Neil Doncaster defends health of Scottish Premier League
Last updated on .From the section Football

Neil Doncaster has vigorously defended the financial health of the 12 clubs in the Scottish Premier League.
The SPL chief executive admitted to BBC Radio 5 live Breakfast that "there are challenging times within Scottish football at the moment".
But he added: "The last two years, overall, the SPL was at break-even. Twelve clubs, no profits, no losses - that's a great position to be in."
A number of clubs have spoken of their financial problems in recent weeks.
to pay Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs to allay the threat of a winding-up order.
Their city rivals , taking their debt to £6.4m.
And , with clubs getting into debt by spending too much on players' wages as they bid to avoid greater debts by being relegated.
And three weeks ago business recovery firm Begbies Traynor said football finances, across the SPL and the Scottish Football League, were in a worse state than six months ago.
Its spokesman Ken Pattullo said: "The relegation of Rangers has had some impact, but lower attendances and falling revenues, and in particular reducing TV money, has given rise to the distress that is spread across the SPL and divisions one and two."
However, by £5.75m by converting it to preference shares.
Doncaster pointed to the competitive nature of the SPL as a sign of its rude health.
"It needs competitive balance and this year we have it," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"We have the top six separated by five points, nearly at the halfway stage.
"Scottish football is renowned worldwide in a very positive light; it's renowned for passion, drama and excitement.
"It's so passionate up here. It's such a big part of people's lives. It is important in England, it's vitally important up here."
Asked if Rangers playing in the Third Division had damaged the league, he said: "Oddly not. I think a number of people were predicting that there would be huge financial difficulties amongst clubs.
"Half of our clubs are showing an increase in attendances this year.
"It's not anywhere near as bleak as it might have been and part of that is because so many of our partners - the Clydesdale Bank, Sky Sports, ESPN - have stood by the SPL and that's why, along with the fans coming through the gates, the game is actually in robust financial health.
"Rangers are where they are. They are in the fourth tier of Scottish football and they will work their way back."
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My ears are bleeding !
With slightly increased crowds outside Celtic(who have CL),clubs don't miss Rangers financially..
They did it themselves.
The most exciting SPL for a generation is nothing to do with the awful crew in charge, but like good little PR men they will take the credit.
One organisation for Scottish football (and not the SPL)
More needs to be done to tackle that - family offers, youth club offers and, dare I say it, league reconstruction... which the fans have been crying out for for years.
500K a year in total. English Prem alone gets 186 million even Alan Hansen is reputed to receive 1.5 million for his bland comments on MOTD.
SPL is half decent this season and deserves a better deal. We pay the same license fee in Scotland.
There are more countries in the world than England by the way. Having said that Scottish football is not in good shape at the moment however things were expected to be a lot worse after Rangers' demise. The SPL and SFA should listen to the fans and give them exactly what they want; league reconstruction and cheaper tickets.
@ 13.imager614 "Hibs are on the Brink of bankruptcy" How do come to that conclusion? The majority of Hibs debt is made up by mortgage payments for the re-development of Easter Road. Yes they have made a lose in the last 2 years (1.8m), but that comes down to poor performances and a drop in attendances and paying off poor managers.
The man is obviously not fooling anyone.
SPL has been a disaster for Scottish football.
The Premier League is marketable product .... the SPL is not !
25 other leagues are ranked higher .... it is called market forces
The BBC should not waste monies on the SPL .... Sky has a contract to show matches
St Johnstone v Inverness CT ..... any takers to pay for this ???
I'm sure in your world travels that you will have noticed that the only teams fans from other countries know about are the the top few in each country so your comments are a bit flawed. By the way in my world travels I have been in many sports clothing stores and you can only buy the tops of the top few of the top European countries, astonishingly plenty of Rangers and Celtic tops!!!
the SPL is ranked 26th in as a league by UEFA
Celtic are a ranked outside the top 60 teams
Scotland are ranked ranked 70th
1998 was the last time Scotland qualified for a tournament .... and they have never qualified from the qroup stages ...
1967 is a long time ago ....
Inverness CT playing St Johnstone 4 times a season ????