For most Scottish football fans the sight or sound of Neil Doncaster is cringe worthy- the ultimate jobs-worth well out of touch with the passion and feelings for the national game among other issues.
As chief executive of the SPFL his reign has been a well paid disaster with no sponsorship of the unified league highlighting his failings.
Last month’s decision to stagger the final fixtures in the Championship brought universal criticism and was reversed within 24 hours. It was the blueprint of a PR disaster with Anne Budge and Leeann Dempster leading the condemnation without a single voice supporting Doncaster’s stance.
Tellingly Doncaster was absent from Hearts being presented with the Championship trophy yesterday, SPFL chairman Iain Blair being on duty.
Football administrators like Doncaster are employed by the clubs to carry out their bidding but as the row brews over season ticket holders and play-off’s it seems that the former Norwich City chief has been silenced.
Typically the SPFL find themselves compromised by last year’s decision to allow Hibs season ticket holders free entry to the final tie against Hamilton. Had they explained at the time the special circumstances involved some of the flack they’ve received could have been avoided.
Rather than send Doncaster out to justify the stance that the play-off matches are outwith the regular season and not on the season ticket the SPFL have put up other voices to explain their position.
Speaking out in defence of the regulations is unlikely to win any popularity contest- it might even lead to death threats and arson fears- but with Doncaster’s credibility off the radar Ralph Topping was called on to explain the season ticket position.
The SPFL chairman said: “Our rule book is not a pick and mix. Clubs who play in the league have a clear and vital duty to abide by the rules and not to disregard them when it suits.
“Everyone can see the dangers of trying to change rules part-way through the season, leading to accusations of self-interest and opportunism.
“We must ensure a positive, collective approach if we are to strengthen the league for the benefit of all clubs and as an independent chairman with no club affiliation, I am clear that this is the only way forward for our game. To do otherwise risks the very fabric of the league.”
On Radio Scotland Alloa chairman Mike Mulraney offered his explanation giving some of the reasons for the Hibs decision last year, mentioning that some season tickets had been sold the previous March before the SPL and SFL had merged creating the play-off’s.
Later in the day Stephen Thompson of Dundee United continued the theme, telling PA Sport: “Hibs started selling season tickets in March 2013, two or three months before there was any merger between the league bodies.
“So the vast majority of season-ticket holders would have purchased them based on getting all the league games. There was no guarantee at that stage that there was going to be play-offs.
“One year further down the line, everyone knows what the rules are. Everyone knew the play-offs were in place. People say there’s a precedent, but circumstances are significantly different.”
As part of the merger between the SPL and SFL a £1.5m package goes to the lower leagues alongside the Premiership play-off deal. That deal has cut the money paid to top flight clubs to ensure that the limited funds are spread further.
If any Championship club doesn’t hand over their share of the gate money within seven days of their bonus match there is only one sanction for the SPFL to take- withhold their prize money.
With the promise of a sponsor for the season ahead and finally sticking to their own rules and regulations the SPFL may start to gain some credibility- with Doncaster reduced to the role of silenced match secretary.