The League of Gentlemen – and ‘Rangers’

I am now beginning to feel my work may soon be scaling down on the “Rangers” saga, but first something which needs to be highlighted as events move towards Monday’s Premier League meeting.

Today – the Word of Clyde, representative as it is of where most clubs and most fans now are.

As Channel 4 News reported last night, what really happened at Hampden was rather different from the spin the Football League Club Chairmen were forced to mouth to the cameras last night.

We now know – thanks to the ever-robust Clyde FC – that “Rangers” owner Charles Green only spoke candidly to the club chairmen yesterday on condition that they didn’t tell you what he said.

This is a shabby deal, as clearly many Chairmen recognise, which is why several leaked what Green said to me yards from the front steps of Hampden Park.

We know Green said the Scottish Football Association boss Stewart Regan had told him there is no way “Rangers” will be in D3 next season.

Here’s Clyde FC’s view from late yesterday which corroborates and adds to our story last night and needs quoting at length:

“We reported this morning prior to the vote of all clubs that ‘Sevco Scotland Ltd will not be playing in the Third Division in the coming season’. Nothing heard today altered that opinion, in fact, it strengthened it.

“For the good of the game we need to see the SFA accept the will of its members, who all voted today, as members of the SFL, in the clear knowledge that the SFA had it in its power to refuse to transfer SFA membership to Sevco Scotland Ltd should the vote support the entry of Sevco Scotland Ltd into SFL3.

“We were asked to respect the confidentiality of those presenting today as only that agreement would allow them to be as candid as they were. We cannot therefore share what was said, however Mr Green left the SFL member clubs in no doubt about what he had been told by the SFA.The SFL saw a level of unity and unselfishness that owes significant credit to the First Division clubs who stated their intention to seek a 42 club solution and not to take part in a divisive alternative.

“This kind of unity, if maintained, will help deliver the change that the game so badly needs and the First Division clubs in particular will merit. If the SFA now act to support any process to undermine the clear views of the SFL members, who are also members of the SFA, then this club will join others in questioning those in leadership.

“Sadly for our game, this saga is not over, teams cannot plan and that includes Rangers, who may yet be denied the opportunity to play football in SFL3 because it suits the interests of others.”

So proof again that Clyde – like many clubs – trust the FA as far as they could throw it.

Proof that a shameful attempt to gag the Chairmen into secrecy was the price for simple honesty and candour about what’s really going on. What has Scottish football come to for this nonsense to be countenanced at all?

Some positives too: the SFL with these doughty Gentlemen of Annan, Clyde, Raith, Livingston and many more cannot be bought off for short-term financial myopia. These Gentlemen understand value – not just price.

And now the SFL holds a better hand as a result, than at any time in the crisis the SPL and SFA have shamefully allowed to spread.

All they need is steady nerve and there’s plenty of that in evidence in their statements.

They know well that all the signs indicate SPL boss Neil Doncaster is going to have another go at the SPL meeting on Monday, at ignoring the vote and attempting D1 football for “Rangers” in a two-tier SPL breakaway.

The SFA statement last night at last recognises the word “opportunity” exists in the language and oppo time this most certainly is.

The issue is, if they are finally just beginning to get what this is all about and what the Chairmen are saying, will they really abandon all attempts to railroad the club into D1 in the face of comprehensive opposition? Or will they overtly or covertly assist the SPL if it really is minded to have another go next week.

I sense it is still possible, even at this hour. I also sense that any attempt to do this – and it is surely doomed – must absolutely spell the end for the leadership of SPL and SFA which has steered the game to this grisly, trust-free confrontation.

The warning to Mr Doncaster and Mr Regan’s right there in black and white from Clyde. Look again in that last paragraph where the Gentlemen of Clyde line up their tank- sights on Hampden Park.

“This club will join others in questioning those in leadership” say Clyde. I say that means: “Try anything that ignores our vote on Monday and we’re heading towards a vote of no confidence.”

The Gentlemen of the League have spoken. The bosses of the game must heed their words.