‘It wasn’t like that’ – Gordon Strachan weighs in on Rangers SPFL controversy
Gordon Strachan has jumped to the defence of Dundee following their central role in the controversial SPFL vote that left Rangers calling for a public investigation into the governing body.
The Championship side were essentially left with a deciding say in whether or not the Scottish lower leagues should be curtailed early because of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
That pivotal role in the ballot came after they failed to cast their vote at the same time as each of the other 41 SPFL member clubs.
Despite that discrepancy, the governing body took the decision to publish the result of the other 41 votes – leaving Dundee with full knowledge of how they could impact whether or not the motion passed.
But Strachan believes that the club should not come in for criticism for their role in the debacle.
Speaking to the Totally Scottish Football Show, he said: “I want to remind people that Dundee’s vote makes no difference to how the Premiership has got to finish.
“People think that the vote was one way or the other but it wasn’t like that. The vote was only for when does the money get paid, and do the Championship and the leagues below finish now.
“That was the only vote. The vote now, to see how the Premiership goes, is left with the SPFL board. There’s seven of them and one of them is a Rangers director.
“So when people jumped on saying it was a Celtic or Rangers thing, it wasn’t. It was only a vote for two things.”
Does Strachan have a point here?
Yes and no.
While it is technically true that the vote was primarily aimed at whether or not lower league football should be ended immediately, the former Celtic boss has missed out one key piece of information.
As per the BBC, writing prior to the vote: “The SPFL has recommended clubs vote in favour of its resolution which involves ending the lower leagues early, while doing likewise with the Premiership, only when it becomes clear the season cannot be completed.
“The top flight is left untouched for now in large part because of Uefa’s letter which said associations might be denied places in European competitions if they call leagues early.”
In short, while the ballot might not have been on whether or not the top flight should be brought to an end, it does essentially that it will be in the near future if no other resolution can be found.
The issue Rangers have taken is that based on what we have seen in the lower leagues, Celtic would be crowned champions by default.
In that sense, Dundee’s vote had everything to do with the Old Firm, and to suggest otherwise is slightly misguided.
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