Angry clubs are preparing to pursue former Scottish League chief executive David Longmuir through the courts in order to claw back the secret bonuses he collected during his six years at Hampden.
One of the reasons the merger between the SPL and the SFL was delayed last month was that Longmuir was due to receive a £100,000 bonus.
When SPL representatives refused to cough up, it was agreed that the payment would be met from SFL funds but the bombshell effectively ended any hopes Longmuir had of beating Neil Doncaster for the new SPFL chief executive role although it is understood he received a £200,000 severance payment.
However, when 37 of the 42 SPFL clubs met at Hampden on Monday it emerged Longmuir had received £360,000 in bonuses, allegedly for bringing fresh sponsorship to the SFL.
Since most of the cash received came from the SPL’s TV deal the SFL received a £1 million payment from the top tier in order to give broadcasters the right to screen Rangers’ games in the Third Division the feeling at the meeting was that Longmuir had not justified his bonuses.
As a result, the SPFL board will now attempt to discover whether a proper process had been followed with regard to the payments.
The matter is now being investigated by the SPFL. Longmuir was unavailable for comment.