BT Sport became the latest broadcaster to fall foul of Sevco with Mark Warburton refusing to speak to the key SPFL partner before tonight’s match at Inverness.
Chris McLaughlin of BBC Scotland is on a long term ban from the Ibrox club with PR supremo James Traynor calling a halt to Wednesday’s pre-match broadcast conference after Warbo was asked a question too many about the suspended Joey Barton.
It seems unlikely that Warbo, who used to work as a city trader, would have taken the decision to snub BT Sport with the move having all the hallmarks of a classic Traynor decision.
There has been no obvious friction between the broadcaster and the club but pre-match Chris Sutton did discuss Barton’s four week suspension on full pay.
In house Traynor may be able to control the agenda but expecting a UK wide broadcaster to toe the party line and talk up the Ballon D’Or prospects of Andy Halliday.
With the @Joey7Barton saga still rumbling on, @chris_sutton73 thinks it’s now getting “embarrassing” for @RangersFC. https://t.co/uVZAOkhXJr
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) October 14, 2016
Barton was brought in during the summer to give the club a greater profile and shift season tickets. His suspension is the only newsworthy item from Ibrox as far as English audiences are concerned.
BT Sport had to contact the SPFL earlier this season after Craig Thomson refused to co-operate with them over the half-time interval during a match between St Johnstone and Celtic.
That incident cost the broadcaster a loss in advertising income but being refused access to a top flight manager will be a serious concern for the broadcaster.
Whether the SPFL will fine Sevco remains to be seen but failing to provide even basic co-operation with one of the main broadcasters should set off alarm bells at Hampden.
Next Sunday BT Sport will screen the Celtic v Sevco BetFred Cup semi final live with full backing from both competing clubs expected- and demanded.
