Dunfermline will vote against the transfer of an SPL share to allow newco Rangers into the SPL.
Chairman John Yorkston understands the financial benefit that a competitive Rangers brings to the SPL but fears that the credibility of Scottish football will be in tatters if newco Rangers emerge next season in the SPL with little or no sanctions for their financial recklessness.
Every SPL club will start next season with overdrafts to service and budget for restricting their ability in the transfer market with transfer fees a rarity.
Bill Miller has a mountain of obstacles to overcome before his plan to provide Rangers with a fresh start is carried out with Yorkston against the principle of a newco debt free club being allowed to play in the SPL.
Rangers boss Ally McCoist has discussed relegation to Division Three as an option for the club with Yorkston blunt in his belief that relegation to the Scottish Football League is the only option if Rangers form a newco or are forced into liquidation.
“That’s what I will be arguing for,” the Dunfermline owner told The Scotsman. “But I do understand that others will look at the financial side, and that will have more sway than sporting integrity.
“I would guess I’ll be almost a lone voice, but it doesn’t stop me from having my say. Everyone agrees that there should be severe punishment, but there are a number of chairmen who will look at the financial thing and say, ‘do we want an SPL without Rangers?’
“It will be a question of sporting integrity against financial necessity. That is the choice facing chairmen.”
If Rangers are able to discard their debt and remain in the SPL it would give other clubs the green light to form a newco and enjoy a fresh start rather than pay their way out of the financial excesses of the past.
Yorkston added: “If ten or 15 points is the penalty, then other clubs are going to have a look at that in future.
“Maybe not right away, but if you have a bad run, somebody else comes in, and maybe these people are not prepared to finance the losses, then you might see it happening.”
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Obviously given Dunfermline’s perilous position in the SPL…I fully expected them to come out against demoting themselves and adding Taxdodgers FC instead.
I’ve read various articles that the finances would drop by approx £ 100,000 for provincial clubs – whatever the replacement club brings in. While the TV deal might be reduced, this should be offset by smaller clubs gaining more exposure since they won’t be showing Dodo FC.
However the price paid in losing yet more of a small band of loyal followers would be very high. Such fans would feel disgusted, ignored by their own club and extremely difficult to tempt back again. For clubs like Motherwell, Kilmarnock, Dunfermline to lose even 500 fans a week would really hit them hard and would cost them DOUBLE any potential loss that may be incurred by losing the visit(s) of Cheats FC.
People don’t forget and many visiting fans will also vote with their feet so yet more revenue lost for those who choose money before integrity.
It’s catch 22 time Willie.
Do the club chairman really think that Miller can pull off his complicated takeover in time for Rangers to function next season with or without sanctions?
If they think he can and that the commercial deals will stay in place they’ll welcome the newco whilst hacking off a significant number of their own supporters who rather than buy season tickets will choose to go match by match or walk away.
I can’t see any possibility of Rangers being anywhere near competitive next season, there’s half a dozen enquires on going and no clarity over Ibrox and Murray Park ownership or Craig Whyte’s shareholding.
The chairman need to look at that reality and prepare for a league without Rangers as the club try to sort themselves out and re-emerge most likely in the SFL if the SFA grant a licence to a newco that doesn’t have three years of audited accounts.
It will certainly be complex and messy.
All the other SPL clubs need to look at what they are saying to the World if they vote to allow Rangers back into the SPL without severe punishments.
They will be saying that they are willing to accept money in place of sporting integrity, and who in the world would not then question the results from games ?
Could UEFA allow these teams to play in European Competition given they could be offerred a large commercial insentive to throw certain games to an agreed score ?
Once you decide that your vote has be looked at and decided by “Commercial” benefits then thw World will have it’s own opinion !!!!!!!