THE chief executive of the Scottish Premier League, Neil Doncaster, has refused to declare himself as a candidate to take over the running of the Scottish Professional Football League.
The new governing body will officially come into existence on June 27 when there is a formal merger of the SPL and the Scottish Football League at a meeting of all 42 member clubs. Chief executives themselves cannot be merged, of course, and that means either Doncaster or the SFL's David Longmuir will miss out. Unless the yet-to-be-formed nine-man board of directors decides to appoint someone entirely different, that is.
Doncaster is seen as the frontrunner but declined to publicly state his case yesterday. "I think it's very easy to make this about individuals and it mustn't be," he said. "This must be about what is in the best interests of the 42 clubs. Ultimately, decisions on such matters will be left to the board and that will be decided on June 27. This must not be about individuals, and anyone who tries to take it down that line should know that it should absolutely be about the board, on the day, making their decision.
"I understand the interest [from the public in who gets the job]. I understand that you've got two sets of staff. But that is why it is absolutely essential that we don't try to pre-empt anything and that those decisions are made by the new board, as and when they are appointed."
On Wednesday, the SFL members voted their organisation out of existence, some reluctantly, to give birth to the SPFL. Doncaster's urge to present that as a new dawn for Scottish football – another one, that is – was soon compromised by the news of Hearts' latest crisis. He refused to let it eclipse the previous day's historic vote.
"I don't think it takes away from the importance of the decision taken yesterday. Following the unanimous agreement of the SPL clubs, yesterday was a momentous day. It has been long recognised by most people, certainly by supporters, but also recognised by sponsors, that what Henry McLeish recommended in his independent review of the Scottish game – one league body – should be put in place."
Some have described the "merger" as more of a takeover by the SPL. "I do see it as a merger between the two bodies," said Doncaster. "You will have representation from all 42 clubs, each club having one vote within the set-up. You will have representation for all those professional clubs. So, absolutely, it is a merger: a single league representing all professional clubs."
It will be at that meeting of the 42 clubs on June 27 that a new nine-man board will be established, with a chief executive, a chairman and one independent director, three representatives from the SPL, two from the First Division, and one to represent all of the Second and Third Division clubs. That meeting will address numerous other issues including the names of the four divisions next season – expected to be the Premiership, Championship, League One and League Two – and even what trophies they will contest.
It is believed the current sponsor of divisions one, two and three, Irn Bru, may be interested in extending its deal to cover the new four-division system. The top flight now has no title sponsor after the end of Clydesdale Bank's backing. "I've spent my season in football refusing to make predictions about anything, I believe that's the right approach," said Doncaster. "Let's continue to work with those people who have expressed an interest in working with professional football and see where we go."
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