Falkirk chairman Gary Deans has launched a scathing attack on the SPFL, describing the club as ”furious” over the processes in which the members’ body carried out to reach a league-ending proposal.
Currently sitting in second place in Scottish League One, Falkirk sit one point behind league leaders Raith Rovers.
The SPFL’s league-ending proposal would see the Bairns narrowly miss out on the chance of promotion and chairman Deans believes the events of the last week or so have left the reputation and integrity of Scottish football “damaged”.
“Through these difficult times, as I’ve said before, football remains the light at the end of this dark tunnel,” said Deans [Falkirk Herald].
“However, if it were not clear before, it is now – the reputation and integrity of Scottish football is badly damaged.
“Turning to the SPFL resolution, I am furious at how things have turned out but also at the process used to arrive at decisions.
“At times the information provided by the SPFL could be described as disingenuous at best.
“The SPFL’s decision to roll up complex decisions such as payments to clubs, the ending of the league season and league reconstruction into one single resolution was entirely wrong and in my view a contributing factor in the public fallout we have all witnessed.”
Despite the comments Falkirk are quick to admit that whilst they feel the SPFL have questions to answer over their handling of the debacle, they believe this is a fight they cannot win.
Despite criticising the SPFL’s decision to use prize money as a carrot over clubs, Falkirk have been left hamstrung by the financial implications of a legal challenge to the SPFL’s hurried proposal.
In Deans’ view “we could have reached an agreement on financial payments very quickly” but not having done so has been used to justify “a springboard onto other more complex matters.”
Similarly to Partick Thistle [PTFC], Falkirk are not convinced that legal matters would be financially responsible for a club in their position.
The view of the Bairns is echoed by clubs throughout the country but the same financial burden which hamstrung clubs during the vote is preventing them from raising action to oppose season-ending proposals or league reconstruction.
Rangers claim to have evidence of corruption within the SPFL and as a result have called for an independent investigation into the proposal vote.
The Ibrox club have also called for the immediate suspension of SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster and legal advisor Rod McKenzie as this is carried out [Rangers].
