Jim Spence will leave BBC Scotland at the end of this week.
No reason has been given for the decision by the popular Dundee based journalist who has stood out from his BBC colleagues for refusing to follow follow the state broadcaster’s creative reporting on the ‘same club’ fantasy from Ibrox.
Understanding the reality of liquidation and the incredible gymnastics applied by the Scottish football authorities has made Spence something of a lone voice as others pretend that the events of 2012 applied to a mythical holding company with no impact on the club.
That view has led Spence into some heated arguments on air with fellow presenters and pundits.
The first sign that he was on the move was when he dropped BBC from his twitter name, becoming JimSpenceSport. Last night he responded to rumours by confirming his departure from the Glasgow based broadcaster.
@donners32 @JimSpenceSport Have you left the Beeb?
— David Begg (@dadbegg) July 13, 2015
@dadbegg @donners32 Friday is my last day Beggy. — Jim Spence (@JimSpenceSport) July 13, 2015
“@JimSpenceSport: @dadbegg @donners32 Friday is my last day Beggy.” Sad to learn that Jim “Spency” Spence is leaving the BBC later this week
— David Begg (@dadbegg) July 13, 2015
@dadbegg @JimSpenceSport @donners32 another good one gone sadly. Soon be no decent reporters left there
— Neil Macdougall (@DougallChops) July 13, 2015
Sad news that @JimSpenceSport is leaving the BBC on Friday. Have exchanged chats with Jim since Celts for Change days 1993. Total gentleman
— matt mcglone (@MattMcGlone9) July 13, 2015
Spence never hid his allegiance for Dundee United but never gave the Tannadice club the succulent lamb treatment preferred by most BBC employees.
During the last six months he was never afraid of asking the difficult questions to Jackie McNamara or Stevie Thompson as the club sold three key players to Celtic.
His open-ness about supporting United was a keen feature in his relationship with listeners who respected his ability to report on matters objectively with a genuine connection with supporters of the national game.
The BBC’s fascination with the club from Ibrox and their treatment of their financial affairs led Spence into conflict on air.
In September 2012 discussing new additions to the Ibrox board on Radio Scotland Spence said: “John McLelland, who was chairman of the old club, some people will tell you the club, well the club that died, possibly coming back in terms of the new chairman.”
That comment sparked more than 400 complaints to the BBC Trust that Spence’s comments were “inaccurate and misleading”. However the BBC Trust stated in its ruling: “The Committee did not believe that evidence had been presented that would lead it to conclude that the output had breached the editorial guidelines.
“The Committee therefore decided that this appeal did not qualify to proceed for consideration.”
The ruling accepted that BBC Scotland’s editor of sport had swiftly apologised for any offence caused by Spence’s words and that the Editorial Complaints Unit had acknowledged that Spence’s comments “could have been phrased better”.
It concluded: “However, [the adviser] felt that it was clear to the listener from the outset of the discussion that the subject under consideration was the board of Rangers International Football Club plc, rather than footballing issues at the club.”
With less than fulsome backing from the BBC on a matter of public record Spence’s departure was simply a matter of timing.
