Sport : Football

SPL MEET UNDER BOYCOTT THREATS

29th April 2012, 01:53pm

Bet with SkyBet  Scottish Premier League. Click here to bet.

Sandy Jardine: Says fans could act

Sandy Jardine: Says fans could act

Scottish Premier League clubs will vote on financial fair play proposals on Monday under the threat of retribution from Rangers supporters.

Celebrated former Rangers player Sandy Jardine, who still works for the club, has warned that fans were ready to take "appropriate action" against any clubs and organisations who they feel are acting unfairly towards them.

Although there were few details on what was deemed unfair action and what any response might be, fans' groups are ready to boycott away grounds to hit rival clubs financially.

Speaking after a meeting of the Rangers Fans Fighting Fund at Ibrox on Saturday, Jardine said: "We will wait to see what the SPL and the SFA do with the supposed sanctions and, after that, we as a body will take appropriate action against either the governing bodies or the individual clubs we feel have been detrimental to Rangers Football Club.

"There is nothing off the table, we will wait and see what the SFA and SPL do.

"They might not take any action, which is great. But if they do then we will address these actions in an appropriate manner."

The potential new regulations were composed in the wake of the Ibrox club's descent into administration in February amid a potential debt of £134million, the final figure depending on the outcome of a tax tribunal.

Rangers, who owed money to several SPL colleagues and English and foreign clubs, were docked 10 points this season but under the proposals, any club subject to an insolvency event would be deducted at least 15. If the Ibrox club remain in administration at the start of next season, they would be docked a third of this season's tally.

New rules would also hit so-called 'newco' clubs, should they be permitted to take over a club's SPL share.

Such a route out of Rangers' debt problems is favoured by American Bill Miller, the favourite to acquire preferred bidder status.

The new rules would see Miller's Rangers docked 10 points for two seasons and lose 75% of their SPL income for three years.

Miller's bid remains conditional on seeking comfort and clarity from the SPL and SFA, who are set to hear an appeal against a £160,000 fine and 12-month transfer embargo imposed on Rangers by their judicial panel.

Miller's plans could also fall by the wayside over employment law which states that employees would not be obliged to transfer to a new company, making an exodus of first-team players a strong possibility.

And there were suggestions this weekend that a transfer embargo would prevent a new Rangers registering players from the current club, leaving Miller with a stadium and training ground but no players, although such a scenario appears far-fetched.

The SPL agenda also includes plans to change the voting structure to a 75% majority away from the current layered approach which sees major change needing an 11-1 majority.

With Celtic firmly opposed and the 10 non-Glasgow clubs in favour, the issue could be used for leverage in the talks over sanctions affecting Rangers.

Although the SPL proposals could finish off Miller's newco plans, which most Rangers fans are opposed to, the supporters groups appear more angry towards clubs and bodies looking to punish the club's financial mismanagement.

Jardine, who led a march of an estimated 7,000 Rangers fans to Hampden to protest against SPL sanctions, said: "There is a feeling in the supporters' group that they have been kicked that much, that if we have to we will go to the Third Division."

Bet with SkyBet  Scottish Premier League. Click here to bet.

Football Videos

    Transfer News - 22nd May

    Transfer News - 22nd May

    22-May-2013

    Kate Riley brings you all the latest football transfer news.

    Whelan not nervous over Martinez

    Whelan not nervous over Martinez

    22-May-2013

    Wigan chairman Dave Whelan says Roberto Martinez will make a decision on his future in the next 24 hours.

    Champions League on iPad

    Champions League on iPad

    22-May-2013

    Make sure you check out the new Sky Sports 360 feature during the Champions League final on iPad, where you can view all the highlights from multiple camera angles.

    Falcao shrugs off move talk

    Falcao shrugs off move talk

    22-May-2013

    Radamel Falcao insists he is not thinking about a move away from Atletico Madrid.

    Sky Bet

      • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

    Facebook Favourites