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The SPFL bypassing Rangers in Sky TV deal shows why Neil Doncaster is getting pennies for Scottish football - Hotline

The Sky’s the limit and it looks like Hotliners have reached their limit of the back-biting and in-fighting over the new TV deal that will see the satellite broadcaster show up to 60 live SPFL matches a season until 2029.

The new deal comes after Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack outlined the reasons for every top flight club with the exception of Rangers backing the proposal - and the SPFL voting through a change in the rules meaning that an 11-1 majority would be enough to give it the green light. That prompted this response from Jimmy Mac, Glasgow , who said: “Well, who would have thought Murdoch MacLennan and Neil Doncaster would change the rules to “bypass” Rangers objections to the new TV deal? Everyone with any common sense, that’s who.

“MacLennan and his puppet Doncaster are forever changing rules to suit themselves as proven in the past. It’s a case of the lunatics running the asylum and it is no wonder Scottish football receives pennies compared to pounds in comparison to equivalent countries with tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber at the helm.”

Jim McClean, Rothesay, emailed: “All this hullabaloo from Rangers and Aberdeen is just silly. Can I ask Rangers and any other people one question, what is the alternative? They can argue all they like but nobody else is interested - that is the bottom line. Asking the SFA to apologise and pay their costs is just another big joke from Rangers.”

Andrew Taylor emailed: “Dave Cormack is living in a fantasy world if he honestly believes that “value per game” is the most important thing when counting TV revenues. Why not just sell the four Old Firm games if you want to achieve this dubious honour?

“We need ALL the games live, similar to most of the other European clubs, as well as abandoning the 3pm Saturday blackout. Nothing has ever been proven that this would affect attendances, in fact it's been shown to increase some overseas and even a complete incompetent like Doncaster would be able to at least double our revenues overnight.”

Drew Ferguson, Oban , wrote: “I would like to ask finance expert Aberdeen Chairman Dave Cormack how much the four Old Firm derbies make Sky each season from world audiences. I can bet your bottom dollar (excuse the pun) that it is more the £30 million and both Rangers and Celtic get a pittance compared to lesser derbies in world football.”

But Eddie Easson, Ballingry, said: “Well done Aberdeen’s Dave Cormack for stating the obvious to Rangers’ Stewart Robertson. Take one look at the crowds the so-called minnows get. If you televised every game here, grounds would be empty and clubs and communities lifeblood would suffer.

“Robertson needs to talk to his own supporters, especially the ones paying through the nose for MyGers. They are never off social media stating their unhappiness.”

Elsewhere, Tam McAllister, from Leven emailed: “I get sick and tired of pundits going on about Scottish players who play in the English Premier League and how high the standards are. Callum McGregor, Tony Ralston and Greg Taylor play in a higher standard - the Champions League.”

And Mike Barron, Inverurie, was back onto the subject of TV coverage, saying: “Yet again another England match is free to viewers on Channel 4. The England v Germany match was also on Freeview tonight, yet they cannot find the money to bid for the Scottish matches. The BBC is still able to spend an alleged £1.5 million plus on the Cambridge v Oxford boat race. This sport can be over in the first 10 minutes some years but it is another London event.”

What do you make of Tuesday's calls?

Let us know in the comments section below...

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