Bust clubs could face relegation

[ian1964 10,409]

THE SPFL board are planning changes to their rulebook which could see clubs who enter administration being relegated instead of merely suffering points deductions.

 

Any such move could spell bad news for some of football’s biggest names. Rangers have just announced losses of £14.4million and former director Dave King warned in August that the club could be plunged into administration by Christmas.

 

Ally McCoist’s side are currently eight points clear at the top of League One after eight games but some financial analysts have claimed they may need another cash injection in order to see out the season.

 

Hearts currently have no idea when – or if – they may be able to exit administration. Kilmarnock are £9.8m in debt and suffering plummeting attendances as fans protest about the

running of their club by chairman Michael Johnston.

 

In the last 12 years, Motherwell, Hearts, Livingston (twice), Morton, Dundee (twice) and Dunfermline have slid into administration while Gretna, Clydebank, Airdrieonians and

Rangers subsequently fell into liquidation.

 

Prior to the SPL and Scottish League merging this summer, the two bodies had their own rules when it came to punishing clubs who failed to live within their means.

 

Rangers have just announced losses of £14.4million

 

In the wake of Rangers’ demise, the SPL introduced a set penalty which saw the offenders deducted a third of the points they had won the previous season, as well as being hit by a

signing embargo.

 

Hearts were the first club affected by that ruling, starting this season in the Premiership with minus 15 points after going into administration in June. In November 2010, Dundee were handed a 25-point penalty by the SFL board – who had no limit to sanctions – because they had failed to live within their means for the second time in a decade.

 

However, now the league bodies have merged, the SPFL board – chief executive Neil Doncaster, Eric Riley (Celtic), Duncan Fraser (Aberdeen), Stephen Thompson (Dundee United), Mike Mulraney (Alloa), Les Gray (Hamilton) and Bill Darroch (Stenhousemuir) – are updating the rules.

 

“That’s where the prospect of relegation comes in,” said a well-placed Hampden source.

 

“In the past the SPL’s hands were tied when it came to punishing clubs which suffered an insolvency event because they had authority over just the 12 members.

 

“Consequently, they couldn’t impose a relegated club on the SFL. Now, though, there is the opportunity to provide a 42-club solution.”

 

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/435350/Bust-clubs-could-face-relegation?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+daily-express-football-news+%28Daily+Express+%3A%3A+Football+Feed%29

[calscot 0]

Seems like something aimed mostly at us... Most teams in the Prem would be relegated with the points deduction and financial controls after entering admin. We're pretty much the only one guaranteed to survive. Celtic are financially stable and so have no fear of it affecting them for the foreseeable future. We've been subjected to predictions of a second admin and they suddenly come out with this...

 

I used to believe in coincidence but when it comes to Rangers, the odds are just too great and the evidence is plain to see that they are definitely out to get us.

[Juancornetto 1]

"A well placed Hampden source".....hmmm.

[True_Ger_1872 2]

The question should be asked why they are proposing changes to the rule-book at this point given that the rule book was created mid-season? Surely its a bit odd to change it so soon after it has came into play given that there hasnt even been an insolvency event since the SPFL started.

[der Berliner 3,234]

How long will that cabal up there be in place? All these Rangers friends ...

 

BTW ...

“In the past the SPL’s hands were tied when it came to punishing clubs which suffered an insolvency event because they had authority over just the 12 members.

 

“Consequently, they couldn’t impose a relegated club on the SFL. Now, though, there is the opportunity to provide a 42-club solution.”

 

Someone cynic could read this as: "now, after their takeover, the "SPL cabal" has the full rule over all Scottish league clubs." The rude awakening for all these SFL defectors will come in a years time, when all the money from the SPL et al is filling their coffers ...

[aweebluesoandso 290]

Making the rules up as they go along as usual , with the again usual prerequisite that the rules could be used against us first or second or third etc etc.

[Super Cooper 0]

So this is their plan to keep us down and away from challenging Celtic.

[Zappa 0]

Another administration event would be catastrophic for us anyway no matter whether the SPFL brought in a new relegation rule or not, so the simple truth is that an admin II for Rangers needs to be avoided.

[the gunslinger 3,366]

sensible rules imho.

 

spivs should fear admin not chase it.