SPFL "confident" of answering club criticisms

The SPFL has circulated its independent governance review to all 42 members and arranged a series of group discussions it feels "confident" will answer criticism from six top-flight clubs.

The six clubs voiced "serious concerns" after a preliminary January statement by the SPFL about its findings.

They called for league bosses to attend a meeting on 27 February. But the SPFL has now scheduled a gathering of all clubs on 19 March.

The independent review of the league's operations by consultant Henderson Loggie had been commissioned in July after SPFL chairman Murdoch MacLennan apologised to Rangers as a dispute over sponsorship was concluded.

"We are pleased that, following further discussion with Henderson Loggie, we have now been able to circulate their independent governance review in its entirety to all 42 SPFL clubs," a SPFL spokesman said.

"Now that clubs are in possession of the review, we are confident they will see for themselves how thorough and detailed the exercise was - and that Henderson Loggie have delivered in full on the brief announced in July 2023."

The SPFL last week suggested a joint statement about the report from Aberdeen, Livingston, Motherwell, Rangers, St Johnstone and St Mirren contained "factual inaccuracies".

Now it hopes circulating Henderson Loggie's report will clarify its "number of recom­men­dations".

"The board had hoped to consider all of Henderson Loggie's recommendations at its scheduled meeting on Monday, 19 February," it added. "However, one director requested that this discussion be put back to allow all board members to attend.

"That meeting, to discuss the individual recom­men­dations, is therefore scheduled to take place on 19 March, which is the first date after 19 February that all SPFL board members can be there in person."

However, "given the ongoing public debate", it pointed out that the review would be discussed that an already scheduled meeting of Premiership clubs on 19 February, when the SPFL board would also be discussing the matter later that day.

"We intend to schedule further meetings in the weeks ahead to enable all clubs to have their views heard, and their questions answered, at the earliest opportunity," the SPFL added.

"In addition, we intend to call a general meeting of all 42 Clubs, in line with the SPFL's articles, where our shareholders will be given ample opportunity to consider the board's proposals in respect of Henderson Loggie's recom­men­dations, as soon as possible after 19 March."