Neil Doncaster can’t wait to attend Ibrox for the unfurling of the league flag next month – one year on from Rangers trying to have him suspended.
In a whirlwind opening day on July 31 the SPFL chief will also run the gauntlet of Hearts and Partick Thistle supporters by handing over their league flags 12 months on from Scottish football’s simmering summer of discontent.
Doncaster - who is “hopeful” some fans will be back in Scottish grounds for the big kick-off - was at the centre of a storm which saw Rangers call for his suspension and an independent probe into the controversial resolution of the 2019/20 season.
The Ibrox club failed with their bid for an investigation but not until they had produced a dossier of evidence they claimed showed Doncaster failed to deal with bullying in the build-up to the vote which saw the four divisions called on a points per game basis.
That method led to Celtic being declared champions and the demotions of Hearts and Thistle both of whom took their case to court.
Still stinging from relegation Thistle banned Doncaster from their trophy presentation last month after winning the League 1 title while Hearts considered snubbing their own trophy day at Tynecastle.
But despite the fury, Doncaster will be welcomed back by the Jags and on Tuesday said he is “looking forward” to attending Rangers’ first top flight flag day in a decade before moving on for similar celebrations at Firhill and Tynecastle.
The opening day fixtures were released earlier with champions Rangers at home to Livingston with a 1.30pm kick-off .
Thistle begin life back in the second tier 90 minutes later just across Glasgow at Firhill against Queen of the South.
And Championship winners Hearts get their top flight campaign under way at home to Celtic at 8pm.
Doncaster said: “I think we are all looking forward to everyone moving on from the events of the curtailment of season 19/20 when there were no other options.
“Unlike the English leagues who were allowed to complete their seasons behind closed doors we weren’t allowed or able to do so under Scottish Government regulations.
“In those circumstances Scottish football made the only decision it could.
“Some people didn’t like the solution but no one else has been able to come up with a different or better way of dealing with it.
“We are looking forward to the new season with a freshness and I’m certainly looking forward to being at Ibrox, Tynecastle Park, Firhill Stadium and Queen’s Park for the handover of the league flags this summer.”
The staggered kick-offs allow the SPFL chief to attend all four flag-raising events with Queen’s Park - groundsharing at Firhill - unable to mark their League 2 title until the following weekend when they are at home to Cove Rangers.
Doncaster was speaking as the fixtures for the new season were announced and just days after he confirmed a new league title sponsor with cinch.
He said: “We are really pleased to have a sponsor of such prominence on board.
“We had a number of different brands who were involved in discussions and we decided to go with cinch - it’s a five year deal which is the biggest single financial sponsorship deal in the history of the SPFL.”
Meanwhile Doncaster hopes the authorities can give Scottish football some clarity over when the game can start moving towards capacity crowds.
It follows First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement this afternoon that the easing of Covid-19 restrictions is likely to be pushed back for a period due to a rise in cases and hospital admissions.
Scotland had been due to move to the lowest tier - level zero - from 28 June.
Under current guidelines that would have allowed 2000 fans back into stadiums for the big kick off on July 31.
But that move will be delayed. But Doncaster remains “hopeful” there will be crowds at every SPFL match for the opening weekend after a season he admits was “hugely damaging”.
He said: “Monday was an important step. To have a crowd allowed at Hampden of over 10,000 people.
“We have Wembley which is ramping up it’s attendances over the tournament.
“And then you have an announcement for the finals of Wimbledon tennis championships where you could see a capacity crowd at each of those games.
“So I think all of those are encouraging signs. The SFA are leading discussions with the government. Fans clearly want to return as soon as possible.
“And frankly from a financial point of view clubs need it
“I think any clarity would be helpful.”
