Following on from the communication we sent yesterday around concerns about information released in the press last week in relation to money being withheld from the club by the SPFL, we wish to update members and the wider mailing list following a response from Neil Doncaster, CEO of the SPFL.
The full response can be found at the bottom of this email. On receipt of this response, we have thanked Mr Doncaster for his prompt reply and the ASA committee along with other volunteers, will discuss this tonight at the association’s weekly meeting. Whilst understanding this is a short turnaround, we would welcome any feedback from all supporters on this or any other club matter through our email channel acciessa@gmail.com. All responses will be collated and shared at the meeting.
We aim to have our next newsletter out later this week which will advise next steps as well as other news, including information on upcoming association elections and how supporters can nominate people for the various positions.
On a final note we are aware of a supporters bus leaving the Bay Horse for Friday’s fixture against Queen of the South. We would encourage any fan wishing to use this service to attend the match to contact the club’s Supporters Liason Officer for further details.
ASA
Response from Neil Doncaster (CEO of the SPFL) to Open Letter
To the Accies Supporters Association,
Many thanks for your email below and for the accompanying open letter.
I cannot respond in detail to your questions, as any retention of Club Fees would be a private matter between the SPFL and the member club in question, which would be subject to confidentiality.
However, I am happy to confirm the following:
* SPFL Rule I39 states:
“I39 If, in the opinion of the Board, there are grounds to believe that a Club may not fulfil or be able, on the basis of information available to the Board, to fulfil all or any of its fixture obligations in Official Matches in the course of a Season then the Board may withhold, retain and/or defer payment of any sums which would otherwise be payable and/or be expected to be paid by the Company to such Club until such time as the Board is satisfied that such fixture obligations have or will be fulfilled.”
* This rule has been used on multiple occasions to withhold Club Fees from member clubs. Whenever the rule has been used, the club concerned has been invited to share with the SPFL Board evidence that the club will be able to complete its fixture obligations. In accordance with SPFL Rule I39, funds have been immediately released when the club has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the SPFL Board that fixture obligations have been or will be fulfilled.
Any questions that the Accies Supporters Association has about the specific financial position of the club or the impact on its liquidity, operations, and ability to meet costs should be addressed to the club.
Separately, I can confirm that I am not aware of any requests being made of the SPFL by members of the Accies Supporters Association committee for sanctions to be issued against Hamilton Academical FC. Nor have I or any member of the SPFL executive had any meetings with the Accies Supporters Association committee other than the publicised meetings that took place on 29 May and 12 August this year.
Yours faithfully,
Neil
