Rangers and the SPFL could be on course for another legal row.
The Ibrox club took the league chiefs to court in 2021 to prevent the SFA from ruling on their dispute over the terms of the SPFL’s sponsorship deal with used car dealership cinch. They claimed that an existing contract with then chairman Douglas Park’s car business meant Rangers should be excluded from that agreement.
The Light Blues came out on top last year when the Ibrox side were not included in a new deal the SPFL agreed with cinch. Now there has been a suggestion that Rangers will refuse to join in with the league’s new Glen’s Vodka sponsorship contract, which starts at the beginning of next season.
Rangers have reportedly told the governing body that they believe they no longer need to honour any sponsorship deal brought in by chief executive Neil Doncaster, chairman Murdoch MacLennan and legal advisor Rod McKenzie and that they want all three men removed from office. However, the SPFL are determined to ensure that Rangers take part in the Glen’s deal, insisting that they are legally bound to do so.
A Hampden source said: “The Glen’s deal is one which has certain central properties and it then has an opt-in for clubs who wish to do branded spirits products – whisky, vodka, gin etc. What Rangers are now trying to say is that, because of the outcome with cinch, they aren’t required to provide properties. However, the reality is that they are obliged to do so.
“The outcome which was eventually reached regarding the cinch contract was in respect of that alone and does not apply to other sponsorship situations. Our understanding is that Rangers know that they have to participate in this, that it has been properly voted through and that all the necessary boxes have been ticked. Whether or not they decide to comply with the new Glen’s deal only time will tell. It will operate from next season and, if Rangers choose not to take part then we’ll just need to wait and see what happens.”
There is a feeling at Hampden that Rangers – who have been gunning for Doncaster, MacLennan and McKenzie since the 2019/20 season was ended early due to the Covid pandemic. The source added: “The deal with Sky Sports helped because it brought increases in value and better security for the clubs in the medium to long term.
“Now Neil’s been working with the newer owners to find new ways in which to promote the Scottish game commercially and, from a PR perspective, better ways. That may include working together with the SFA on certain projects. Up until recently the SPFL – and the SPL before that – had jealously guarded their commercial deals and not put them into a package alongside the SFA.”
