Former Norwich City chief hits back at Rangers suspension call
Scottish Premier League chief executive Neil Doncaster Picture: PA - Credit: PA
Former Norwich City chief executive Neil Doncaster has described Rangers’ calls for his suspension as Scottish Professional Football League chief executive as “entirely unfair”.
Rangers claimed to have “alarming” evidence that raised serious concerns over the process of the recent SPFL vote on the termination of the season and called for Doncaster and SPFL legal advisor Rod McKenzie to be suspended, but refused to hand over any proof.
The Gers also accused the SPFL of “bullying” clubs into voting for the plan to end the three lower divisions and possibly the Premiership, which was backed by four out of five clubs.
Rangers, allied with Hearts and Stranraer, have now forced a general meeting on May 12 which will see clubs vote on whether to instigate an independent investigation into the voting process.
But Doncaster feels they and others are duty-bound to make any allegations clear.
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Doncaster said: “You can always look back and ask whether you would have done anything different, that’s entirely fair.
“But that’s different to being accused of bullying and coercion. If anyone feels they have been bullied they have a duty to bring that to the attention of the chairman, what was said and how it was said and when, rather than vague accusations and calls for us to be suspended without any understanding of what it is we are alleged to have done wrong.
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“I think it’s entirely unfair and that’s why I would urge any member clubs who feel they have been bullied by any SPFL staff to bring that to the chairman’s attention rather than have these vague, unsubstantiated accusations out there.”
Doncaster felt there was nothing over the top about any discussions with member clubs ahead of the vote.
“Certainly nothing that I have done or witnessed going on with any member of my team at all,” he added. “We have been through this a number of times before with various reconstruction votes over the years. Clearly clubs are passionate about their own opinion and it’s entirely natural that the chief executive and board members should lobby for what they believe to be the best interests of the league as a whole. You expect that.
