Neil Doncaster puts Rangers-biased Tom English in his place

Neil Doncaster put both the Rangers and Tom English in their place as he is clearly not amused by the allegations made against him.

When it comes to loans, advances and polls the SPFL execs have been knocking it out the park this week with anyone who accuses them of not playing by the rules.

We’ve already had a detailed explanation when the media questioned Murdoch MacLennan’s words about the SPFL not having made any loans since 2013.

Neil Doncaster then followed that and his TV interview earlier this week with a brief but stern appearance on BBC Sportsound on Saturday afternoon. Neil couldn’t have been clearer in putting the BBC and Tom English in their place on the show.

Neil opened by saying people are mistaken, no loans were approved or made since 2013. He restated the reasons an advance was made, as clarified by Mr MacLennan earlier these were advance on payments due.

Those advances were paid after the clubs invoiced the league for the payments. The payments were subject to VAT and were made when the invoices were received, with, he confirmed, Celtics support in deferring money due to them.

Odd isn’t it, VAT, invoices, not money the clubs need to repay. Not sounding much like a loan is it?

Neil went on to make a few more killer points as he batted back BBC questions:

"“Tom referred to loans or advances, whatever you want to call them.“There is a big difference and it’s important to make the distinction here.“It is unequivocally the case that the SPFL did not make loan payments to clubs in season 2016/17.”"

When more questions were posed on advances for the final payments this season, Neil explained that these were subject to final positions in the league, which had not been decided. In fact if, as remained possible at that point, the season were declared null and void, there would be no further payments due at all, and some clubs may have been overpaid already. which is where the credit risk of aloan came in and why you can’t advance monies that aren’t certain to be paid.

It’s really an impossible situation until league positions are finalised. No other club has come up with any alternative solutions since. And Neil blasted those who were raising issues as being unhelpful and stopping the SPFL getting on with the work they should be doing to help clubs.

Lastly – Has he seen any evidence of his wrongdoing yet as alleged by Rangers? Does he know what is in the dossier?

"“I’m hearing that this alleged dossier of evidence is due to be circulated this week. We look forward to seeing what’s in it because the sooner we can get this dealt with and move on the better.”"

Those were Neil’s words about the alleged evidence and dossier, not his or anyone else’s views of the club raising the allegations. Although now it’s been mentioned, one can only wonder.