NEIL DONCASTER says that he remains focused on delivering for all 42 clubs in the SPFL, and insisted that all of the clubs are pulling in the same direction for the good of the Scottish game despite recent disagreements between Rangers and the league’s governing body.
Ibrox chief executive Stewart Robertson has accused the SPFL of underselling Scottish football in the latest broadcasting deal with Sky Sports, while there was a long-running stand-off last season after Rangers refused to use the branding of main league sponsor cinch.
Doncaster believes though that the wounds from those feuds can be healed, despite Rangers being the only club not to vote in favour of the extension with Sky.
“That’s a matter for that club and clearly I can’t go into the identity of that club or indeed speculate to the reasons why they didn’t wish to support that process,” Doncaster said.
“That’s a matter for them, what we need to be focused on is doing our best for all 42 clubs, and that remains my focus.
“We have a very ambitious but clear target that has been set, to get to £50m distributed as fees to clubs. We welcome that target, that ambition, we embrace it and are excited by it.
“I think today’s announcement is a very important and very significant first step on the way to achieving that target.
“I absolutely believe if you look at the 42 crests up there [on the wall of the SPFL boardroom], the vast majority are all pulling in the same direction.
“The result of the vote perhaps indicates that, but equally, I’m not naïve, and we understand that the key benefit the league brings is not purely organising competitions that are vibrant and exciting as is traditionally the case in the SPFL, but it is also about maximising the revenue for clubs that can be generated by the competition.
“I would like to think that today’s announcement demonstrates the success we’ve had in doing that.
“We’ll be releasing our accounts shortly, and again, it will for others to judge how successful we’ve been.”
