Ralph Topping has criticised the television contract negotiated by his colleague Neil Doncaster.
Despite the incredible rise in money paid by Sky and BT for the English Premier League the SPFL is getting paid less than the SPL was picking up a decade ago.
Warnings of Armageddon and social unrest from Doncaster and Stewart Regan haven’t helped with no real broadcasting policy evident.
More games are shown at unsocial ours driving fans away and making the ‘product’ less appealing to broadcasters, sponsors and viewers.
Doncaster has negotiated the last two television deals but as Topping prepares to sign off as chairman of the SPFL he didn’t hold back with his thoughts on the current broadcasting deals.
He told The Scotsman: “Fans will waken up to the fact their contribution to the success of Sky or BT is not being properly recognised in the amount of money being invested in the Scottish game, which is derisory compared to what it should be.
“The best hope for the Scottish game? It’s in the activity the fans bring to bear on big organisations. The last thing Sky or BT want to see is criticism on Twitter, fans at football grounds deriding them. Fans don’t quite realise yet how much change they can bring about.”
Topping’s comments may be more relevant for the online campaign to strip the titles won by the old Rangers club while paying players through dual contracts.
While Livingston, Dundermline and Dundee United are punished by the rule book for breaches Topping claims that he attended four meetings with Scotland’s top QC who told him that they can’t apply the rules of ineligible players over a decade to Rangers (IL).