A Rangers fan has started a petition to have Neil Doncaster removed from his role with more than 12,000 signature in under 24 hours.
The fan-launched petition has been widely shared on social media and comes following a Rangers statement that claims a whistleblower provided them with allegations that the vote on how to end the Scottish Championship, League One and League Two was not carried out fairly.
Rangers have called for SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster to be suspended following the governing body’s vote on how to end the season.
READ MORE: SPFL chairman Murdoch MacLennan calls on Rangers to provide "compelling evidence" or withdraw claims
It comes after the SPFL submitted a resolution on Wednesday that would finish the three lower leagues as they stand. A decision on the Premiership would be taken at a later date if it was passed.
The Rangers statement read: “We have been presented with evidence via a whistleblower that raises serious concerns surrounding the SPFL’s processes relating to its stewardship of the voting on the resolution presented to member clubs.
“Rangers’ Interim Chairman, Douglas Park, attempted to discuss this evidence with SPFL chief executive, Neil Doncaster, who initially refused to do so. The SPFL followed up that call with an e-mail, which we believe was a thinly disguised attempt to silence legitimate concerns.
“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.”
Park added: “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.
“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.”
SPFL chairman Murdoch MacLennan is concerned about Rangers’ allegations over the stewardship of the governing body’s vote on how to end the season and has called on them to provide some evidence.
MacLennan wants Park to come forward with the evidence or withdraw his allegations ahead of an SPFL board meeting next week.
“It is extremely concerning that Rangers have chosen to make a number of very serious allegations against the SPFL, its corporate governance, its culture, its office-bearers and its business operations,” he said in a statement.
“In the often-heated atmosphere of Scottish football, rumour and misinformation can very quickly reach fever-point.
“However, allegations of a lack of even-handedness and fair play go to the very integrity of the league and I would expect Rangers interim chairman Douglas Park to present compelling evidence to back up his claims, or to withdraw them.
“I anticipate that the SPFL Board will convene early next week to discuss a wide variety of issues and I will be writing to Mr Park asking him to urgently communicate any and all information he possesses in order that the board can take whatever steps are necessary.”
Inverness chief executive Scot Gardiner says he has seen a copy of their vote and also received a WhatsApp message from Drysdale.
Gardiner gave a detailed account of the state of play, saying on BBC Sportsround: “The three clubs were pretty solid. Partick Thistle, ourselves and Dundee had all spoken openly and said we could not vote for this resolution.
“Thistle sent their voting slip in at 14.52. At 16.24 we received Dundee’s voting slip signed and dated and we all received the photograph of the voting slip signed and dated.
“At 16.39 I signed and dated our voting slip and I published that on the group.
“At 16.52 we got a message from Dundee’s club secretary which says, ‘DFC vote submitted’. That is the fact of the matter as far as we were all concerned. Thereafter we went through the rabbit hole.
“I was quite relaxed because I thought it was an error because it was submitted. We received the message at 18.07 saying their vote wasn’t received but gave us his “solemn word” that it was sent.
“At that stage we were told that he had bee instructed to hold off from resubmitting their vote.
“It is a radio silence, we have no idea what is going on now. We are now all in the dark. There is only one club that knows and the people who spoke to Dundee know what happen. But none of us know.”
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