Doncaster: Game coped ‘remarkably well’ with Rangers’ plight

[ian1964 10,826]

By Andrew Smith

 

Four years on from predictions that Armageddon would be visited on Scottish football with the liquidation of Rangers and the requirement for the Ibrox club created thereafter to start in the fourth tier of Scottish football, SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster has conceded that the sport coped “remarkably well” with no Rangers presence in the top flight.

 

Ibrox will again be hosting top-tier football again following the Championship success for Mark Warburton’s side last season. Rangers will join a set-up wherein debt burdens across most of the clubs have been greatly reduced since there was an Ibrox club among the game’s elite.

 

Doncaster is keen to point out that he never used the word “Armageddon” – SFA chief executive Stewart Regan was the administrator who did so – but maintains there were economic convulsions caused by Rangers’ demise that should not be forgotten.

 

“There’s no doubt a lot of financial damage has been caused to a number of clubs as a result of what happened in 2012 and the events that followed, but I do believe the game has healed remarkably well, and that’s down to the robustness of the game, the supports and the clubs. They all deserve credit for the way they’ve pulled together,” he said.

 

“And the clubs deserve massive credit for the leap of faith they took in 2013 to bring the league back together again [with the Scottish Professional Football League formed from a merger of the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League].

 

“There were those suggesting at the time that particularly for the lower league clubs, there would be less money, less influence, less involvement, and they’d be cut adrift. I would hope people across the game would see the reverse has been true. And the fact we’ve increased the monies payable to all clubs by more than 20 per cent over the past three years vindicates the confidence all 42 clubs had at that time.”

 

Doncaster refused to consider that the Armageddon warnings were irresponsible and unhelpfully talked down the entire Scottish football brand, which Rangers bolstered coming through the divisions.

 

“We shouldn’t underestimate the pain some clubs in particular have gone through with the loss of Rangers’ support in particular,” he said. “Equally I think it’s right to recognise the huge financial good the Rangers support have brought to the lower league clubs on their journey through the divisions. That has transformed the finances of certain clubs in the Championship, League One and Two. So certainly it’s not without an upside, but the game in this country has proven itself to be remarkably robust in the face of those challenges and I think we can look forward with massive confidence.”

 

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/rangers/doncaster-game-coped-remarkably-well-with-rangers-plight-1-4184928

Edited July 24, 2016 by ian1964

[craig 5,199]

Utter dross.

 

Scottish football is in the toilet / and mostly because of our demotion 4 yrs ago.

 

Funnily enough though.... We are pretty much the only club in Scotland on the rise whilst the rest are running scared about where we are, footballing and financial.

[der Berliner 4,001]

There is but one thing which helped Scottish football these last four years: the so-called Blue Pound pouring into the smaller clubs from our visits. Money they wouldn't have received had we not been send there.

 

The rest of the stuff above is IMHO just twisting the figures to the best possible outcome.

 

But I "like this bit most":

 

We shouldn’t underestimate the pain some clubs in particular have gone through with the loss of Rangers’ support in particular,

 

You couldn't make this up! These were the lunatics who voted us out of the SPL out of purest self-interest, malice, and hatred. And any pain they suffered was essentially self inflicted because of that and a short-sightedness unparralleled football. As far as I am concerned, long may their suffering continue.

Edited July 24, 2016 by der Berliner

[craig 5,199]

There is but one thing which helped Scottish football these last four years: the so-called Blue Pound pouring into the smaller clubs from our visits. Money they wouldn't have received had we not been send there.

 

The rest of the stuff above is IMHO just twisting the figures to the best possible outcome.

 

But I "like this bit most":

 

 

 

You couldn't make this up! These were the lunatics who voted us out of the SPL out of purest self-interest, malice, and hatred. And any pain they suffered was essentially self inflicted because of that and a short-sightedness unparralleled football. As far as I am concerned, long may their suffering continue.

 

The only thing I disagree eith in the above dB is when you say "self-interest". Nothing about their decision was self interest. Self interest, by definition, means looking after your own health and wealth before anything else.... They didn't. The decision made by all (except Killie) was made based on Rangers-hating.... Self interest would have never seen us demoted

[der Berliner 4,001]

The only thing I disagree eith in the above dB is when you say "self-interest". Nothing about their decision was self interest. Self interest, by definition, means looking after your own health and wealth before anything else.... They didn't. The decision made by all (except Killie) was made based on Rangers-hating.... Self interest would have never seen us demoted

 

I beg to differ, as Dundee United, Aberdeen and probably one or another saw a perfect opportunity to remove one mighty opponent from the silverware table for a time, as well as a direct competitor for European football and a larger money pot from the position on the final league table. And, as I said, it was IMHO part of their thinking, but not the only reason.

Edited July 24, 2016 by der Berliner

[RANGERRAB 3,990]

Ridiculous attempt at journalism written by former Shellik View Editor & Rangers-hater Andrew Smith (once known as Andrew H Smith).

Would it be possible to ban all further articles from this clown appearing in this forum ? The Rangers-hating theme is the same in them all.

[aweebluesoandso 290]

Doncaster being economical with the truth, quelle surprise. The Scottish game was thrown in the toilet for 5 years, for the sake of a plethora of Rangers bashing. Result was mass gash attendances, except at the piggery where attendance figure increased ten-fold, thanks the Seville Calculator bwhahaha.

 

Selling of the SPL TV rights to Sky for a stipend, because Rangers weren't included in the new package, as we were now a SPFL team because of our forced exit from the SPL. Which then forced the SPL into an emergency takeover of the SPFL, so Sky could then show and increase their Rangers games without negotiating another separate contract with the SPFL. No new sponsor for several seasons of the reconstructed Leagues. BT TV rights concluded with their increased coverage of Rangers in the lower leagues .

 

Armegedon was only narrowly avoided, because the SPFL was forced into an arrange marriage, for the convenience of the SPL.

Edited July 24, 2016 by aweebluesoandso

[JFK-1 1,693]

I beg to differ, as Dundee United, Aberdeen and probably one or another saw a perfect opportunity to remove one mighty opponent from the silverware table for a time, as well as a direct competitor for European football and a larger money pot from the position on the final league table. And, as I said, it was IMHO part of their thinking, but not the only reason.

 

But still illogical isn't it. There is no fortune to be made from winning silverware or a high league position in Scotland. Only Europe can bring a significant amount of money but to get it you must be capable of progressing in Europe. They aren't capable so there was absolutely nothing of any consequence for them to gain in a financial sense.

[trublusince1982 243]

if the financial state of the clubs is robust then you can fine motherwell and hibs without any prejudice or fear and killmarnock can be forced to have a grass park.

[der Berliner 4,001]

Think back of four years ago. They were bad but not as hopeless in Europe, the TV money et al they received from league positions was better than the seasons thereafter. And while it may make not that great a difference for us, the "New Firm" and some others will sure have welcomed the odd 100k more in their accounts, given their smaller grounds and less support. That it spiralled down because of various reasons essentially meant that vying for league positions not only meant "more" income for the clubs, but essentially the only way for them to counter the losses. Again, it was part of their thinking, but not the sole driving purpose.

Edited July 24, 2016 by der Berliner