Scottish Football's Double Kick In The Nuts.

It's been a terrible couple of days for Scottish Premier League football. First of all, Setanta's demise has made their expected TV income vulnerable for a cheap double swoop from ESPN and SKY. Then they appointed a new Chief Executive, and boy did they f*ck up with that decision.


Today the SPL's 12 members are sitting down to discuss an offer for their TV rights from SKY and ESPN. The WWL now has a home to show games and needs more content. Setanta's deal was worth 125 million quid over 4 years. It is likely that the SKY/ESPN bid will be a heck of a lot less. Maybe even half! Beggars cannot be choosers!

While the SPL ponders losing a stack of cash thanks to some dubious business decisions by Irish broadcaster Setanta, they also decided to appoint a new Chief Executive in former Norwich City Chief Executive Neil Doncaster. Silly fools.

Doncaster was a controversial figure at Carrow Road and very, very unpopular with supporters. He was fired, I mean he resigned under pressure, as Norwich capped a miserable 08/09 season ending with relegation to League One. Doncasters reign at Carrow Road saw the club slip from the Premier League to the third tier in just 4 seasons. Often involved in controversial decisions, Doncaster's reputation was one of a guy who was keen to sign players on the cheap and of often losing players with bad negotiation skills. He also sat on the Football League Interactive board, where he signed away Norwich City's Internet rights to a company called PTV who often deliver a much criticized, sub-standard product.

Doncaster started his football career as a secretary/solicitor before Norwich made the erroneous decision of making him Head of Operations and then Chief Executive, handing him a place on the board.

While at Norwich Doncaster was known amongst fans as a spin doctor and a master of 'failing to deliver' promises before backtracking. A popular name for the former Chief was 'Doomcaster'.

Good luck Scotland, you are going to need it.