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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Ewan Paton

Neil Doncaster SPFL 'dismissal cost' laid bare amid lengthy notice period

The sum it would cost to oust Neil Doncaster from his position as chief executive of the SPFL has been revealed. 

Herald Sport states that the SPFL would need to fork out in the region of £800,000 to part company with its CEO.

The report also states that the Englishman has a lengthy notice period too, which is said to run for two years.

The latest figures show that Doncaster, on a lucrative contract at the SPFL, raked in £392,000 in 2022, including bonuses. 

That was up from the £388,000 he took home in the previous year and is a massive increase on the £172,000 salary he first earned when he joined the company 11 years ago.

At several points during his tenure, spanning over a decade, Doncaster has come under intense scrutiny over several business dealings involving the SPFL. 

Most notably, the cinch dispute between the league, Rangers, and Park's Motor Group.

It was revealed on Monday this week that the Ibrox club have been granted permission by the Scottish FA to pursue legal action against the SPFL over the dispute. 

It's understood that Rangers are seeking an apology over the matter and legal costs for the reputational damage they have suffered as a consequence of the row.

So, if Doncaster is forced into such a public climbdown it may prove damaging to him reputationally, while the cost to the league could end up running into many hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Although, clearly any notion that his position could come under threat because of the way that deal was handled has to be tempered by the sum it would cost the SPFL, the clubs, to remove him.

The report states that while there is nothing illegal or improper about Doncaster being in possession of a two-year notice period, it is highly irregular.

The decision to lengthen Doncaster’s notice period to 24 months was taken by the SPFL remuneration committee sometime in the summer of 2021. 

A source close to the SPFL told the Herald: "Issues such as the chief executive's contract, and all such matters, are dealt with and approved by the board following a rigorous and detailed process."

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