Raith Rovers director Turnbull Hutton reckons SFL clubs have been ”lied to, bullied and threatened” as attempts by the SFA and SPL to parachute a newco Rangers into the First Division gathered pace.
The Stark’s Park supremo is leading the criticism of the ”bizarre” situation SFL clubs have suddenly found themselves in.
SPL clubs are due to vote on the top-flight application at a meeting today, but it is thought they may defer and wait for the outcome of a vote by SFL clubs on the issue is due to be held next Thursday. Whatever happens, Hutton reckons it should never have come to this.
He said: ”I could have spent seven or eight hours more profitably than spending it at Hampden today. I don’t think we’re any further forward and the pressure is building on the SFL clubs to vote on a problem that has absolutely nothing to do with SFL clubs.
”The SPL are the ones who 14 years ago broke away to the promised land and left us ‘diddy clubs’ to flounder. Now that the great experiment has crashed around their ears on the back of the Rangers demise, they are incapable of reaching a decision themselves.
”Suddenly the only people who can save Scottish football are the SFL clubs and it is a bizarre situation. It is a situation that is not of our making, we have been ignored for years and suddenly ‘diddy clubs’ rule.”
Both Dunfermline and Dundee are anxiously waiting to discover what league they will be playing in next term but decisions made in the coming days will have huge ramifications for all member clubs.
SFL clubs have been told that dumping Rangers into the Third Division would take £16 million out of the Scottish game, while a document outlining the various options open to lower league chairmen suggested ”financial meltdown” would occur if Gers were refused entry into the SFL at any level.
However, after talks at Hampden on Tuesday, Hutton said: ”I think there’s a certain scepticism about that doomsday scenario, the meltdown of Scottish football and the threat of liquidation to clubs.
”It was made clear at the start of the meeting that it was an information-giving exercise, but then there was a move to get clubs to give an indication as to the way they would vote. It’s tail wagging dog.”
Prior to the Hampden meeting, newco Rangers chairman Malcolm Murray had issued an ”unreserved” apology for the ”distress, disruption and difficulty” inflicted on Scottish football as a result of the current mess.
However, the apparent sweetener did not go down well with SFL representatives, as Courier Sport understands the proposal outlined was ”badly received” by chairmen.
Clubs have been warned that if they fail to vote the newco into the First Division, a breakaway SPL2 will be created.
First Division newcomers Cowdenbeath have arranged a meeting with their fans at Central Park tonight to get their views on the SFL proposal to allow newco Rangers to start in the First Division.
The Fife club whose chairman is Donald Findlay QC, a former vice-chairman of Rangers wants to hear what its own fans are saying before reaching a decision on how to vote.
Cowden secretary Alex Anderson said: ”We will be meeting our supporters’ club representatives on Wednesday night, by which time we will know the official decision of the Premier League clubs.”
East Fife have stated their strong opposition to a Rangers newco entering at First Division level, while Second Division Brechin have remained tight-lipped on which way they plan to vote, although the Glebe Park side will discuss the proposals in full at their next management committee meeting on Thursday and at the members’ AGM on July 11.
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