Longmuir : SFL have shown no favouritism to Rangers

[allgers 735]

fixed that mate.

Thanks mate new I'd made a mistake in there somewhere..

[cushynumber 25,178]

Thanks mate new I'd made a mistake in there somewhere..

happens to the best of us.

[allgers 735]

Yet nothing gets said when Dundee have been in admin 3 times and now Dunferlmline are in it. So if this is why they think this,should they kick Dunferline out of football altogether then?

Thats what they wanted with us.

You would think so, but we got kicked about by the SPL for Craig whytes misdeeds, I think the SFL recognise if you try to hound a Football club into extinction, you harm the whole league.

[Ace 3,557]

The lower-league administrator is battling to get league reconstruction talks back on track after an SFL meeting last week broke up with its 30 members split over the timescale for change.

But Longmuir has been accused by some club chairmen of pandering to Rangers after suggesting the Old Firm could enter colt teams in a new set-up - with his critics claiming the ploy was only dreamt up to ensure the fallen Glasgow giants do not remain in the bottom tier of Scottish football.

But Longmuir told those who suggest he has been unduly influenced by Light Blues chief executive Green: "You obviously don't know me. I have been doing this job diligently before Rangers even came into the league.

"We were presented with a situation last year where we accommodated Rangers willingly and they have been a great addition."I deal with chairmen of all description throughout the 30 clubs and I can assure you they are a mixed bunch, all trying to take Scottish football forward.

"Some have different views on one thing, some have different views on the other. I have got to get everybody as aligned as possible, all on the basis of what is doing right for the game."We are getting there. There is some real momentum behind this change agenda. We need to iron out a few things but I don't think they will be insurmountable now and I think it will stand the game in good stead."

"The Rangers factor is as big as the factor for Annan, Peterhead, Queen's Park, Livingston, Dundee, Forfar - it is affecting the whole game."We need to get it sorted but we need to do it properly. Rangers have brought great awareness to the SFL. Their fans have gone round the country in great numbers. But I look after all 30 clubs in the SFL equally and have done since 2007, before Rangers came in."

They are a welcome addition to the SFL but so are all the others. I have got to be mindful that my duty is to 30 clubs."

Despite being unable to vote as associate members, Rangers have been outspoken on the reconstruction process.Both Green and manager Ally McCoist have called for the Irn-Bru Third Division champions to be promoted to the 12-team middle division, rather than the 18-club basement league which would replace the current bottom two tiers.

But Longmuir said: "At the moment, Rangers are champions of Division Three, Queen of the South are champions of Division Two and there is a bit of a battle at the top of the First. "I have got no mind to change anything in that promotion and relegation scenario." During talks with the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Premier League yesterday, the SFL vowed to hold its reconstruction vote by April 19 if 11 of the top-flight clubs back the changes on April 15.

Twenty-two of the SFL clubs need to back the proposals, which would see the top two divisions split into three groups of eight after 22 games. Longmuir revealed the lower-league sides would be sent a resolution tomorrow which outlines matters to be decided upon after 14 of his members called for the changes to be put on hold until after next season.

Longmuir added: "We had a positive meeting with the SPL clubs and the SFA and we are going to further progress that due diligence process by putting in some independent scrutiny on contracts and figures. We will then go to a vote on April 19 where the clubs will be able to decide where they want to be and how they want to take it forward.

"It is important that we do take time. If doing due diligence is cautionary in its approach, well that is only fair. "This is a 123-year-old organisation that has served Scottish football pretty well over that time. As we move into a brand new organisation, we have got to get it right because we want to make it good for the game for the foreseeable future."

And Longmuir urged patience from fans who do not like the proposed league structure - an SFA-commissioned survey this week suggested 87 per cent of supporters want to see a larger top division. Longmuir said: "I listen to fans regularly. They contact me daily. I was quite a key proponent of a larger league - I still am. "But it is not deliverable at the moment. The finances aren't there to make it viable. The wealth in the game is not sufficient to take a number of games out of the annual calendar. "So let's look at this as an opportunity to get the foundations right and then we start looking at how we rebuild it and get fans more involved."

But Longmuir told those who suggest he has been unduly influenced by Light Blues chief executive Green: "You obviously don't know me. I have been doing this job diligently before Rangers even came into the league.

"We were presented with a situation last year where we accommodated Rangers willingly and they have been a great addition.

"I deal with chairmen of all description throughout the 30 clubs and I can assure you they are a mixed bunch, all trying to take Scottish football forward.

"Some have different views on one thing, some have different views on the other. I have got to get everybody as aligned as possible, all on the basis of what is doing right for the game.

"We are getting there. There is some real momentum behind this change agenda. We need to iron out a few things but I don't think they will be insurmountable now and I think it will stand the game in good stead."

"The Rangers factor is as big as the factor for Annan, Peterhead, Queen's Park, Livingston, Dundee, Forfar - it is affecting the whole game.

"We need to get it sorted but we need to do it properly. Rangers have brought great awareness to the SFL. Their fans have gone round the country in great numbers. But I look after all 30 clubs in the SFL equally and have done since 2007, before Rangers came in.

"They are a welcome addition to the SFL but so are all the others. I have got to be mindful that my duty is to 30 clubs."

Despite being unable to vote as associate members, Rangers have been outspoken on the reconstruction process.

Both Green and manager Ally McCoist have called for the Irn-Bru Third Division champions to be promoted to the 12-team middle division, rather than the 18-club basement league which would replace the current bottom two tiers.

But Longmuir said: "At the moment, Rangers are champions of Division Three, Queen of the South are champions of Division Two and there is a bit of a battle at the top of the First.

"I have got no mind to change anything in that promotion and relegation scenario."

During talks with the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Premier League yesterday, the SFL vowed to hold its reconstruction vote by April 19 if 11 of the top-flight clubs back the changes on April 15.

Twenty-two of the SFL clubs need to back the proposals, which would see the top two divisions split into three groups of eight after 22 games.

Longmuir revealed the lower-league sides would be sent a resolution tomorrow which outlines matters to be decided upon after 14 of his members called for the changes to be put on hold until after next season.

Longmuir added: "We had a positive meeting with the SPL clubs and the SFA and we are going to further progress that due diligence process by putting in some independent scrutiny on contracts and figures. We will then go to a vote on April 19 where the clubs will be able to decide where they want to be and how they want to take it forward.

"It is important that we do take time. If doing due diligence is cautionary in its approach, well that is only fair.

"This is a 123-year-old organisation that has served Scottish football pretty well over that time. As we move into a brand new organisation, we have got to get it right because we want to make it good for the game for the foreseeable future."

And Longmuir urged patience from fans who do not like the proposed league structure - an SFA-commissioned survey this week suggested 87 per cent of supporters want to see a larger top division.

Longmuir said: "I listen to fans regularly. They contact me daily. I was quite a key proponent of a larger league - I still am.

"But it is not deliverable at the moment. The finances aren't there to make it viable. The wealth in the game is not sufficient to take a number of games out of the annual calendar.

"So let's look at this as an opportunity to get the foundations right and then we start looking at how we rebuild it and get fans more involved."

--- xxx ---

I had to fix that, couldn't read it

[ForeverBlue_Since91 2,895]

You would think so, but we got kicked about by the SPL for Craig whytes misdeeds, I think the SFL recognise if you try to hound a Football club into extinction, you harm the whole league.

If only the SFL where the ones that made all the decisions instead of the SPL.

[ForeverBlue_Since91 2,895]

The lower-league administrator is battling to get league reconstruction talks back on track after an SFL meeting last week broke up with its 30 members split over the timescale for change.

But Longmuir has been accused by some club chairmen of pandering to Rangers after suggesting the Old Firm could enter colt teams in a new set-up - with his critics claiming the ploy was only dreamt up to ensure the fallen Glasgow giants do not remain in the bottom tier of Scottish football.

But Longmuir told those who suggest he has been unduly influenced by Light Blues chief executive Green: "You obviously don't know me. I have been doing this job diligently before Rangers even came into the league.

"We were presented with a situation last year where we accommodated Rangers willingly and they have been a great addition."I deal with chairmen of all description throughout the 30 clubs and I can assure you they are a mixed bunch, all trying to take Scottish football forward.

"Some have different views on one thing, some have different views on the other. I have got to get everybody as aligned as possible, all on the basis of what is doing right for the game."We are getting there. There is some real momentum behind this change agenda. We need to iron out a few things but I don't think they will be insurmountable now and I think it will stand the game in good stead."

"The Rangers factor is as big as the factor for Annan, Peterhead, Queen's Park, Livingston, Dundee, Forfar - it is affecting the whole game."We need to get it sorted but we need to do it properly. Rangers have brought great awareness to the SFL. Their fans have gone round the country in great numbers. But I look after all 30 clubs in the SFL equally and have done since 2007, before Rangers came in."

They are a welcome addition to the SFL but so are all the others. I have got to be mindful that my duty is to 30 clubs."

Despite being unable to vote as associate members, Rangers have been outspoken on the reconstruction process.Both Green and manager Ally McCoist have called for the Irn-Bru Third Division champions to be promoted to the 12-team middle division, rather than the 18-club basement league which would replace the current bottom two tiers.

But Longmuir said: "At the moment, Rangers are champions of Division Three, Queen of the South are champions of Division Two and there is a bit of a battle at the top of the First. "I have got no mind to change anything in that promotion and relegation scenario." During talks with the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Premier League yesterday, the SFL vowed to hold its reconstruction vote by April 19 if 11 of the top-flight clubs back the changes on April 15.

Twenty-two of the SFL clubs need to back the proposals, which would see the top two divisions split into three groups of eight after 22 games. Longmuir revealed the lower-league sides would be sent a resolution tomorrow which outlines matters to be decided upon after 14 of his members called for the changes to be put on hold until after next season.

Longmuir added: "We had a positive meeting with the SPL clubs and the SFA and we are going to further progress that due diligence process by putting in some independent scrutiny on contracts and figures. We will then go to a vote on April 19 where the clubs will be able to decide where they want to be and how they want to take it forward.

"It is important that we do take time. If doing due diligence is cautionary in its approach, well that is only fair. "This is a 123-year-old organisation that has served Scottish football pretty well over that time. As we move into a brand new organisation, we have got to get it right because we want to make it good for the game for the foreseeable future."

And Longmuir urged patience from fans who do not like the proposed league structure - an SFA-commissioned survey this week suggested 87 per cent of supporters want to see a larger top division. Longmuir said: "I listen to fans regularly. They contact me daily. I was quite a key proponent of a larger league - I still am. "But it is not deliverable at the moment. The finances aren't there to make it viable. The wealth in the game is not sufficient to take a number of games out of the annual calendar. "So let's look at this as an opportunity to get the foundations right and then we start looking at how we rebuild it and get fans more involved."

But Longmuir told those who suggest he has been unduly influenced by Light Blues chief executive Green: "You obviously don't know me. I have been doing this job diligently before Rangers even came into the league.

"We were presented with a situation last year where we accommodated Rangers willingly and they have been a great addition.

"I deal with chairmen of all description throughout the 30 clubs and I can assure you they are a mixed bunch, all trying to take Scottish football forward.

"Some have different views on one thing, some have different views on the other. I have got to get everybody as aligned as possible, all on the basis of what is doing right for the game.

"We are getting there. There is some real momentum behind this change agenda. We need to iron out a few things but I don't think they will be insurmountable now and I think it will stand the game in good stead."

"The Rangers factor is as big as the factor for Annan, Peterhead, Queen's Park, Livingston, Dundee, Forfar - it is affecting the whole game.

"We need to get it sorted but we need to do it properly. Rangers have brought great awareness to the SFL. Their fans have gone round the country in great numbers. But I look after all 30 clubs in the SFL equally and have done since 2007, before Rangers came in.

"They are a welcome addition to the SFL but so are all the others. I have got to be mindful that my duty is to 30 clubs."

Despite being unable to vote as associate members, Rangers have been outspoken on the reconstruction process.

Both Green and manager Ally McCoist have called for the Irn-Bru Third Division champions to be promoted to the 12-team middle division, rather than the 18-club basement league which would replace the current bottom two tiers.

But Longmuir said: "At the moment, Rangers are champions of Division Three, Queen of the South are champions of Division Two and there is a bit of a battle at the top of the First.

"I have got no mind to change anything in that promotion and relegation scenario."

During talks with the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Premier League yesterday, the SFL vowed to hold its reconstruction vote by April 19 if 11 of the top-flight clubs back the changes on April 15.

Twenty-two of the SFL clubs need to back the proposals, which would see the top two divisions split into three groups of eight after 22 games.

Longmuir revealed the lower-league sides would be sent a resolution tomorrow which outlines matters to be decided upon after 14 of his members called for the changes to be put on hold until after next season.

Longmuir added: "We had a positive meeting with the SPL clubs and the SFA and we are going to further progress that due diligence process by putting in some independent scrutiny on contracts and figures. We will then go to a vote on April 19 where the clubs will be able to decide where they want to be and how they want to take it forward.

"It is important that we do take time. If doing due diligence is cautionary in its approach, well that is only fair.

"This is a 123-year-old organisation that has served Scottish football pretty well over that time. As we move into a brand new organisation, we have got to get it right because we want to make it good for the game for the foreseeable future."

And Longmuir urged patience from fans who do not like the proposed league structure - an SFA-commissioned survey this week suggested 87 per cent of supporters want to see a larger top division.

Longmuir said: "I listen to fans regularly. They contact me daily. I was quite a key proponent of a larger league - I still am.

"But it is not deliverable at the moment. The finances aren't there to make it viable. The wealth in the game is not sufficient to take a number of games out of the annual calendar.

"So let's look at this as an opportunity to get the foundations right and then we start looking at how we rebuild it and get fans more involved."

--- xxx ---

I had to fix that, couldn't read it

There you have it. Even when Rangers win the division some clubs in the SFL still want them in the same league where they should be promoted from.

[djbroxybear 660]

The Scottish Football League will begin disciplinary proceedings against Dunfermline on Thursday.

The Fife club were granted interim administration last week in a bid to stave off a winding-up order launched by HM Revenue and Customs.

Seven first-team players and assistant manager Gerry McCabe were made redundant by accountants PKF.

And by taking steps towards administration the Division One club face a points deduction.

Unlike other governing bodies, the SFL do not have set penalties for insolvency events.

Dunfermline owe £134,000 in taxes and have further debts worth around £8.5m outstanding to majority shareholder Gavin Masterton and other companies.

Administrator Bryan Jackson has pleaded for leniency, claiming a severe punishment could impede his ability to save the club.

And SFL chief executive David Longmuir will meet with the experienced trouble-shooter before initiating disciplinary procedures.

"I was speaking to Bryan Jackson this morning and I will be meeting him tomorrow to discuss the plans that he has and how he sees the future of Dunfermline," explained Longmuir.

"That actually is the most important issue facing the league.

"We need to be able to manage that situation, as we have managed all the other unfortunate insolvency issues we have had.

"I will be meeting Bryan to try and assess the situation before we do anything. I have given him time to try to see what's happening at Dunfermline. I've been in contact with all the key players within the club, I know what's going on and the SFL will deal with that in the next few days.

"That process of deciding penalties will commence after I meet Bryan. It's only fair that I have given him some time to assess the situation before the football authorities come in and do whatever we have got to do.

"But we have a tried-and-tested process on that one and we have always handled it fairly and have always treated each case on its merits. We will do that again."

Recent SFL insolvencies

Nov 2010 - Dundee docked 25 points and subjected to signing embargo

Aug 2009 - Livingston relegated from Division One to Division Three

May 2008 - Gretna relegated from Division One to Division Three

[JCDBigBear 10,891]

Livingston and Dundee were both in admin for the second time. Both within 7 years of the first admin. Neither suffered any points loss in the SPL during admin. Gretna were relegated to the lowest league because they couldn't guarantee they could actually play any more games which proved to be the case.

[clubdeck 41]

We look after ourselves, we don't look for & don't expect any outside help

an even playing field would be nice for a change watp

[Guest]

The only team that has benefited in any way by our situation is Celtic. Why is that never highlighted. Why do SPL/SFA chiefs never have to deny their bias toward the scum?