BBC pundit Michael Stewart has taken to Twitter to criticise Rangers but also to back their call for an independent investigation to establish the truth amid the ‘war of words’ in Scottish football.
It has been another dramatic day for the game amid the global health crisis, with more blows traded.
On Sunday morning, Rangers interim chairman Douglas Park hit out at the SPFL while also backing under fire Gers managing director and SPFL board member, Stewart Robertson [Rangers.co.uk].
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster then appeared on BBC Radio Sportsound and batted away allegations of bullying, only for Inverness Caledonian Thistle to contradict his comments just hours later [ictfc.co.uk].
Ahead of an EGM scheduled for Tuesday, Stewart is now supporting an independent investigation as a way of defusing the situation but is continuing his criticism of Rangers’ approach.
“One thing is clear this war of words in Scottish football is not going to go away anytime soon,” he wrote on Twitter. “Perhaps the only route through it all is, in fact, an independent inquiry, at least then there can be no complaints once it is finalised and it can bring some closure.”
“I genuinely don’t believe the SPFL acted in bad faith or were up to something, as they’ve been accused of, I think they made a poor decision by tying everything together in the resolution. Rather than going through things stage by stage.
“Rangers behaviour since then has completely undermined some of the valid criticisms they and many others have. Their conduct has only served to widen the chasm between the factions.”
Verdict
It seems momentum is gathering behind Rangers’ resolution the closer we get to Tuesday’s EGM.
The club’s allegations of SPFL wrongdoing were being dismissed out of hand by many a few weeks ago but now that multiple clubs across the league pyramid have spoken out, more individuals are coming round to the idea.
It seems Stewart couldn’t resist adding a couple of caveats to his call, though.
It’s pretty remarkable that, even after Caley Thistle’s statement, the former Hearts midfielder believes the SPFL are guilty only of misjudgement and not misconduct.
His continued his criticism of the Gers is less surprising, though. The club have put their reputation on the line in an attempt to improve the governance of the game and as a result, are an easy target.
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