RANGERS interim chairman Douglas Park has today called for SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster and legal adviser Rod McKenzie to be suspended pending an independent investigation.
The Ibrox club released a statement this afternoon claiming they have been passed "evidence via a whistleblower" which they believe raises serious questions over the SPFL's stewardship of the voting on the resolution that was presented to their member clubs last week.
The statement revealed that Doncaster had refused to speak to Park on the phone and accused the governing body of attempting to "silence legitimate concerns" by sending an email afterwards.
READ MORE: How Premiership clubs have reacted to coronavirus and how they voted on the SPFL resolution
The call comes after Inverness Caledonian Thistle CEO Scot Gardiner revealed that he had seen a copy of the Dundee's "no" voting slip which had been submitted to the SPFL before the 5pm deadline "request" on Friday night.
The SPFL revealed that both Ladbrokes Premiership and Ladbrokes League 1 and League 2 clubs had voted in favour of the resolution to call and end to the lower leagues and give the SPFL board the power to do the same in the Premiership at a later date.
However, they revealed that one club in the second tier hadn't voted and it was delicately balanced 7-2 in favour - with one more "no" vote scuppering the entire resolution.
But Gardiner, speaking to BBC Scotland's Sportsound programme this afternoon, revealed that he believed Caledonian Thistle, Partick Thistle and Dundee had all voted against the resolution.
The Rangers statement read: "Rangers will not be bullied into silence. We believe it is in the interests of all Scottish clubs and supporters that the evidence, which is alarming, be addressed as quickly as possible.
"The voting debacle and the evidence we possess raise serious questions concerning the corporate governance of the SPFL."
READ MORE: Rangers boss Gerrard can’t expect to retain his position unless he lands a trophy soon, says Dodds
Park said: “The lack of leadership and responsibility from the SPFL as a members’ organisation has shocked me. If ever there was a time for complete openness and transparency, it is now. Crucial decisions are being made on the issues of promotion and relegation behind closed doors and without proper time for consideration or debate.
“The farcical conduct of this affair seems to me to bring the corporate governance and business operations of the SPFL into sharp focus. It is an example of an undemocratic culture, which has existed within the SPFL for far too long.
“As a member club, we are disturbed by the evidence that has been presented and feel there is no choice but to call for an independent investigation into this entire matter. Each member of the SPFL board has a duty to its members to ensure that such an investigation is instructed without delay.
“All we ask for is equality and respect. In the past few days, we have become alarmed at a seeming lack of even-handedness and fair play from the SPFL. This is surely unacceptable and, if substantiated, must be remedied.
“Other member clubs, who have seen the evidence we hold, share our concerns.
“We call for the suspension of the SPFL’s Chief Executive, Neil Doncaster and its legal adviser, Rod McKenzie while an independent investigation is conducted.”
“As a member club, we are disturbed by the evidence that has been presented and feel there is no choice but to call for an independent investigation into this entire matter. Each member of the SPFL board has a duty to its members to ensure that such an investigation is instructed without delay.
“All we ask for is equality and respect. In the past few days, we have become alarmed at a seeming lack of even-handedness and fair play from the SPFL. This is surely unacceptable and, if substantiated, must be remedied.
“Other member clubs, who have seen the evidence we hold, share our concerns.
“We call for the suspension of the SPFL’s Chief Executive, Neil Doncaster and its legal adviser, Rod McKenzie while an independent investigation is conducted.”
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