Scottish football fiasco

Accrington Stanley? Who are they? That was the famous line from a popular UK TV advert. This could soon be re-invented for Glasgow Rangers in years to come as technically they are no more, being replaced by the catchy name, Sevco Scotland Limited, that is sure to inspire a range of terrace chants. 

Yet, while key decisions have been taken as to which league they will play in next season, the debacle surrounding Scottish football as a result of this fiasco still rumbles on.

However, first things first. Full credit must go to the majority of Scottish clubs for taking a decision based around sporting fairness rather than simply following the cash cow that would have resulted in greater financial income – in the short term, at least – to each and every one of them. 

To make once mighty Rangers start from the bottom of the league system is even more remarkable in that it came in the face of threats that any such move would bring an end to professional football in Scotland as we know it.

Despite the decision having been taken, there appears to be a lingering fear that the Scottish Premier League (SPL) and Scottish Football Association (SFA) will conspire to create a new breakaway division – SPL 2 – to include Rangers. 

However, the SFA’s chief executive, Stewart Regan, is battling to hold onto his job following the leaking of an email that suggested unscrupulous behind-the-scenes skullduggery. 
Any new league created would appear unlikely given the praiseworthy decision taken by so many of the 42 clubs, some of which would be required to take part in any breakaway.

The financial consequences of the decision to demote Rangers to the lowest professional tier are already being felt. 

Back in 1998 when the leading clubs agreed to break away, the compensation agreed by the newly-formed SPL was an annual payment of £1.4m that has risen to £1.9m with inflation. 

The member clubs of the Scottish Football League (SFL) were advised that the SPL would be unable to meet its commitment, effectively making it insolvent. 

Several of the SPL clubs are expected to follow suit as the income derived from TV rights is due to diminish with the loss of Rangers, along with a similar reduction in gate receipts with fewer visiting fans welcomed through the turnstiles.

Several Scottish fans have been critical of having two different league boards in such a small country – this may be an opportunity to put that right!

It’s not just the clubs and fans that have been affected, but the former Rangers players as well.  Under advice from the SFA, several players, believing that they were free agents as their contracts are non-transferrable from Rangers to Sevco, are seeking employment overseas or across the border.

However, this interpretation has been challenged by Sevco who believed that they had bought the players – along with other assets – from the now defunct Rangers. Indeed, according to the administrators Duff and Phelps, £2.75m of the £ 5.5m paid by Sevco related to the purchase of the players and their contracts.

This challenge has led to the SFA failing to release international clearance to the players. The first to be impacted was Kyle Lafferty who believed he had successfully signed for FC Sion in Switzerland.  He was due to commence his career with Sion with a friendly against Grasshoppers, although was unable to be named in the match-day squad.

Others to have ‘moved’ include Naismith, Ness, Davis and Whittaker with Charles Green, the owner of Sevco, demanding compensation from their new clubs.

Those players that do remain with Sevco will have a culture shock. The majority of Scottish Third Division clubs, which include English border town side Berwick Rangers, have never played the Glasgow giants in a league fixture, which is hardly surprising given that the players are part-timers earning as little as £20 per week.

Sevco will be expected to dominate the league and could set numerous records if they are successful in the cup competitions, although there is still some debate as to whether or not they will be allowed to continue to build on Rangers’ past history.