Saying the last couple of weeks has been colourful for Scottish Football would be an understatement.
We are now in a position where we have a Taskforce co-chaired by the heads of two clubs to look at what needs to be done in the Covid 19 landscape right now and into whatever future unfolds.
Representatives of the clubs first convened last Monday and Graham Tatters, Elgin City chairman told BBC Saturday Sportsound that the 2nd division has already agreed unanimously to back 3 leagues of 14 as their preferred option.
On the same show Iain McMenemy, Chairman of Stenhousemuir effectively told us among other things that nothing in Scottish Football is ever easy, and mentioned that he believed the fans should be involved in any process.
Around the same time a very welcome conversation was underway between Les Gray, Taskforce co-chair and Paul Goodwin of the SFSA with Les asking for and welcoming fan input.
Dave Allen Called Our Future Years Ago
His oft quoted “I wouldn’t be starting from here joke” is a remarkable insight into where we find ourselves.
Our game is on the cusp of internecine war following the confusing combination of events we’ve all see playing out.
The hastily convened Taskforce has co-chairs who have also been quoted in the MSM as having different agendas, one for an immediate solution and one for a long-term plan.
Nothing wrong with that, in fact brilliant, we need both because they are interrelated.
Collectively we have to ask not just how do we minimise the economic and social impacts of the pandemic but also how do we start to shape our game for a better future?
Both these needs are right nows and both are the remit of the current Taskforce.
Now is the Time to Circle Our Wagons
This unique, open-ended, revenue-winter hit our clubs unexpectedly and overnight.
It is already brutal and will get worse with no current exit plan and no future certainties.
We know Dave Cormack’s Aberdeen is currently burning £1M per month.
No club has Covid immunity and a world of salary reductions, deferrals furloughed staff, little in the coffers and no exit strategy or road map out is a stark reality.
It’s hard to imagine that footballers have become liabilities rather than assets in a blink of an eye.
But it’s not hard to foresee that the financial stress on our clubs will see casualties.
Never before have we needed inter and intra-club teamwork for the common good.
But not in Scottish Football where an internecine spat is about to flare big time.
Civil War Breaking Out?
The record will show the recent SPFL Good Friday vote got an 80% plus backing vote from the clubs but in reality became a farce as Dundee eventually changed their “casting” vote.
This was paralleled by the “whistleblower” outburst by Rangers interim chairman Douglas Park demanding immediate suspension of Neil Doncaster and Rod McKenzie and an independent inquiry that sort of happened but not to the satisfaction of some.
One week later it rages on in the media with words today like “damning evidence, serious concerns, lack of fair play, coercing and bullying” being the vocabulary fed to the MSM to share with their audiences.
It seems some clubs have become unhappy with how our game is run and want to do something about it, so welcome to our world guys, – us fans have been saying that for a long time.
Our game needs big change but it won’t happen overnight and a pandemic crisis is maybe not the best timing for internecine strife.
Closing Down 2019 – 2020
This season is already ended for all Scottish clubs outside the Premiership.
UEFA didn’t do much to help and could have been more proactive in stopping inter club squabbling but plus ca change.
Most football people I have spoken to (with their self-interest hats off) were not totally happy with the implications of closing the season early and pro rata-ing points to decide champions but pragmatically accept it is the best answer or the least worst solution.
Asked about teams being relegated while having a bona-fide chance of fighting back there is less support and indeed genuine heartfelt pushback.
Some more enlightened leagues like the Lowland League who took the decision to avoid further damage on some of their members at this time through a no relegation policy and a wait and see what’s best are seen as wiser.
What Needs To Be Done Today?
We all know that out of the Budge/Gray Taskforce there will be a few options put on the table.
There is always the status quo of 4 leagues 12, 10, 10, 10.
A 14, 14, 14, setup was discussed and voted on by the current second division clubs last Friday.
Our own similar suggestion published on your SFM was 14, 14 and a bottom league of 16 to keep the integrity of the pyramid.
Two weeks on, a more pragmatic option and one to be considered by all might be to agree no relegation for now and to wait until more is known over the next crucial weeks.
We have time on our hands and no need to rush.
Why not take our lead from the sages at the Lowland League?
As a fan what do you think?
Should we plan for an interim period?
Should it be status quo?
Do we apply parameters (like no relegation) but accept that any other plan has to be kept flexible till more is known and agreed?
Your insights and views are welcome by Ms. Budge, Mr. Gray and their team either on this forum where I’ll read and collate them or if you prefer sent to me at
andrew@scottishfsa.org
What Needs To Be Done for Our Tomorrows?
We live in the real world and that means money is and always will be the prime driver and starting point.
Money is entwined with self-interest, status, power, politics and sometimes greed.
A given is every club will always want more and that is the easiest of several elephants in any room when looking at change to impact positively on the future of our game as a whole.
But maybe, just maybe now is different.
Post Covid many clubs will be on their knees financially and it will be a different world.
Les Gray’s Million Pounds Question For all Fans
No surprise it’s not an easy one
If you were charged with helping to create a sustainable and healthy future for Scottish Football is what would you do?
How would you advise Les, Ann and their Taskforce team about the right moves to make?
Once again insights welcome on SFM or to
andrew@scottishfsa.org
As a starter for 10 some stuff that has come up in previous SFSA fan surveys about our game (in alphabetical order) includes –
Better Communication, Bigger Leagues, Community Involvement, Council Telly live games, Gate Sharing, Grass Roots Investment, Fairness, Family Friendly, Fewer clubs, Integrity, Kids Free, Leadership, Less leagues, No Bigotry, Openness, Outside expertise, Same rules for all, Schools Football, Simplicity, Standing Sections, Summer Football, TV Kick-off times, Regional Lower Leagues, Reserve League, Strict Liability, Transparency, Wholesome Sponsors etc.
The list is not exhaustive. Please feel free to add any others.
Some will be contradictory, some nice to haves but the crucial thing to do is to find the smartest moves and build on them.
We’re responding to Les and Ann in good faith
Never before have we the fans been asked in such an open way.
Collectively we have a short-term end of season issue and a need to set up our game for what comes next which might include an interim period.
The background to any responses you offer is uncertainty exacerbated by growing internecine chaos and increasing vitriol.
I’ll end with some wise and hopeful words by a Taskforce Co- chair
Without openness, transparency and pragmatism we will simply keep making the same mistakes.
Ann Budge
The football finance guru, @swissramble, has recently put together a simplified two page financial summary for each of the EPL clubs. He has now added similar ones for Celtic and Rangers as shown below. They are a useful reference to the key financial numbers from the accounts, although they relate to positions as they stood 10 months ago.
Finloch
Same style high intensity and agenda though.
Please don’t feed.
Reasonablechap – Each plans a bore
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Why not just tolerate a differing opinion instead of pushing for a closed shop?
I’m critical of a governing body/authority, how they went about their business and want to see a meaningful Independent Investigation. This is consistent with the stated common purpose of this community.
“The common purpose of almost all within our community is to hold the football authorities accountable to the fans, something they have avoided for almost 150 years.”
I don’t want to get involved further in defending my involvement and would rather just post on the issues in front of us.
Easyjambo
Nelms Q&A
%%%%%%%%
It seems obvious to me that the SPFL are in the midst of a structured and relatively intense lobbying campaign to effectively close down the resolution well before the 12th of May. This coming Saturday (on Sportsound) there will be a pre-recorded Chris McLaughlin interview of Neil Doncaster.
I note that Chris McLaughlin and Tom English were on last night’s Sportsound programme*. When English mentioned inconsistencies between the Deloitte timeline and what Dundee FC had publicly stated, McLaughlin closed him down quickly. He stated that you CAN’T say anything that puts into question the auditor. That was the matter closed.
The thing is, Tom English wasn’t casting doubt on the integrity of Deloitte. He was trying to raise a valid question that only helped to highlight why an investigation with such a narrow scope wouldn’t provide all the answers. Chris McLaughlin vigoursly closed him down with a spurious argument.
It chimes with Q&A’s where both Q’s and A’s come from the same place, the Doncaster interview will be pre-recorded and Chris McLaughlin is who will be asking the questions.
My opinion on the two journalists mentioned above, is that there is one who wants to get to the bottom of this story and another who doesn’t appear so keen.
*https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08bwtnb
Just to add that the particular conversation I referred to in the previous post begins at 11 mins 14 secs on the link provided.
Donald Trump has stated he’s seen the Rangers dossier but can’t disclose the contents
Phil’s latest is suggesting that TRFC had asked the SPFL for a loan, but the SPFL loan criteria was not complied with – so no loan was forthcoming.
This might explain Ibrox totally losing the plot re: accusations, and a requested investigation and suspensions, etc.
If the SPFL is ultimately the ‘bank of last resort’ and in the Ibrox club’s case, “It’s the Bank that likes to say: Naw!”,
then the only leverage left, (possibly?), relates to this quickly convened meeting tomorrow – to enable TRFC to negotiate some leeway, re: funding from the SPFL, (or the SFA even?).
Give us some cash and we will drop our complaints?
A bit left field I know, but if TRFC is that desperate for cash, why even bother wasting time on SPFL business when your own club is potentially about to sink beneath the waves…?
In other news, I note that David Murray has finally obtained approval from the Scottish Government for a £450m housing development on a greenfield site to the west of Edinburgh between the RBS headquarters at Gogarburn and the city bypass. It would appear that he still has influence in high places.
Rangers offer fans £25 voucher in place of refund if SPFL ends Premiership season early.
………
They ere due at least 3 home games, not much of a refund.
Use it in the shop. A voucher to get rid of last years stock.
StevieBC
Phil and his source(s) have proved to be unreliable.
Whilst cashflow will become a problem for all clubs sooner or later, the timing of this regards his impeccably placed source with SPFL info rings alarm bells, as it comes within a very active and intense PR/lobbying exercise from the SPFL.
In short, I don’t think the story true but appreciate that some will want to believe it.
Easyjambo
Knowing how Sir Duped has managed to navigate stormy waters and come up trumps would help lead us to somewhere meaningful regards finding out how the UK of various tiers operates.
This article in today’s Herald Sport makes, I think, some decent points until he gets on to “teams that have teetered on the brink of financial oblivion over the last 20 or so years”: then dear oh dear!!
https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/18420258.james-cairney-fans-bickering-titles-missing-bigger-picture/
Very long term lurker but first time commenter.
I enjoy reading all the comments and ideas of others yet I've avoided contributing 'til now due to my limited knowledge.
My contribution today is really an idea for the consideration of both the blog and for the author to feed into his organisations survey.
Of all the ideas for the completion or curtailment other than a call for flexibility, few have considered the possibility (likelihood) of restrictions preventing the playing of matches remaining in place into 2021.
My idea, if this is the case, would be a couple of closed door friendlies per team in early January with matches beginning as soon after as possible.
Thereby, play the league season over 2 years. Complete the semi finals and final of the 2020 Scottish Cup quickly then play both of the 2021 Scottish Cup and League Cup with finals close together next May. UEFA could fit in the remaining games from the current Champions League and Europa League competitions.
I know that UEFA will baulk at the loss of revenue but at least it would allow the 2021-22 season to be a fresh start for all and football could do with a fresh start with full FFP throughout and clubs, those that survive, living within their means.
We in Scotland will also have to construct a form of regulation that, once and for all, sweeps away the acceptance of antediluvian bigotry and dumps it in the dustbin of history where it belongs.
One final point, the attitudes and administrators who have presided over the disasters of the last two decades can not be part of that new thinking. We must fully professionalize the executive branch of both the league and SFA. For this to happen, Celtic will have to raise their heads above the parapet and put up with the sniping of the SMSM as the rewards will outweigh the short term pain. This will all be easier to achieve if the club thingy playing out of Ibrox are out of the equation.
Good luck to all the well run clubs and stay safe everyone.
Only Scottish fitba’ could arrange High Noon for 2 o’clock. Apparently the delay was at Sevco’s request, as they haven’t redacted some steenking badges from exhibit “A”, yet. They are not needed at this stage. Reports that we are about to discover whether the whistle-blower is a person, or a train coming, remain unconfirmed.
Evidence of actual evidence is expected to be produced though………Or maybe no….But the statement sweepstake lotto jackpot, is expected to pay out more than the national lottery this weekend, to the lucky winner.
Thanks to all for their messages, both private and public. Really appreciated.
On another planet, I see we are busy
Big Pink, John, please accept my sincerest condolences at this very sad time. Your mother may well be a statistic for this cruelest of Governments but she will always be a shining light in your life and a great loss to all who knew and loved her, I am sure. Don't 'take it on the chin', just let it all out and cry your heart out if that's what you need.
Condolences, too, to all your family and friends.
Take care, stay safe.
I’m sorry for your loss Big Pink. I pray that your mother rests in peace.
BBC Sport Scotland@BBCSportScot
Scottish Premiership clubs have been told that they will see Rangers’ evidence against the SPFL next week after what Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack described as a “productive” meeting of the top-flight clubs.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52506778
easyJambo 1st May 2020 at 18:42
Your link to BBC Scotland
”…Dundee United were represented by Mal Brannigan. However, within a couple of hours, they announced that the chief executive had left his post with immediate effect.”
“””””
And a few mins ago United confirmed Brannigan has quit. Wasn’t helluva lot of point in him ‘attending’ the meeting.
Is there a significant back story?
John Clark 1st May 2020 at 19:09
And a few mins ago United confirmed Brannigan has quit. Wasn’t helluva lot of point in him ‘attending’ the meeting.
Is there a significant back story?
============================
I would have expected Jim Spence to explain that one, but it appears that he is either unaware or unwilling to go public with the reasons.
Jim Spence@JimSpenceSport
Scottish football may not be world class on field…..but off the pitch….Rangers square going everyone….Dundee Hokey Cokey vote….Utd just promoted and all going well and MD suddenly out the door….
Weird! He was quoted only today in the Courier and BBC Gossip page. "American owners’ investment is being smartly managed, says Dundee United chief Mal Brannigan".
What if he's the whistleblower!!!! Haha.
Just as well that there are a lot of supporters of the Queen down Ibrox way because they are being royally shafted in the ST sale . We're on our uppers as well , but at least had the decency to offer cash refunds for unplayed games . A £25 voucher for club store tat doesn't quite cut it .
Paddy, their £25 voucher isn't even spendable in the club shop! That would cost the club too much.
Your boss man at Partick Thistle (cant remember his name) got very high praise on Radio Clyde this evening.
Jim Spence takes aim at TRFC and asks questions of John Nelms and Mark Ogren in his latest column in the Courier.
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/opinion/jim-spence/1304113/jim-spence-undignified-rangers-threatens-scottish-football/
Did I mention that I received this email on 6 April from the FCA? I had damned near forgotten about it myself, it seems so long ago!
I imagine the FCA might be having codiv-19 problems of its own as well as maybe being run off its feet in some way or other with the problems of desperately anxious companies.
I, therefore, am not holding my breath waiting for a reply to come next week!
Complaints Scheme complaints@fca.org.uk
To:j
Cc:Complaints Scheme
Thu, 9 Apr at 11:06
Dear Mr
Thank you for your email.
Your complaint has been assigned to me to investigate. I will update you again in four weeks and, by this time, I hope to be in a position to provide you with a more substantive update.
Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for your continued patience in this matter.
Yours sincerely
Ch …K…….
Associate / Complaints Team / Risk & Compliance Oversight Division
12 Endeavour Square
London
E20 1JN”
And I won’t be calling for anyone to be suspended just yet, or for an Independent Investigation!
I wouldn’t want Donald Findlay to castigate me for departing from my normal way of behaviour!
( And credit to him for his observations about the Ibrox board not behaving like an Ibrox board)
EJ, ‘Page not found’ Deleted?
edit, I found it on The Courier’s website
easyJambo 1st May 2020 at 21:46
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/opinion/jim-spence/1304113/jim-spence-undignified-rangers-threatens-scottish-football/
I think this works better .
Jimbo
I see that now . Worse than I thought .I keep forgetting that they're shameless .
The BBC is reporting that contrary McLennan’s Q&A claims about loans, the SPFL did make advances or loans totaling £300,000 to two clubs in season 2016/17, which correlates with Ann Budge’s recollection.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52508965
The information was in the SPFL’s accounts which covered that season.
I’m annoyed that I didn’t check this myself earlier as I did have an inking that I had read that clubs had received funds more recently than had been suggested in the Q&A.
I thought Jim Spence was better than this.
"The club which, before liquidation, regarded itself as Scotland’s quintessential establishment football institution, is engaged in a war of words with the SPFL, casting aspersions but, as yet, producing no hard evidence."
The club he is talking about is still going through liquidation.
He knows that.
The argument about whether what was received by the two clubs in 2016/17 were “loans” or “advances” doesn’t really bother me that much. What does concern me is the reason that the clubs needed the cash.
According to an SPFL spokesman:
“During season 2016-17, earlier than usual fee payments were made to two clubs, totalling £300,000,” said a spokesman. “These were made following the promotion of Rangers FC to the Ladbroke Premiership. These fee payments followed complaints by three clubs that they had been disadvantaged in the fixturing for that season by not getting three visits from Celtic FC/Rangers FC.
“As a result of the negative impacts on their cash flow resulting from this fixturing anomaly, two of those three clubs requested earlier than normal fee payments totalling £300,000. These fee payments were not loans and were wholly within the amounts budgeted to be earned by those clubs, whatever final league placing was achieved by those clubs that season.”
So three clubs complained that they only had two visits from Celtic and Rangers instead of the three that they had budgeted for. The reason for this was apparently a “fixturing anomaly”.
Are they really saying that the fixtures are normally set up for Celtic and Rangers to ensure that all other clubs will be guaranteed three visits from Celtic and Rangers before the split.
That is an incredible situation for the SPFL to gerrymander fixtures in that way. All clubs should be treated in exactly the same way when it comes to fixtures. By all means schedule derby matches for holiday period and reverse the venues for the equivalent games between same teams for the following season, but that’s about it.
Hearts were scheduled to play both Hibs and Aberdeen twice away from home before the split, this season. Perhaps they should have insisted that they had three home games against those two clubs.
Rangers had just been promoted from the Championship the previous season, so had no priorities in terms of fixture scheduling. The fixtures are normally announced in June, so why were clubs not budgeting for the fixtures as drawn, rather than in anticipation of what they hoped to get.
The SPFL Board appears to have acknowledged both the anomaly and that clubs’ cashflows were impacted, thus were sensitive and accommodating to the situation.
That sensitivity doesn’t seem to be evident when is comes to relegating clubs by means of a vote of other clubs, including those who relieve themselves of such a risk.
If anyone can point me in the direction of the rules that determine such fixture scheduling, then I’d appreciate it.
easyJambo 1st May 2020 at 22:52
'..The BBC is reporting that contrary McLennan’s Q&A claims about loans, the SPFL did make advances or loans.'
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As soon as I read that, eJ, my mind instantly made a distinction between 'an advance' and 'a loan'.
Advances of what you are due are not 'repayable.' – If I'm due my wages on May 10th but am skint today I might get a sub. That sub is not a loan-just an advance payment of monies due, and my wages will be reduced correspondingly.
A repayable loan from my 'friendly' publican ( borrow £50 quid, payback £60) is a horse of quite a different colour.
English is maybe being too loose with language. (And the SPFL, in using terms like 'repaid' (as in the example you cite) may also have been far too casual in the way it uses language)
Were people ( maybe 27 clubs, or even one club, in potential trouble) looking for 'loans' for more than their proper end-of-season entitlement, the excess of which over their final entitlement would have to be repaid?
We don't know.
TRFC may have been seeking a sum of money on loan ( disguised as an 'advance') and the SPFL realising that many other clubs in potential distress might try that tactic too [ I mentioned before that the SPFL itself is, of course, able to borrow monies] may rightly have decided that to go down that road would be fiscally unjustified.
But if the 'smoking gun' is in what Engish has to say, then as evidence to back up the slanderous accusations made against the SPFL board it would be pretty weak, and even the least effective of the QCs you and I have seen in action would have fun with it in open Court.
{And I remember that the legal chap at TRFC is not particularly well-regarded by at least one judge in the Court of Chancery)
I keep an open mind, while accepting that the SPFL made a hames of a whole lot of things.
Andrew
The fork paused on its way to my mouth the other night as my ears picked up your sweet dulcets from Clyde SuperscoreBoard.
Unfortunately my good lady entered the room to praise my cooking just as you were getting into your stride so I missed some of the message that you were trying to get across but I think I got the gist of what I missed from this blog.
What I did get after you signed off from the presenters was a bit of what I might call surprise that supporters might not only want to be involved but, gasp, actually had something to offer.
I would not call it condescending as in they meant to be so, they were being presented with some new thinking and were coming to terms with what you were saying and how you presented it. I’ve heard that kind of response before 🙂
I’m delighted to hear that the idea of consulting fans on the future of the game is taking hold and in answer to your question
” If you were charged with helping to create a sustainable and healthy future for Scottish Football what would you do? How would you advise Les, Ann and their Taskforce team about the right moves to make?”
What I suggest is that we strongly make the point on behalf of the fans that the ONLY source of income that Scottish football can rely on, even the big clubs as commercial income is at an ever growing risk until football as we know it can resume, is the supporters and with no football to offer, the clubs have nothing to sell and depend on fan loyalty.
Now fan loyalty has always prevented any boycott action by supporters even when the action of those running the game has justified it, and we all knew that without a real threat of lost income, nothing will change. Well the real threat has arrived.
What we have through painful human circumstances is the equivalent of a boycott and it gives the same bargaining power that a boycott would. We need to use it and not come to the table as supplicants but as equals.
Both those running the clubs and supporters have a shared desire and depending on the time it takes to end social distancing, that desire is survival. Not reconstruction but survival and that in my opinion should head the agenda.
So with no football to sell for the foreseeable future what can clubs sell their support who are their main income source?
The answer is obvious: a meaningful share in each club and by meaningful I mean one where “share” holders instead become members with a single vote at AGMs where resolutions are debated and passed. This is how Malmo do it.
Malmö FF made the transition from an amateur club to fully professional in the late 1970s under the leadership of club chairman Eric Persson.The club is an open member association, and the annual general meeting is the highest policy-making body where each member has one vote, therefore no shares are issued. The meeting approves the accounts, votes to elect the chairman and the board, and decides on incoming motions. During the successful 2010’s era Håkan Jeppsson was the chairman after taking over after Bengt Madsen in 2010, prior to his sudden death in 2018. The club’s legal status means that any interest claims are made to the club and not to the board of directors or club members. Daily operations are run by a managing director who liaises with the chairman.
With an equity of 497 million SEK the club is the richest football club in Sweden as of 2019. The turnover for 2018 was 343 million SEK.[72] The highest transfer fee received by Malmö FF for a player was 86.2 million SEK (€8.7 million at that time) for Zlatan Ibrahimović who was sold to Ajax in 2001. At the time, this was the highest transfer fee ever paid to a Swedish football club.[73]
The main sponsors of Malmö FF are Volkswagen, Elitfönster AB, Intersport, Imtech, JMS Mediasystem, Mercedes-Benz, SOVA and Svenska Spel.[74] The club also had a naming rights deal with Swedbank regarding the name of Eleda Stadion between 2007 and 2017 when it was called Swedbank Stadion.
Under such an arrangement those running clubs would become truly accountable to individual member supporters and not any wealthy owners, who are now possibly looking for an opportunity to get out of Scottish football, even at Celtic because not only is there no money to be made, keeping their clubs alive will cost them if they wish to continue to stay the course.
Proper supporter representation would also do much to restore the trust in the governance at SFA and SPFL because involving supporters in a meaningful recognised capacity would bring transparency and from there accountability at club and governance level. No more secret 5 Way Agreements, No more LNS shams. No more kicking the Res12 can down the road. No more media led shouts for a narrow SPFL investigation when such huge evidence backed elephants remain in the room and no more lies to shareholders at an AGM.
A membership scheme would have to:
3 Supporters overseas would do the same at same price on basis of being able to watch all games via IPTV with option to attend in person if in UK. (Like Celtic’s overseas season ticket)
4 Supporters who for any reason do not or cannot watch a live game pay a nominal amount to be a member (with or without voting rights?) perhaps with discount on club merchandise (offered to all tiers).
Of course 2 and 3 could not be offered now on the basis of watching a game but the promise that this would happen eventually with new added voting rights and the fear of there being no club around eventually if they do not take up the offer, should be enough to swing the argument for subscribing.
Supporters have the future of Scottish football in their hands, not Les Gray or Anne Budge or Peter Lawwell or whoever is the club recognised “head” and it is a future supporters should not sell cheap.
PS A slot on Off the Ball next?
easyJambo 1st May 2020 at 23:40
'..The argument about whether what was received by the two clubs in 2016/17 were “loans” or “advances”
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I've only just seen this post, eJ. I've been up and down like a yoyo 'sharing' the PC with the missus, and hadn't 'refreshed' before my post of 00.14.
If I am understanding this correctly (?)
One of the clubs in question must have been Hamilton – with Motherwell likely to be the other.
Back in 2016/17, both missed out on home fixtures with Celtic and TRFC in the third round of matches and both ended in the bottom six after the break.
Although the last league game was 21 May, Hamilton (having finished 11th) played on to win the Premiership play-off. Its last game was the 28 May.
Since the SPFL accounts are made up to 31 May, I'd guess that Hamilton did not receive its final fee payment until the beginning of June – hence the advance payment amount showing as outstanding at the end of the financial year.
We already know that the SPFL make a number of advance fee payments to all of the clubs at regular points throughout each season.
Other than inserting an additional, unscheduled round (still based on, I believe, the lowest possible position each could have finished at the time), the nature of the advance payments in question would appear to be the same as every other advance payment.
My understanding is that just prior to lockdown, the SPFL had made a scheduled fee payment – again, based on the minimum league position each club could achieve at the time. It seems to me, highly unlikely that, a fortnight ago, there would have been much scope to make significant fee advances, beyond those already made.
Auldheid 2nd May 2020 at 00:18
————–—————-
You have to be careful when setting up membership schemes. If you are planning to give something tangible in return for the fee, then you will probably have to pay VAT on the fee.
I know that the Foundation of Hearts has been very cautious about any reward schemes for that reason.
Some good insight from Iain McMenemy of Stenhousemuir writing in today’s Scotsman
……………
Iain McMenemy: Project restart’ to get football going seems a bit too rushed
Plan to resume so soon feels like it’s to suit broadcasters, which means it is all just about money
By The Newsroom
Saturday, 2nd May 2020, 7:30 am
It is important that the fans should have a voice when possible reconstruction solutions are being discussed. Picture: SNS Copyright: 2020 SNS GroupAlthough there are no matches being played, football still seems to be talked about just as much.
South of the Border, the talk is around “Project Restart”, the ambitious plan to get football going again in a matter of weeks. Whilst the full details of the plan are yet to emerge, most likely because they are yet to be developed, the plan is likely to involve televised games behind closed doors, therefore, without any fans allowed in the stadium.
Part of me thinks that it would be great to see the game return, but I can’t get away from the famous words of Jock Stein: “Football is nothing without fans”. However, that is perhaps the price we will all eventually have to pay to get football going again.
But is it too soon? Already some players are voicing their concerns about being asked to train and play whilst this virus continues to infect at current rates. The idea of players in masks is probably the most ludicrous of the suggestions to emerge. I’ve also seen figures quoted of £200,000 per team to fund a player testing regime to ensure they are free of COVID-19.
It all seems a tad rushed to me. Football is a sport, it’s a competitive game between two teams that is designed to entertain its fans. It feels like this plan is only to appease the broadcasters, so in fact it’s football for money, not for fans.
Why not wait just a little longer. Once we have the science that supports a position where we are well and truly defeating the virus, then we can get back to football. I concede that this may yet involve playing behind closed doors, but if we have reduced the infection and reproduction rates of the virus, it is safer for players, staff, coaches and the large support team that ensures games go ahead. I hope that is the approach we take in Scotland. But ultimately I hope that we can get back to playing in front of fans before too long.
Football fans also made their voice known this week with the publication of the results of their survey into league reconstruction. Their message was loud and clear. 70 per cent of supporters say they want proper reconstruction as opposed to a quick fix for one season. 84 per cent of fans want to see an end to playing the same opposition four times a season, with a clear preference for enlarged divisions up to 14 or 16 teams. I hope football will listen.
I previously advocated a seat at the reconstruction working group table for supporters. That obviously didn’t happen. However, I understand that the working group has committed to seek opinion from supporters’ groups. That is a positive and I commend Les Gray for making that happen. I’d hope that their views are properly considered and help shape the future of the game.
Football will return and let’s hope it has a fresh format. More importantly, let’s hope that all clubs get through these difficult times. Club finances are taking a hammering and uncertainty hampers the ability to plan ahead.
The continual in-fighting within the SPFL does us no favours either. I’ll refrain from picking sides, and instead I’ll just hope that it ends soon. There are bigger issues out there to worry about and I’d rather we spent our time focusing on ensuring the survival of our clubs, and the eventual return of our game.
There are clearly issues that need to be addressed within our league structures but these should be dealt with in a constructive environment. Any member club should feel empowered to criticise and raise issues of concern, and the league executive should be ready to respond with transparency, openness and a desire to seek resolution.
We have to accept a degree of self-interest in a members organisation in which each member is a club that competes against other clubs. But there are times when we have to also find common ground.
I was invited to take part in a Lowland league podcast this week. The invitation arose as a result of concerns in the Lowland/Highland leagues that their champions have lost out on access to the SPFL playoffs this season due to the season ending prematurely. So at the moment, this means that the reconstruction route is the only one open to them to progress into the SPFL. If that route is closed off too, then that would clearly be a disappointing outcome, but unfortunately, it is one that could happen.
I faced some tough questions, from supporters of teams in the Lowland League who have every right to feel aggrieved. But there are no solutions that satisfy all concerns. There is no structure that fixes everything. There will be losers somewhere along the line. Self-interest and self-preservation will be factors in the debate, there is no point pretending otherwise.
Lowland and Highland League supporters want their interests honoured, so will SPFL club supporters. All of this is before the politics and financial interests that exist in football rear their ugly head too. But while there are these big issues that cause division, there are many others where we have common ground.
We might not get everything fixed right away. The issues that remain when this is all over are hopefully things we can try to pick back up and address at a future point. The virus is here for a while yet, and our way of life will be adversely impacted for some time. Football will be back, but as only one small part of society that will need to find its new way, and that’s something we shouldn’t lose sight of.
easyJambo 1st May 2020 at 23:40
The argument about whether what was received by the two clubs in 2016/17 were “loans” or “advances” doesn’t really bother me that much. What does concern me is the reason that the clubs needed the cash
======================================
I'm not sure where to find it in the rule book EJ, but it's in there. I recall the argument the anomoly causes from the side of the top end of the split. Due to the uneven amount of games to be played, sometimes it pans out as 3 aways and 1 home, as opposed to 2 home and aways each during the normal course of a season. Clubs on the underside of the split, normally budget for being on the receiving end of 2 x 2 visits from Celtic and Sevco.
Whether they should be budgeting for receiving it is another matter, but its a red herring.
I am actually more concerned with why our journalists are such puppets on strings. Trial by media is no trial at all. It's what the law says that counts, and we are all witness to how much disregard these puppets pay to legal outcomes when their strings are pulled. Pay no heed to Uncle Tom.
John Clark 2nd May 2020 at 00:14
====================
It would be great to know the real truth behind the motives of so many involved in this. One particular truth I would like to know is why the BBC are handing their Chief Sports Writer a platform for what seems to now be a personal crusade against the SPFL. What is his motive, and why only now is he desperate for the SPFL to be held to account for something even though Rangers refuse to tell anyone what it actually is? Something just doesn't sit right.
In terms of a truly 'Independent' inquiry I personally don't believe such a thing is possible in Scottish Football.
easyJambo 1st May 2020 at 23:40
The argument about whether what was received by the two clubs in 2016/17 were “loans” or “advances” doesn’t really bother me that much. What does concern me is the reason that the clubs needed the cash.
According to an SPFL spokesman:
“During season 2016-17, earlier than usual fee payments were made to two clubs, totalling £300,000,” said a spokesman. “These were made following the promotion of Rangers FC to the Ladbroke Premiership. These fee payments followed complaints by three clubs that they had been disadvantaged in the fixturing for that season by not getting three visits from Celtic FC/Rangers FC.
“As a result of the negative impacts on their cash flow resulting from this fixturing anomaly, two of those three clubs requested earlier than normal fee payments totalling £300,000. These fee payments were not loans and were wholly within the amounts budgeted to be earned by those clubs, whatever final league placing was achieved by those clubs that season.”
=====================================
This is exactly the kind of arrangement that I suggested should be used to resolve the current short-term financial issues being faced by clubs. A number of posters claimed that this wasn’t possible but clearly it was and had precedent.
The SPFL Board and executive were guilty of both ignoring this option and conflating financial help with league issues and thus leaving member clubs with an unwelcome choice – secure financial assistance but accept something likely unwelcome in any other circumstances.
Shameless but as we know clearly typical of how these people think.
Scottish Football stinks.
Have Sevco submitted an Euro application form by the required cut-off date and is it compliant?…Did Sevco ask for a £2.4m “loan” secured against potential league prize money but with a deferred payback option, meaning a £4.8m money transfer,(inclusive of 2nd place prize monies), with £2.4m repayable at a future date subject to their entitlement?…..Did Sevco ever conjure up the additional £10m they required to see out the season?…..Do Sevco have available finances to settle player remunerations at the end of the agreed wage deferral period?….Are Sevco directors currently taking advantage of government relaxation of the Insolvent Trading laws? Are Sevco on schedule to notify the authorities as to what colour jersey they will compete in next season?…Do Sevco have contingency resources to settle potential court awarded damages made against them?
OMG this journalist lark is easy.
If journalists really want to turn the Sevco funeral into the noisiest cortege in the country, there are easier ways to do so without dragging every other club into it. There is no need to turn it into a mass grave.
Corrupt Official…..and what a story that would be! A real investigative scoop that would highlight this culmination of scandalous behaviour by the two clubs and football authorities going back over ten years.
Who amongst the journalistic cadre has the balls to speak truth to power? Their ongoing silence is a badge of shame.
Scottish Football needs a strong SMSM.
Corrupt official 2nd May 2020 at 10:22
'….this journalist lark is easy…'
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Except that it requires a degree of moral courage and some actual interest in objective Truth: qualities which the general run of SMSM football hacks do not have, as has been demonstrated by the absence of any kind of criticism of SDM, RFC of 1872, and by the acceptance without demur of the living lie that TRFC has been since 2012.
Every man jack of them (with one or two honourable exceptions) has simply shut his mind and ears to the truth -either through personal support of the cheating that went on and/or out of cowardice ,happy to prostitute himself for such gain as he imagines might outweigh the loss of his personal integrity.
Breaking news
Tommy Wright quits/sacked
I was flabbergasted over my cornflakes this morning – at a DR headline.
It succinctly captures;
– the WATP mentality ingrained at Ibrox
– the farce status of Ibrox business operations
– the continuing, blind compliance of the SMSM.
"Rangers commercial chief aims to 'influence government' as he gives replica kit update"
According to today's BBC Gossip page, the Daily Record is reporting that these payments/loans/advances (delete as appropriate) were only able to be made because "Celtic deferred a £300,000 payment to enable the SPFL to pay advances to Motherwell and Partick Thistle in 2017." If true, could that be a reason that the same couldn't be done for all clubs this time around?
Also, if true, wouldn't Anne Budge know about the background if she knew about approving the loan?
Busy day yesterday so just catching up.
Sorry to hear BP’s news. Sad at the best of times but even more so in the current situation. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Higgy's Shoes 2nd May 2020 at 11:23
Breaking news
Tommy Wright quits/sacked
===========================
He'll be lined up for the Northern Ireland job.
From the DR : "Gers are continue to hunt for a new kit supplier for next season, the club’s 150th anniversary (sic), after a judge ordered they couldn’t continue their agreement with Hummel or Elite Group who sold their shirts.
Bisgrove said: “All of our existing contracts within kit and retail will come to a conclusion at the end of the season. That will lead us into a new era and that allows us to move forward with a new partner across kit and retail.”
======================================
I wondered if Mr Ashley knows about that last bit?
Scottish Football needs a more than cut 'n' paste SMSM.
redlichtie 2nd May 2020 at 12:05
From the DR : "Gers are continue to hunt for a new kit supplier for next season, the club’s 150th anniversary (sic), after a judge ordered they couldn’t continue their agreement with Hummel or Elite Group who sold their shirts. Bisgrove said: “All of our existing contracts within kit and retail will come to a conclusion at the end of the season. That will lead us into a new era and that allows us to move forward with a new partner across kit and retail.”
=============================
Ach you know the Sevvies Red. They can never get a word in at the best of times, and he probably got cut off mid-sentence.
That will lead us into a new era and that allows us to move forward with a new partner across kit and retail, subject to them undercutting the Sports Direct matching offer
redlichtie 2nd May 2020 at 12:05
Confirmed on the TRFC website
https://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/commercial-update/
EJ's post suggests that TRFC has abandoned capitalisation. Have they realised that capital letters were a Roman construct to be abjured in the interests of Staunchness (or staunchness?).
easyjambo
Just goes to show how easy it is to write guff/fake noos when you put your mind to it.
As the world’s most successful football club wrt to deflection, I don’t think it will be too long before the ‘ba’ (which is currently ‘in the slates’) will be well and truly burst.
SEVCO must be dreading, in spite of their protestations (!), a playing end to the season.
IMHO that is.
UTHoops
It would be great to know the real truth behind the motives of so many involved in this. One particular truth I would like to know is why the BBC are handing their Chief Sports Writer a platform for what seems to now be a personal crusade against the SPFL. What is his motive, and why only now is he desperate for the SPFL to be held to account for something even though Rangers refuse to tell anyone what it actually is? Something just doesn’t sit right.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Tom English is simply doing his job.
In this case, trying to hold power (the SPFL) to account.
Don’t forget, this site is primarily supposed to be about holding Scottish football governing authorities to account.
I get why many will criticise Rangers for not releasing the evidence earlier but they have announced it will given to the clubs next week. Personally, I’d have liked to have seen it released earlier as well.
It’s perfectly logical to be critical of Rangers regards timing and be in favour of holding the SPFL to account.
RedLichtie
This is exactly the kind of arrangement that I suggested should be used to resolve the current short-term financial issues being faced by clubs. A number of posters claimed that this wasn’t possible but clearly it was and had precedent.
The SPFL Board and executive were guilty of both ignoring this option and conflating financial help with league issues and thus leaving member clubs with an unwelcome choice – secure financial assistance but accept something likely unwelcome in any other circumstances.
Shameless but as we know clearly typical of how these people think.
Scottish Football stinks.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Agreed
They’ve been caught in a lie(s).
Higgy’s Shoes 2nd May 2020 at 11:23
Breaking news
Tommy Wright quits/sacked
All speculation, rumour and innuendo on Saints site(s) at this time. No official statement from the board.
I don’t know……………….Nobody knows!!
Following a pretty dismal start to the season he managed to put together a fairly impressive squad that was gelling well and really coming on a game in the months prior to the shut down. He may well be thinking that that has all gone now and is simply not up for starting from scratch again at McDiarmid if/when, football eventually returns this year.
Has about 2 years to run on his contract but, there has been an inkling amongst some fans that maybe he was ready for a change.
Of course as mentioned earlier, there is the NI job.
easyJambo 2nd May 2020 at 12:20
…Furthermore, Rangers will begin the 2020/21 football season with a new kit and retail operations partner, following the conclusion of all existing contracts. James Bisgrove, Director of Commercial and Marketing said: “The club is incredibly excited to introduce its new kit & retail partner to Rangers supporters world-wide imminently. This represents a clean slate and marks the start of a new era in the club’s commercial retail operations…
____________________________-
Two thing strike me about that part of their statement, strike me but don't surprise me.
We already knew that their existing contracts had come to a 'conclusion', though not in the way such a conclusion is normally reached outside of court. They have also given a complete body-swerve in the statement to the ongoing SDI/Ashley case.
Secondly, I doubt very many clubs, or companies, release the news that they have a new business partner before they feel able to give it's name. Kind of takes the gloss off the big announcement.
It's almost as though the club have some season tickets to sell and are desperate to put out 'good news' without actually committing themselves to naming names that might lead to further legal action from a rather litigious enemy of the people.
RedLichtie
From the DR : “Gers are continue to hunt for a new kit supplier for next season, the club’s 150th anniversary (sic), after a judge ordered they couldn’t continue their agreement with Hummel or Elite Group who sold their shirts.
Bisgrove said: “All of our existing contracts within kit and retail will come to a conclusion at the end of the season. That will lead us into a new era and that allows us to move forward with a new partner across kit and retail.”
======================================
I wondered if Mr Ashley knows about that last bit?
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Interesting rumours starting to come through (via poster on FF who has a near perfect record wrt info). It boils down to the large dark shadow of Mr.MASH to have been metaphorically removed from the clubs retail operation. No details of how.
I realise this will be met with scepticism and that would be understandable but given the record of source reliability, I wouldn’t discount it.
%%%%%%%%%
ps. Doncaster on Sportsound (live)
Live because of what looks like damage control re advances/loans. Earlier in the week, Chris McLaughlin had said it would be a pre-recorded interview.
Will only take questions from one person (ie. doesn’t want Tom English asking questions).
I have spoken about football allegiances and giving thumbs-up and thumbs-down. I fully understand that those with different footballing views will choose one or the other however I find it incredibly sad that one or two posters appear to lack any basic human level of respect when responding to a number of recent non-footballing posts.
I know that TRFC and SDI were advised by Lionel Persey to seek a settlement through mediation. Given the lack of any information relating to further hearings, then it is entirely possible that mediation has happened.
Lets say that a figure of £3m, £5m, or whatever, was the agreed amount for SDI to walk away, including completely forgoing the matching agreement.
If TRFC was then able to get an up front payment from a new retail partner to match the settlement figure, then it would be a no cost option for the club and allow them to make a fresh start. I don’t know how such transactions would be accounted for, if at all, within the club’s annual report, so we may never know what was involved in the settlement.
Edit: An alternative scenario would be that TRFC has approached a new supplier and the SDI is not prepared to match the agreement. That would of course leave the court action ongoing.
The press release appears to involve use of a new tense, the TRFC Future Perfect, detectable by the presence of the adverb 'imminently'. This signals all multiverse waveforms will collapse into the best of all possible futures, Rangerswise. It's usage, as always, is conditional on the urgent sale of all season tickets.
Easyjambo
I wonder if Dave King having stepped down from the role of Chairman has altered the way SDI/Ashley might consider an offer.
Another thought is how he views his involvement in football. He seems to be seriously considering selling Newcastle Utd.
Edit
Your alternative scenario is plausible but again it would need Ashley to back down and/or a new company to make a very good offer when it probably doesn’t need to.
https://twitter.com/rangerstaxcase/status/1256580747814514693?s=21
Impecable timing.
EJ
…. or the new kit supplier is Sondico and the retail partner is Sports Direct.
https://www.sportsdirect.com/sondico-fundamental-polo-t-shirt-junior-boys-620026#colcode=62002650
Seems the most likely scenario.
Ex Ludo
Impecable timing.
Text of RTC tweet
Journalists. If you are happily taking leaks and leads from shady PR people but not demanding they give you the full text of the resolution Rangers* wanted the SPFL to present for a vote, you are just a shill.
%%%%%%%%%%%%
That infers that RTC is in possession of or at least seen said text.
That being the case, I’d ask RTC to publish it. Otherwise it’s simply one mans shady PR people against another mans fan on twitter.
Avatarreasonablechap 2nd May 2020 at 15:05
Ex Ludo Impecable timing. Text of RTC tweet Journalists. If you are happily taking leaks and leads from shady PR people but not demanding they give you the full text of the resolution Rangers* wanted the SPFL to present for a vote, you are just a shill. %%%%%%%%%%%% That infers that RTC is in possession of or at least seen said text. That being the case, I’d ask RTC to publish it. Otherwise it’s simply one mans shady PR people against another mans fan on twitter.
————
Not correct. He is not claiming to have seen the resolution, nor, indeed, is he saying there is anything wrong with the resolution, itself. He is castigating the SMSM though, for, once again, accepting everything that their favoured club says without question and reporting what the club wants them to report like the lapdogs they are.
In other words, they are just shills.
Do you agree with him or do you think it is right that 'journalists' should just accept everything they are given from one particular source and publish it as though factual?
Help with maths:
Clubs have already had interim payments
' The top three in the Premiership – Celtic, Rangers and Motherwell – will receive £395,000 plus VAT.
The rest of the top-flight clubs will get £157,500 plus VAT.' BBC 26 March 2020
Any further advance payments, if advanced at all, would surely need to be calculated on a 'worst case' scenario. 'Worst case' would involve no further points won on the pitch, optimum possible performances from league rivals, plus an admin event. This brings us back to OC/NC territory. -15 would leave TRFC still 2nd; -25 would drop them to 5th. It's not so much the difference in prize money (£717000) – not to be sniffed at, but probably not decisive. It's when Doncaster gets his calculator out and says 'Make your mind up lads, OC or NC?' that things get interesting.
Just listening to Sportsound and see that Neil Doncaster confirmed that those fee payments of £150k were made to 2 clubs (M'well and Thistle) in 2017. He also confirms that at the same time, Celtic deferred an equivalent £300k of their fee payment due.
He also states categorically that loans could not be made because of the potential for non-repayment by some clubs failing due to Coronavirus.
Ally jambo
I didn’t say he did claim to see it. I used the word inferred.
I disagree with your interpretation.
If you just want to call out journalists in a general sense then there is no need to refer to a particular text.
He is pointing to a particular text and is suggesting that journalists have reported inaccurately due to not having seen it in full, nor being partiularly interested in pursuing it. To suggest that, would infer he has seen it or is going by the word of a 3rd party for information
Shills
Scottish fitbaw hacks are amongst other less than wonderful things, often shills. But it most certainly goes in various directions.
reasonablechap
2nd May 2020 at 15:05
Ex Ludo
Impecable timing.
Text of RTC tweet
"Journalists.
If you are happily taking leaks and leads from shady PR people but not demanding they give you the full text of the resolution Rangers* wanted the SPFL to present for a vote, you are just a shill. "
That infers that RTC is in possession of or at least seen said text.
That being the case, I’d ask RTC to publish it. Otherwise it’s simply one mans shady PR people against another mans fan on twitter.
The tweet infers nothing. It is reasonablechap who is inferring. The RTC Tweet implies that the journalists should be able to infer that the PR people know somebody who may know somebody who has seen the text.
Hope this helps
It was public knowledge that RIFC/TRFC was financially desperate – even before the lockdown.
There must be a predefined ‘tipping point’, you would think, when the Ibrox company/club actually issues a 100% honest statement?
Something like: “the club has minimal cash and needs your help urgently – so please, please buy your ST’s NOW or you may not have a club to support.””
Unless of course, an insolvency event at Ibrox is the preferred / pre-agreed course of action…?
Mibbees the SPFL is not being as ‘accommodating’ as they could be… as the SPL was in 2011/12?
Re RTC
If only he/she had an established history of proving that journalists always seemed to provide one side of the story, and yet remarkably it consistently appeared to be from the same side….
Same method every time.."I thought this blog was.." "I am trying to put an alternative blah blah" ,"Oh! well why dont you engage me in a civilized .." ah ffs just do one.Your only purpose here is to disrupt and antagonise( you succeeded). At least you're more transparent than the SFA.
re my help with maths post at 15.39
This is without making allowances for the clubs below TRFC picking up points – that's the help needed bit. I've no idea what combinations of other team's results would most disadvantage TRFC. 42 points max from a pre-split admin could see them missing the split as teams down to Killie could match that total.
Reasonablechap@15.05
Inferences, inferences everywhere but no evidence to be seen.
It seems to me that it is perfectly reasonable for RTC or anyone else to ask journalists to not just accept press releases and statements at face value. This was the core of the problem in and around 2010 when Rangers (IL) were in trouble with the Taxman and none of the SMSM would touch the story. I’m sure, being a reasonable chap, that you will agree with me and acknowledge that RTC did Scottish football a huge favour by exposing what was going on and pointing up the ineffectiveness of the SMSM?
Perhaps not since you’re not a fan like me.
John Clark 2nd May 2020 at 00:14
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easyJambo 1st May 2020 at 22:52
‘..The BBC is reporting that contrary McLennan’s Q&A claims about loans, the SPFL did make advances or loans.’
“”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
As soon as I read that, eJ, my mind instantly made a distinction between ‘an advance’ and ‘a loan’.
……………………….
So far ahead of the Game JC.
FYI, it was reported (by the DR) that the Rangers[sic] resolution was as follows:
The "and instructed" phrase is important – because it appears to attempt to remove the board's power to take steps to ensure that each prospective borrower would be in a position to make repayment if necessary.
Of course, if the league positions were subsequently called as is, no repayments would be necessary.
However, if the leagues were to restart at a later date (say in July/August), the final positions are likely to change and some clubs would have been overpaid.
With the probibility of multiple insolvency events over the next few weeks and months, it's possible not all clubs will survive until that 'final' decision is made. Many may not be in a position to restart the season and, at the very least, their final positions could ultimately be significantly lower than where they are placed now. Failing to finish the season may even mean expulsion and the loss of some or all entitlement to prize money.
As I read it, the "and instructed" phrase was incompetent – as it would place the board in breach of its fiduciary duty.
Without that phrase, the resolution became largely meaningless as the board has always had the authority to provide loans.
The question then centres around how many clubs would have qualified for a loan? How many would have been able and/or prepared to put forward personal guarantees? Could the SPFL members have confidence that all loans of greater value than the eventual prize money would be repaid?
Without the "and instructed" phrase, loans would have been be available for clubs that were in a decent financial position.
Clubs, already on their arses, simply wouldn't have qualified.