Ian Maxwell has claimed that he won’t be influenced by ‘the Old Firm’.
Using that phrase isn’t the best of starts for the new chief executive of the SFA but he does have a week to redeem himself.
Without question Sevco fail to meet UEFA licence regulations to play in next season’s UEFA qualifiers- if Maxwell isn’t aware of the state of finances or the on-going actions of the Takeover Appeal Board and Court of Session he shouldn’t be in office.
If anyone at the SFA is holding onto a scrap of paper from Dave King as evidence of a business plan they ought to be brought upto date with the feedback from the South African courts and tax authorities.
Maxwell has been on the inside of the SPFL and SFA for sometime, his credibility will be defined over whether or not Sevco are rubber-stamped for UEFA competition while Kilmarnock and Motherwell pay the price for living within their means.
On May 31 the SFA has to confirm it’s nominations to UEFA for next season’s qualifiers.
Speaking to The Sun the new chief executive of the SFA said: “I have never been shy to say what I think. I know that won’t change.
“It’s not as if I felt the Old Firm had undue influence. They’re big clubs. Scottish football is what it is and the likes of Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts are all big clubs but at Premiership level everything is done by vote, so the will of the group normally comes through.
“Every chairman or chief executive is making those decisions, and everybody tends to do it for the right reasons.
“I have never seen any examples within Premiership meetings of undue influence.
“There has been a real feeling of goodwill, and a feeling that everybody needs to look after each other.”
Perhaps Maxwell might want to review Dave King’s ‘pack of cards’ comments before discussing feelings of goodwill.
Or the threatening statements from Ibrox regarding the decision by Hibs to reduce the allocation of tickets given to Sevco at the end of the season.
Maxwell has a tough job on his hands with no one at yesterday’s media conferences prepared to ask him about the Notice of Complaint regarding the 2011 UEFA licence issued to the old club.
There is every indication that those involved in that decision are still working inside the SFA.
If they have been ‘duped for a second time’ it won’t be Stewart Regan’s career that will be under threat.