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Scottish Football looks set for civil war as SPFL chiefs plot to take SFA's powerbase

WITH boardroom civil war on the horizon at Hampden, MailSport unearths secret hijack plot and asks 'Has the SPFL gone power crazy?'

PA Archive Hampden-Stadium-3434626.jpg Hampden Stadium, Glasgow.

The SPFL’s blindside run at the SFA’s powerbase is about two things – control and cash.

But the clubs’ push for power could end up costing the game MILLIONS in grassroots sponsorships.

The professional clubs would take complete control of the development budget for football in Scotland if they won the day with their resolution.

They believe the money could be better spent under their own umbrella and have also made a play to take control of the main board of the SFA.

However, big-money backers of the game – like Tesco Bank, McDonald’s, sportscotland and the government-backed Cashback for Communities scheme – base their contributions on the fact that they are all-inclusive and not aimed at the elite end.

MailSport believes all of these relationships – plus others with local authorities – would be in jeopardy if the pro clubs took control and ran the game to their own ends.

The two boards will meet on Tuesday, brought to the table for the first time in a year to discuss the proposals – and the pressure will be on to avert a civil war in Scottish football.

Revealed: The secret copies of four explosive resolutions the SPFL have proposed for the SFA's AGM.

Here’s everything you need to know about the resolutions:

Q/ So what do the SPFL want? The resolutions in a nutshell:

1. The Professional Game Board (PGB) provides one representative – Celtic’s Peter Lawwell – to the seven-man main board of the SFA but the SPFL want this increased to two.

2. Currently the president and vice president of the SFA must have served a minimum of a year on the PGB or

Non-PGB, as well as four years on the SFA Council and have attended a

minimum of eight Council meetings in five years to qualify for a nomination. The SPFL want to do away completely with these criteria.

3. The SFA main board control the budget for football development, from Mark Wotte’s performance department to the grassroots programme for kids and coaches run by Jim Fleeting and Andy Gould in Scotland.

The SPFL feel the professional game should control this entire pot and want the PGB – in other words, the senior clubs – to take control.

4. The main board currently control the ability to elect any club for full membership. The SPFL want that right to be passed to the clubs to approve or veto new members.

Q/ What’s the grand plan behind them, then?

Individually, the four resolutions wouldn’t be as threatening but it’s their cumulative effect that could have grave consequences.

The end game? The clubs will have two from the PGB on the SFA board plus control of a hand-picked president and vice president – thereby controlling the seven-man board with a majority of four, thus controlling the SFA.

The clubs would also have access to the money currently used to fund the development of the game.

They would also control future votes by being able to stifle any additional membership requests which would jeopardise their power of veto if they vote as a group.

Q/ Why shouldn’t the pro game be better represented rather than the juniors and amateurs having a disproportionate say?

They probably should – but if there are no checks and balances of their powers, is it good for the game as a whole to have pro clubs with vested interests running the entire game from the national team down to the grassroots?

If push comes to shove with money and power, who will they seek to serve other than themselves?

JS31156726-3174398.jpg SFA boss Stewart Regan has a fight on his hands

Q/Okay, but the current system still allows long-term blazers gaining power on the back of nothing but good attendance.

Also true, and the SFA main board IS weak – the system does need looked at to allow more appropriate talent to rise to the top.

Q/So this resolution is a good thing?

Yes – and no! If there’s no need for office bearers to be time-served, you could end up with flavour-of-the-month fly-by-nights parachuted in by the clubs without any examination of their bona fides or their intentions.

It’s possible that we could see some real talent and acumen appointed – but you’re relying solely on the judgment of the clubs to find it.

Q/ What do they need to pass the resolutions?

Each vote requires 75 per cent approval from the 94 members.

Q/ Will they get what they need?

They’re not speaking for all 42 clubs because a cursory call round indicates they haven’t actually consulted the rank and file.

It’s unlikely they would get universal membership approval for all of it – the perception will be that the top 12 clubs will stand to benefit the most.

Q/ Hang on, it’s Mike Mulraney of Alloa proposing all of the resolutions, though?

He was one of three lower-league chairmen elected to the SPFL board last summer along with Les Gray (Hamilton) and Bill Darroch (Stenhousemuir).

The weight of the Premiership members – Stephen Thomson (Dundee United), Duncan Fraser (Aberdeen) and Eric Riley (Celtic) – will be behind this but having Alloa, Stenny and Accies involved lends it an ‘everyman’ look ... not just being driven by the big clubs for their own gain.

Q/ What about the cash, then – how much is at stake?

Hard to put an exact figure on it but so much of it is ring-fenced for specific grassroots and community use, it’s not nearly as much as they think.

The irony is the biggest chunk of the performance strand of it – around £2m – is used for Club Academy Scotland. So the clubs already benefit. Just not to the extent they think they should.

Q/Why do the clubs feel the need to control it then?

A couple of reasons. They don’t like the way Wotte is running things, they don’t think the performance strategy is worth what it costs, they don’t like the lack of control and input they have over performance schools and, simply, they see money they don’t have and they want it.

They still don’t have a sponsor and a lack of cash will see them struggle to fulfil their promise of jam for all down through the divisions. It’s ironic considering the SFA has underwritten the only decent thing they’ve achieved as a body – the Premiership play-offs – to the tune of £1.5m.

SNS Group JS31106674-3434639.jpg Alloa Chairman Mike Mulraney is heading up the SPFL's resolutions

Q/ Are they right about the performance strategy, though?

It’s still early but there is evidence the strategy is having an effect. Scotland won the Victory Shield at Under-16 level for the first time in 15 years.

The U-17s have made the UEFA Finals in Malta, winning all three games in their elite round. The U-19s are in the elite round in England next months.

The women’s team are well on their way to the World Cup in Canada with a 100 per cent record from six qualifiers, a feat that could earn the SFA close to seven figures.

Throw in the fact the national team are back up to No.22 in the world rankings and they have a decent claim to their strategy working.

Q/ But what about the rest of the game outwith the clubs?

That’s the big worry. The SFA has overarching responsibility for the game as a whole and its development from the ground up.

At last count, there are 130,768 registered players in Scotland from the youths to the amateurs to welfare to the women’s game.

Meanwhile, the SPFL’s development branch – Club Academy Scotland, for pro youths from 11 up – sits at 3,185.

Throw in the first teams and the clubs account for around three per cent of the football players in Scotland.

Q/ Surely they should be the SPFL’s focus?

They are. A working group set up between the organisations is looking at streamlining Club Academy Scotland and clearing out the jersey fillers and creating more ‘best v best’ football at the elite level.

However, the clubs don’t like the performance schools and that they have no say in their operation. What some of them do like, though, is the idea of regional academies like the Forth Valley experiment involving Falkirk, Stenhousemuir and East Stirling.

Q/ What benefit is there in the clubs taking on responsibility for the rest of it?

Very little, if any. All they see is a top-line figure and pound signs. The problem, however, comes with the fact that much of the money is simply used to leverage other funding.

For example, £476,000 is budgeted for a community programme that helps fund 70 coaches across the country – however most of their salaries are paid by local authorities through partnerships with the SFA.

These partnerships would disappear if councils thought they were simply funding the professional game rather than its community branch.

Q/ What about the other backers of grassroots football?

Their visions all involve inclusivity and community benefit.

McDonald’s work with all the home associations and have invested more than £1m every four years over more than a decade committed to growing the game. Likewise Tesco Bank, with £1.2m over the past four years.

The government’s Cashback scheme has pumped in £2.2m over three years. On Wednesday, Regan and Fleeting were in the Isle of Lewis to unveil a new facility at Back that has received nearly £500,000 from Cashback, sportscotland and the Big Lottery.

These resolutions would leave the pro clubs responsible for this kind of commitment to remote communities. Would they be interested?

The Movers and Shakers

The looming SFA AGM is shaping up to be one of the stormiest in the organisation’s 141-year history.

Delegates will consider the four resolutions that would effectively hand control of the SFA main board to the clubs. Alloa chairman and successful businessman Mike Mulraney (right) is the name on the resolutions.

He wants clubs to elect an extra member to the board – in addition to Celtic’s Peter Lawwell (left).

SFA chief executive Stewart Regan (far right) has a fight on his hands.

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So just in advance of when clubs should have their cash coming in from the SPFL they decide to go after funds controlled by the SFA, could it really be that there is a shortfall in what they actually have and what they are committed to paying out? Strange that the cabal would go after Regan, a man that a lot of folk believe got his job due to the intervention of the CEO at a certain club at the head of the cabal.

I remember that a thread was posted about three or four weeks back that prompted me to ask if thee were cracks appearing in the cabal, if they really are plotting against the SFA it poses the question are they doing it with or without the prior knowledge and support of Regan. If it is without then one would have to say that somebody is getting the jitters.

So what could be the problems that have them nervous?

Hibs seem to be in a very bad situation on and off the pitch. I'm sure that when they conspired to get Rangers out of the SPL Petrie and his board didn't think for a moment that they may be facing relegation, on approach of a season when they could find it very difficult to come straight back up due to the presence of Rangers.

C****c may be playing the "there's no story here" game in relation to the land/bank/doping situation, but the trouble for them is there is a story and it's not going away. I'm sure that neutering the SFA in advance of any possible punishments would certainly be beneficial to them. Further more if they slip up in the CL qualifiers they may well face serious problems as their domestic gate receipts can't be looking good due to all those empty seats. So far thy have been able to keep their name clear of most of the reports on he ate of he Co-op bank, however if the bank cancel or write of a large part of this debt I doubt if it will be able for that to remain hidden, and with that the land story will come out as both are linked.

It now looks as though Hearts have escaped the hangman's noose in the short term, however there are serious questions to be answered on if thy can get through next season without going into admin 2. It also remains to be seen how other teams will survive financially next season, any drop I income from that which was promised by the SPFL will almost certainly raise the prospects of other cubs heading into administration. We have seen a few clubs sheading bank debt this season, however if hey head for problems again I don't see how the banks will consider being so generous again.

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They want to control whether a club receives full membership.

Are we classed as full members but simply dont have voting rights or is this something designed to f*** us over again?

This is clearly aimed at us and could be the most important part of this power grab.

They missed us last time and aren't going to do that again if they get the chance.

Should we go bust again the other clubs would vote us out of the SPFL and as that is now all there is, we would be finished. Done. Kaput. DEAD..

With the threats of ST boycotts they will ram these changes thru asap in the hopes we walk right into the trap they are laying.

This isn't paranoia. They voted before and look what happened.

If for example Hearts bust again they would simply vote to keep them in.

You also have to wonder at the changes to the criteria for the top jobs.

Obviously someone at Celtic doesn't meet them right now and we would be back before they do, hence the haste in getting them in.

They want the game stitched up before our return.

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This is clearly aimed at us and could be the most important part of this power grab.

They missed us last time and aren't going to do that again if they get the chance.

Should we go bust again the other clubs would vote us out of the SPFL and as that is now all there is, we would be finished. Done. Kaput. DEAD..

With the threats of ST boycotts they will ram these changes thru asap in the hopes we walk right into the trap they are laying.

This isn't paranoia. They voted before and look what happened.

If for example Hearts bust again they would simply vote to keep them in.

You also have to wonder at the changes to the criteria for the top jobs.

Obviously someone at Celtic doesn't meet them right now and we would be back before they do, hence the haste in getting them in.

They want the game stitched up before our return.

And the UOF Continue to play right in to the Scums Hands just like the rest of Scottish Football.

I listen a lot to Talkspoft and they used to cover some Scottish football, now they don't even think about it.

They even know it's corrupt to the core.

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There as so many of our apathetic support that don't give a monkey's fuck about this .

This will get passed and Regan will make sure it does .

Thought Liewell had all the power already .There are obviously parts missing from total domination and corruption .

The coming weeks we will see the same rebel names from last time ,from same clubs ie Alloa,Hamilton etc putting pressure on for their leader.

.

While we are weak and our club don't give a fuck then we will definitely be fucked over.

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This is another power grab by pro-Celtic elements in the Scottish football hierarchy.

I hope this fails. They have too much power as it is and just want their grubby hands on more money as a short-term fix.

Surely encouraging and developing grass roots football is a means to a better product in the long run?

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Mike Mulraney Chairman of Alloa? Personally I don't even see Alloa as a professional club full stop. How many folk actually turn up to watch Mr Mulraney's side? Would like to see the state of his clubs books.

"This is another power grab by pro-Celtic elements in the Scottish football hierarchy."

I agree, as far as I can see Mr Mulraney and his like are just c****c's stooges in this.

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Having read a bit more about this since the story broke, there can be no doubt a lot of what they are proposing is the cabal mafia positioning themselves to have another go at us on our return to the big time. God help us if we encounter any admin problems in the future as next time they will finish us off if these proposals are successful.

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Having read a bit more about this since the story broke, there can be no doubt a lot of what they are proposing is the cabal mafia positioning themselves to have another go at us on our return to the big time. God help us if we encounter any admin problems in the future as next time they will finish us off if these proposals are successful.

If that was to happen I think we would have a good case to join the bottom of the English league's & work our way up. I would be more than happy to leave this small minded wee country behind.

Rangers will never die!

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SFA and SPFL thrash out their differences

2101223036.jpg

Compromise won the day at Hampden. Picture: Robert Perry

  • by STEPHEN HALLIDAY

Published on the 23 April

2014

00:00

Published 23/04/2014 00:00

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IT seems that those jostling for influence and power within Scottish football have little appetite for another summer of confrontation and division.

Mercifully, the prospect of a civil war between the Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Professional Football League receded yesterday almost as quickly as it had been mooted at the weekend.

After a day of meetings involving all the main movers and shakers on both bodies, they left Hampden with smiles on their faces and proclaiming a “positive” outcome for all concerned. Everyone, it appeared, had got something they wanted.

From the SFA board’s perspective, a potential challenge to their authority had been diluted. Of the four resolutions put forward by Alloa chairman Mike Mulraney on behalf of the SPFL, two were withdrawn completely and will now not go forward to the SFA’s annual general meeting on 18 June.

The most contentious and significant proposal had been to hand control of the SFA’s annual £12 million budget for youth development to the Professional Game Board, which contains a majority of SPFL members. In a compromise reached yesterday, the PGB will now be involved in setting the budget but the SFA’s main board will retain overall control of how it is spent.

The other resolution to be withdrawn concerned the of new clubs to full membership of the SFA. The SPFL wanted the existing member clubs to be given sole responsibility for assessing any such applications, rather than being at the discretion of the SFA board. After yesterday’s meeting, a new resolution will now be drawn up ahead of the agm which specifies than any prospective new member must be fully licensed under SFA rules.

The SPFL did not leave the negotiations empty handed, however. Their resolution for the PGB to have a second representative on the SFA main board - they currently have just one director - will go forward to the agm. Although the PGB is not completely comprised of SPFL officials, it effectively provides the league clubs to vote another of their own onto the main board.

The final resolution concerned the election of office-bearers at the SFA. An amended motion will now be put before the agm to allow candidates the presidency and vice-presidency to have just one year’s service - rather than the current four years - within the SFA or another recognised football body.

For the surviving resolutions to be passed in the SPFL’s favour, they will require the support of at least 71 of the SFA’s 94 members at the agm.

Some things in Scottish football, however, never change. Despite the level of accord and apparent harmony achieved in Hampden’s sixth floor offices, those involved were unwilling to share their views on the outcome with the wider Scottish football community.

Stephen Thompson, the Dundee United chairman and a member of the SPFL board, was among the first to leave Hampden and scurried past the waiting media blanking requests for a comment. Others, including Hibs chairman and SFA vice-president Rod Petrie, were less brusque but no more forthcoming.

Peter Lawwell, the Celtic chief executive who sits on both the SFA main board and the PGB, described the talks as “very positive, really good” but declined requests to expand.

Even Alloa chief and SPFL board member Mulraney, so voluble since news of the SPFL’s so-called “power grab” emerged on Sunday, stuck to the clearly pre-agreed line that an imminent joint statement would be the only official communication.

When the statement finally arrived, it provided echoing messages of contentment from the men at the respective helms of the SFA and SPFL.

“I am glad that after consultation board-to-board at Hampden Park today we have reached a positive outcome for all parties,” said SFA chief executive Stewart Regan.

“The Scottish FA is committed to the objectives outlined as part of the McLeish Review on Scottish Football, especially since we are beginning to see green shoots throughout our National Youth Teams and in via our Strategy.

“It is important that we continue to work together with the SPFL, as with all other football bodies, to ensure that we take the national game forward both at senior professional level and in grassroots.”

For SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster, the talks were hailed as further success for his organisation following their subsumption of the Scottish Football League last summer.

“Today’s discussions were very productive and have given us a platform on which to continue the progress made since last year’s league reconstruction,” said Doncaster.

“The SPFL aims to work in partnership with the Scottish FA to ensure the senior professional game in Scotland is as vibrant as possible. The agreements reached at board level today demonstrate that relationship and will give the professional game the increased influence it has been seeking.

The current SPFL board is made up of Doncaster, Ralph Topping (Chairman), Eric Riley (Celtic), Stephen Thompson (Dundee United), Duncan Fraser (Aberdeen), Les Gray (Hamilton Academical), Mike Mulraney (Alloa Athletic) and Bill Darroch (Stenhousemuir).

The SFA’s main board consists of seven members - Regan, president Campbell Ogilvie, vice-presidents Petrie and Alan McRae, Peter Lawwell, Scottish Junior FA chief executive Tom Johnston and independent non-executive director Barrie Jackson.

The Professional Game Board, introduced following the SFA’s radical restructuring in 2011, is currently comprised of Regan, Ogilvie, McRae, Petrie, Doncaster, Lawwell, Michael Johnston (Kilmarnock), Bill Darroch (Stenhousemuir), Duncan Fraser (Aberdeen), Dr Andrew Waddell (Preston Athletic) and Sandy Stables (Keith FC).

OUTCOME OF MEETING

1. The resolution proposing that the Professional Game Board be able to appoint two members to the Scottish FA Board will go forward without amendment.

2. The resolution dealing with elections of President or Vice-President will be amended so that anyone standing for election must also have completed at least one year’s service (rather than four) in an official capacity within the Scottish FA or other recognised football body.

3. The resolution on the issue of new members will be withdrawn. There will be a new resolution, which will deal with the appointment of new full members such that they will need to be licensed clubs.

4. The Professional Game Board will, in future, be involved in the budget-setting and policy-setting processes for Scottish football, with the Scottish FA Board retaining overall responsibility for the financial budget relating to and football development. The resolution on this issue will be withdrawn.

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"If that was to happen I think we would have a good case to join the bottom of the English league's & work our way up. I would be more than happy to leave this small minded wee country behind.

Rangers will never die!"

If we followed that route we would be broke in six months to a year. Let's get it straight, unless there is a massive collapse in the marketability of the EPL around the world Rangers and c****c will not be welcome at any level of English football.

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