Six reasons why Stewart Regan shouldn’t be chief executive of the SFA

Since Scotland’s 3-0 defeat from England at Wembley it seems that the attack dogs have been released on Stewart Regan.

Almost every problem in the game is being pinned on the SFA with Regan as the biggest blazer in town in the firing line.

Now into his sixth year as chief executive there hasn’t been many achievements to be added to his CV since he left a similar post with Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

As a complete outsider to the Scottish game the then 46-year-old had a real chance to reshape the game following Gordon Smith’s less than glorious time in charge.

Transparency, accountability and other buzzwords were popular when Regan came to power but six years down the line it’s hard to find a single area of the game that has benefited.

A second indoor training complex has been operated at Oriam in Edinburgh while the women’s game has developed in line with other European countries.

Despite the complete failure of the Scotland international side at all levels Regan seems immune to criticism from the member clubs.

The governance failure of 2011/12 that led to the liquidation of Rangers has made no impact on the game with the tribute act limping along despite successive sets of accounts carrying going concern warnings.

RESOLUTION 12

The can of worms is slowly opening up with discrepancies between the details given to Celtic by the SFA with the correspondence that the requisitioners have received from UEFA.

From March 2011 onwards the critical financial position at Rangers (IL) was public knowledge, it seems that the need to collect £15m from the Champions League was everyone’s priority over the rule book.

Even the most liberal application of the licence laws can’t get away from the fact that Rangers (IL) were presented for UEFA competitions despite achieving that status by refusing to pay tax.

FIVE WAY AGREEMENT

For reasons that no one has ever explained a top secret document was put together when Sevco Scotland, the successor to Sevco 5088, were welcomed into Scottish football.

A ‘conditional’ licence was conjured up out of thin air before a match with Brechin City for Charles Green with two clubs from Ibrox in membership at the same time.

If there was any transparency in the Scottish game this document, drawn up with Duff & Phelps and Charles Green should be published in full.

SFL chairman David Longmuir has gone but Regan and Neil Doncaster created the document and remain in positions of power

CAMPBELL OGILVIE

Early on in his reign Regan described SFA president Campbell Ogilvie as being heavily conflicted.

If Regan was unaware that the former Rangers director set up the tax schemes that enticed Ronald de Boer and Tore Andre Flo to Ibrox then he is incredibly naïve, if he knew and allowed Ogilvie to continue in power it is Regan that is heavily conflicted.

Ogilvie remained in place as president of the SFA until June 2015, heavily conflicted throughout.

STEVEN MCLEAN

It seems that refereeing matters are kept completely detached from all logic.

Steven McLean’s performance in the 2015 Scottish Cup semi-final turned Scottish football into a laughing stock and went a long way to denying Celtic a place in the final against Falkirk.

Three match officials were within 20 yards of a clear handball that should have resulted in a penalty and red card.

McLean’s career has continued unaffected, he refereed the 2016 Scottish Cup Final. The appointment of John Beaton for the 2016 Betfred Cup Final defies all logic- has he been the best referee so far this season?

RESOLUTION 12 FOLLOW UP

Any skilled executive would have checked through every detail of the 2011 Rangers licence and found a scapegoat.

There’s little doubt that mistakes were made, by denying them and clouding the issues Regan and the SFA have raised more suspicions.

His comments after the 2016 SFA AGM may have deflected away questions on the day, when compared to the correspondence from UEFA there are serious questions to be answered.

ALEKSANDAR TONEV SUSPENSION

This case seemed to defy all forms of logic with the Celtic winger given a seven match suspension for racially abusing an opponent.

No evidence was provided but Shay Logan of Aberdeen was described as an impressive witness. Tonev was described in the report as neither credible or reliable.

Tonev was suspended on the ‘balance of probabilities’ as the SFA panel compared the evidence presented by the two men with no photographic, video or witness evidence to support either version of events.