Could go nuclear- SPFL clubs in rebellion as Ibrox Tribute Act set to veto another commercial deal

A report in the Daily Mail claims that another Cinch type row is brewing between the Ibrox Tribute Act and the SPFL.

Noting today’s date I checked through the story looking for the giveaway but it seems that the detail is real. When Stephen McGowan writes about the SFA or SPFL there is no dubiety or kite flying involved.

After negotiating a five year sponsorship of the four SPFL divisions with Cinch the Ibrox club refused to take part in promoting the brand.

Cinch are involved for association with two clubs, without them there would be no deal, no commercial interest or value.

Rather than punish the Ibrox club for failing to comply Neil Doncaster backed off, negotiated a new deal with the 11 other Premiership clubs, including Celtic, giving more coverage to Cinch to prevent the deal from collapsing.

With Celtic wasting space on the sleeve to promote a car firm their main competitors can auction that area and others off to the highest bidders.

The SPFL’s capitulation on the Cinch deals allows the Ibrox club to veto any other commercial deals which makes life kind of difficult for a lightweight negotiator like Doncaster.

Glen’s Vodka had a sponsorship deal before Cinch, that deal is currently being renegotiated but it seems like the petted lip from Ibrox is going to leave all other member clubs out of pocket again.

Picking up the story McGowan explains:

In December 2020, Glen’s vowed to ‘work closely with the SPFL and many of its clubs across both league and cup competitions for the next three seasons’.

With the current contract due to lapse at the end of this season, discussions over a renewal are at an advanced stage and clubs fear the financial impact if Rangers decline to comply.

One club source told Sportsmail that the new row has the potential to be ‘nuclear’.

The Ibrox club have voiced public concerns over the level of corporate governance at the SPFL, calling for the heads of chief executive Neil Doncaster, chairman Murdoch MacLennan and legal advisor Rod McKenzie.

Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson has also warned all 42 senior teams of soaring legal costs as the rancour rumbles on. For their part, the SPFL remain confident that they have gone by the book in their dealings with all parties. Rangers were approached for comment.

In July 2021 with the Five (Six) Way Agreement the SPL/SPFL clubs handed a separate set of rules to the Tribute Act formed by Charles Green, in 13 years no club has thought to challenge it or call for the resignation of the CEO that drafted it and forced it through.

Every club is now feeling the cost of Doncaster caving in to keep his O** F*** dreams alive.