Rangers shock revealed amid cinch controversy as trust now eroded
Graeme McGarry claims that Rangers, Aberdeen, Motherwell and other clubs were shocked to not see any reference to the cinch dispute in the Independent Governance report.
Concerns arise over the SPFL Chairman Murdoch MacLennan’s editing of the report before presenting it to member clubs.
The clubs have jointly written to the board asking for more transparency in these dealings.
McGarry wrote in the Glasgow Times on 8 February: “Criticisms of their governance from Rangers during that row were often painted by the SPFL of being agenda-driven given the acrimony that existed at the time between themselves and the club, but that is a much harder line to push in this instance with such a wide range of signatories to the complaint.
“Herald Sport understands that clubs were shocked not to see any reference to the cinch dispute whatsoever in the version of the report they have seen, with many feeling that it amounts to the SPFL ‘marking their own homework’. The one club who did have input into the report was Aberdeen, but they still hold deep concerns about the way the process was carried out.
“Trust and confidence in the competence of the SPFL leadership has now been eroded to the point that these clubs have felt they had no other choice to take this step, amid wider concern in the lack of a strategy to meet the recommendations put forward by the club-led Deloitte report that was published last year with a view to growing revenue for the Scottish game.”
Rangers have every right to be furious
The lack of transparency and alleged manipulation of the Independent Governance report by the SPFL executive has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the league’s leadership and Rangers have every right to be fuming.
The fact that clubs were not provided with the full report despite multiple requests is deeply troubling, especially considering they funded its creation.
Even Former SPFL CEO Roger Mitchell has been left appalled by this situation and has called for immediate change.
Additionally, the perceived bias in the report’s editing process, with only one club outside of SPFL Board members having input, further undermines its credibility.
Rangers’ concerns during the ‘cinch dispute’ appear validated, as the report allegedly omitted any reference to the contentious issue, suggesting a deliberate attempt to protect the league’s interests rather than address genuine governance issues.
MacLennan cannot continue in his role any longer and it’s good to see Rangers getting support from other clubs as well.
In other Rangers news, a former Liverpool and Everton midfielder has revealed an offer to secure a permanent move to Ibrox.
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