in, then Longmuir would be forced to call another general meeting on July 20 - SFL rules state that five working days' notice must be given - to vote on that issue. With the Ramsdens Cup beginning just eight days later, time is running out for the SFL to sort the mess out. Should Rangers' SPL place be taken by Dundee, they'll be away to Brechin City: in the less likely event of Dunfermline avoiding demotion, Ally McCoist's side will travel to Forfar. Then again, if Green's Sevco is denied the opportunity to join the First Division and admitted to the fourth tier, newco Rangers, rather than Stranraer, will have a home tie against Stenhousemuir Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2170608/David-Longmuir-facing-calls-resignation.html#ixzz204OogMD2 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewarty 1,881 Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Langmuir has primarily attempted to deal with an impossible position that is not of own making. I think it is a bit rich to be calling for his head at this juncture. Regan on the other hand... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bluenose80 Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Good statement, this should be decided by the SFL clubs and not the SFL board or anyone else. Also who is this Sevco they keep talking about have applied to join teh SFL as well as Rangers? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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