SPFL chairman Murdoch MacLennan (left) and chief executive Neil Doncaster
The SPFL has cited “factual inaccuracies” from six Premiership clubs that questioned the autonomy of an independent review of governance.
Rangers, Aberdeen, Livingston, Motherwell, St Johnstone and St Mirren expressed “serious concerns”.
The group is seeking “full clarity on numerous issues” to “determine whether further action is necessary.”
The league body says it will discuss the report's recommendations with all 12 top-flight clubs.
The SPFL said: “We can confirm that we received a letter on behalf of six Premiership clubs yesterday. The letter contained a number of factual inaccuracies which we have now discussed with these clubs.”
“We look forward to discussing the recommendations of the independent governance review at a meeting with all Premiership clubs soon, once the process is complete.”
Clubs say the statement “does not reflect the full findings of the report”
An independent review of league operations was commissioned in July after SPFL chairman Murdoch MacLennan apologized to Rangers at the conclusion of a sponsorship dispute.
On January 22, the governing body announced that a draft report had shown it complied with “key elements of the UK corporate governance code”, with MacLennan saying: “I am reassured but not complacent.”
The six clubs say the statement was made without “the consent or knowledge” of league members, adding that it “does not reflect the full findings” of the report.
“The SPFL Board will meet at a later date to discuss the contents of the draft report, therefore it is highly inappropriate for the SPFL Chairman to have made any public statement prior to this meeting,” the co-signed complaint states.
“As for the report itself, clubs and others are deeply concerned about its independence, as the SPFL board received the first draft of the report and made changes to it before sending it to the SPFL board members.”
“Of the 42 member clubs, only one was given the opportunity to participate in the investigation into the report, apart from current or former SPFL board members.”
“Despite several requests from clubs, the report has not yet been made available to any of the member clubs, although the clubs bear the costs of its production.”
“The handling of the independent governance report has brought clubs’ governance concerns to the forefront and it is now the job of the SPFL board and executive to provide clear and profound clarity in the interests of trust in those who run our sport about it.” worrying concerns as an urgent matter.
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