North Rd 2,860 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 THE SFL have been asked to ride to the rescue of Scottish football by accepting newco Rangers in the First Division next season.Minnow clubs are set to cobble together a compromise on behalf of the SPL and SFA before the start of the new campaign that will eventually lead to a merger of the two league bodies and the senior game being re-branded as the SPFL.The merger is the model SFA chief executive Stewart Regan has been championing on the back of Henry McLeish’s review into the future of our game.The SFL board held an emergency two-hour meeting at Alloa yesterday morning, as revealed by Record Sport, and reached a broad agreement on the principle of accepting newco Rangers into the second tier of the game.But in return, they want guarantees going forward on voting rights, fairer financial distribution and easier access to the top flight for First Division clubs, most likely via a play-off system.And to appease Sky TV chiefs it is understood the Glasgow Cup could be revived to ensure there will still be Old Firm clashes.SFL chief executive David Longmuir was tight-lipped as he left Recreation Park yesterday lunchtime after talks with Ewen Cameron (Alloa), Kenny Ferguson (Brechin), Gilbert Lawrie (Dumbarton), Anne McKeown (Arbroath) and Jim Leishman (Dunfermline).But last night he said: “We had a very productive meeting and we’re right in the middle of discussing all the options at the moment and Rangers’ situation is part of it.“There are other options available as well but we’re just trying to do what is best for Scottish football.“We’re not ruling anything out at the moment and there is a lot of work to be done before anything can be put together and agreed on.“I think we looked at every option available to benefit the game and the Rangers issue was one of them.“As an organisation, we are preparing ourselves for every eventuality that may impact on us. That is the only prudent thing to do.”The SFL intend to exploit the situation to insist on the return of the play-off system, which the SPL abolished 14 years ago.Longmuir said: “Play-offs are always on our radar and on our agenda. We think that their re-introduction would benefit the game.“They’ve proved to be a very successful format and it’s something we will continue to work towards because we believe it’s important.”The SFA and SPL have been caught between a rock and a hard place as they seek to punish Rangers for their financial recklessness and yet protect the commercial interests of the game as a whole.SPL fans are up in arms at the prospect of Charles Green’s newco being admitted into the top flight and club chairmen are listening but they must also protect the £80million Sky deal, set to kick-in in August.The SFA’s position is equally as problematic as Lord Carloway could shortly decide to suspend or expel Rangers from the Association after a recent Court of Session verdict set aside a transfer embargo imposed by an earlier tribunal. Doubt also remains if newco Rangers can even be granted automatic entry to the SFA as article 14 suggests a member’s share, held by the old company, is non-transferrable. Talks have already taken place between the three bodies and more are planned but time is of the essence as lower-league clubs start their season with Ramsdens Cup ties on July 28.A new SPFL will be almost impossible to introduce for the new season and the challenge will be to legally enforce principals in the coming months that will prevail when the new structure comes on stream, most likely next summer.One SFL club source said: “It will take a leap of faith for the SFL to accept Rangers for the new season on the promise of widespread and wholesale changes being made for the good of the game the following year. “What happens if Rangers win the First Division title and then it’s declared all bets are off on the radical reform so many believe is needed throughout the game? “The SFL will have to go forward on something stronger than an understanding between their members and the SPL. They must have something that is legally watertight and that’s just one of many challenges as timescales are so tight.“In truth, the whole thing is a mess. You cannot merge two organisations within the space of a few weeks. There are legal and morale issues to contend with, not least the question of sponsors to satisfy, governance and constitutional issues to resolve, as well as staffing levels. As always, the devil will be in the detail.”Longmuir recently said there was no scope for newco Rangers to play in the First Division but, in truth, the rule book will have to be ripped up to allow Rangers to keep playing at a decent level and effect the change the SFL hope will benefit the whole of the Scottish game. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
North Rd 2,860 Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share Posted June 21, 2012 cant see it happening after reading that.Back to the drawing board for those guys. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paisleyroad 894 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Not for me, but I'll say this . . . . If we do end up in the 1st Division, we to a man must boycott every single away game the day we get back to the top flight, these bassa's are not getting their cake and eating it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimfanciesthedude 24,493 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 re establish the Glasgow cup to keep sky happy. Fuck that. Green should tell them where to gothe reason the SPL was set up was to keep any league sponsorship money and tu money in the top division only, there is no way that the self serving SPL will vote for this Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkiBunny 441 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Trying to figure out ways of keeping the lucrative OF games!! Fuck thum. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzalivesforever 1,987 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 "we're looking to do this for the benefit of the game" my fucking arse! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nachothelegend 1,932 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 All in the name of Sporting Integrity ,of course.Whatever next for the Desperadoes. The SPL/SFA will be squirming . Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Right_To_Censor 1,951 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Just hearing at this time, the suits want to hit newco with a -30 points to what ever div were inOn the phone atm Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozblue 4,331 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 What a great wee idea We will take Rangers in Div.1 for a season (surely they will win promotion to the SPL) Our Div.1 clubs will reap a bonanza for that season and then we will have guaranteed play-offs so Div.1 clubs have a chance to get to the SPL also.The SPL clubs will still get the Sky deal signed and the return of the Glasgow Cup should guarantee an old firm game (perhaps 2 with a replay) for the broadcaster,so everybody will be happy as pigs in shit .......RIGHT???????????Actually....NO FUCKING WAY Jose Bunch of self righteous cunts.I was never in favour of a total away ground ban before, but I'm fucking warming to the idea pretty quickly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianBacon 2,088 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 I hope the SFL high-heid-yins have more balls that that scrawny bastard Spewed Rear-Gunner and that they tell the SPL, "FUCK RIGHT OFF!"Rear-Gunner (the man with the dubious past) is running from pillar to post to appease his slit-eyed friend 'Pete', who wants to have control of The Rangers regardless of where they end up playing.No........tell them to shove it sirs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calgacus 88 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 There is a chance to do something here that will improve Scottish Football as a whole. We need a new league structure, we need a bigger SPL, we need a pyramid. Personally I'd prefer a 14 team SPL, with an 6/8 split, 2 teams down, I up automatically, and playoff between 2,3,4 & 5 in Div 1 for thew other place in the SPL. I don't want the SPL with penalties and I don't know if I even fancy it without - It would be like being in a brothel, you know they don't really fancy you, but they'll entertain you because they want your money! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guardian 4,281 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Green must say no to any of this.If we're not in the SPL on equal footing, then we're not playing OF games so the rest can keep the sky money.There's also the prospect it would mean a Rangers team of boys facing celtic.Why don't they tie the gers players legs together too, just in case they still won.Hell no, shove yer Glasgow cup up yer arse.If they shut the SPL door, then we should go to Div3.Green should be up there telling them this and stopping the tail wagging the dug.It's clear they are bricking it at losing our money, so lets use that power and kick back. The longer we procrastinate the more they build their case against us.Take it out of their hands right now. Call their bluff.We really haven't much to lose now. They have. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
j1mgg 3,766 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 The SFL is the body to be moving forward and making changes in Scotland, not the SPL. The SPL should be scrapped and we have 2 SFL leagues. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hemdale1873 167 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 So Spl/sfl want to form something that is basically a new league, say to Rangers you drop down from the top league but only for one year while we (rest of the the spl clubs) keep all the T.V. income and Rangers in return lose almost our entire squad of players and face a severe cut in income?Thanks but no thanks, Seem's to me like they are starting to brick it now big time. Green should call their bluff by applying to sfl3 they would cave in and accept Rangers back into the spl no questions asked. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosesMcNeil 1,664 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 If they shut the SPL door, then we should go to Div3.Green should be up there telling them this and stopping the tail wagging the dug.It's pretty clear that Green is negotiating for anything but Div 3. He has to sell The Rangers to investors to fund us going forward. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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