Rod Petrie insists SPL must maintain integrity despite financial cost

[ian1964 10,861]

Hibernian chairman Rod Petrie has given a strong hint he would vote against a â??newcoâ?? Rangers entering the Scottish Premier League by declaring â??integrity is beyond purchaseâ?.

 

The Charles Green-fronted consortium which has signed a deal to take control of Rangers hope to take the club out of administration through a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA). However, the group say they will form a new company to purchase the clubâ??s assets if a CVA is rejected by creditors.

 

SPL clubs have twice postponed a vote on possible sanctions for â??newcoâ?? clubs and are due to meet again on 30 May, when the 12 clubs will assume control of any decision on whether a newco Rangers can acquire the share of the current club, with an 8-4 majority decision needed.

 

Kilmarnock chairman Michael Johnston has signalled he would accept a newco Rangers for financial reasons. But Petrie last night claimed that money should not come into the equation.

 

He told BBC Radio Scotland: â??Thatâ??s fundamental to us at our club, to make sure the integrity of the game is not called into question and that the sporting integrity of the competition we take part in is maintained at the highest standards. Itâ??s not a question of any sum of money in return for that integrity â?? integrity is beyond purchase.

 

â??Itâ??s important that all clubs can have a place within football, provided they have earned it in a sporting sense and also have abided by the rules.â?

 

Rangers fans have threatened action against clubs who act against their clubâ??s interests, while supporters of other clubs have threatened to walk away from the SPL if it contains a â??newcoâ?? Rangers that could not agree a deal with creditors.

 

â??Itâ??s vital part of what we do, listening to supporters,â? Petrie said. â??Itâ??s important we understand what they are thinking and itâ??s also important we are able to explain the dynamics of the landscape in front of us.

 

â??If we are called upon to make any decisions we will try to do the right thing and uphold the integrity of the competition that we are engaged in.â?

 

Celtic last week stated their guiding principle would be the best interests of the club and supporters, consistent with upholding the â??interests and reputation of Scottish footballâ?.

 

Speaking about the difficulties facing Scottish football in general, Petrie continued: â??We need to find a future for football that people want to be part of.

 

â??Weâ??re one of the leading clubs in the country and we have to play our part in making sure we have a successful and vibrant game. A game thatâ??s attractive to supporters.

 

â??The game touches almost every household in the country.

 

â??Where we are failing a little bit at the moment is getting the balance between those who are willing to make a contribution, supporters and television.

 

â??Our supporters want games at three oâ??clock on a Saturday and we have to balance that against the needs of a television audience.

 

â??Of course, TV viewers want to see games played out in front of big, enthusiastic, crowds.â?

 

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spl/rod-petrie-insists-spl-must-maintain-integrity-despite-financial-cost-1-2294135

[GovanAllan 0]

You can stick your integrity up your arse Petrie.

[der Berliner 4,137]

So if other individuals drive whole clubs into ruin within a year, the clubs should also be punished ahead and possibly instead of the sinner? Yes, that makes sense to the small minded. That is like charging the whole crew of the Costa Concordia AS WELL AS all passengers for the demise of this cruise liner, while essentially letting the captain / helmsman getting away.

[craig 5,199]

What Petrie is ignoring here in looking for us to be relegated is not just the revenue that Hibs would lose from two games a season at home against us but also the very real possibility that we would no longer purchase any Hibs players.

 

And just what will he do when we refuse to enter a bidding war with Celtic for his best players. They wouldnt have got 4 million for Brown if there hadnt been a bidding war.

 

Petrie would do well to realise just which team have sustained Hibs financially through BOTH game day ticket sales as well as transfer fees (bidding war fro Brown, Thomson, Whittaker) as well as provide, probably, cash funding to the new stands they have built at Easter Road.

[biggordy 0]

Noted, Mr. Petrie !

[stewarty 2,123]

John Yorkston said on Radio Scotland on Saturday that he was in favour of additional sanctions for newco to apply to Rangers but doubted there was enough support for it to be passed. This again just seems to be bluster. How he actually votes may be different and I'd wager this is one of a number who will do this to appease their fans.