Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Steven Mair

Chris Sutton blasts Rangers 'deflection tactics' as he bemoans Ibrox Groundhog Day

Record Sport columnist Chris Sutton claims it's time for Rangers to "put up or shut up" as the independent investigation row rumbles on.

Rangers submitted a Members' Requisition to the SPFL with the support of Stranraer and Hearts to call an EGM where clubs will be asked to support or oppose an independent review into the vote to end the Scottish football season.

The Championship, League One and League Two were all finalised with the Premiership given the provision to follow their lead if games cannot be played - which looks increasingly likely.

Rangers have accused the SPFL of bullying and have promised to show member clubs evidence of such behaviour next week.

And Sutton insists it's about time the Ibrox club presented their dossier if they want the support necessary from other members of the league.

In an interview with Scottish Football Extra, the BT Sport pundit said: "It's like Groundhog Day.

"Rangers, massive deflection tactics. Any old excuse to deflect from what's happened on the pitch.

"I'm sick of the whole thing. If they have evidence, and I think Roy MacGregor said last week, put up or shut up.

"If they have evidence they may get clubs on their side.

"But if they're going to keep quiet, as they have done so far, then this isn't going anywhere. That's plain to see."

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster refused to grudge the three clubs that called for the EGM despite chairman Murdoch MacLennan previously branding an independent investigation as "wholly unnecessary and inappropriate".

Doncaster said: "As things stand, those three clubs have their right to call for the EGM, they've exercised that right, and it's up to the 42 clubs of the SPFL to decide whether they will go down the route that was proposed by those three clubs and accept their suggested resolution or not.

"If sufficient clubs want to go down the route that was proposed by the three clubs then that will happen.

"But certainly, eight of the nine SPFL board directors have made it clear that they don't feel that's necessary and that it would be a waste of our time and the clubs' money to go down that route.

"You've got to bear in mind that me and another senior employee at the SPFL are facing calls to be suspended but it's not clear what it is we're alleged to have done wrong.

"We're as in the dark as anyone else so I think it's incumbent on anyone that's suggesting bullying or anything of that nature to come forward and make it clear to the chairman what's happened, who's done what and when."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.