Speaking to the Daily Mail, Alan Burrows is quoted, “All our focus at Motherwell in the next four games is fully on avoiding the play-offs altogether. We fully accept and appreciate that there are rules on this in place.
But, in the eventuality that we are in 11th place come the play-offs, then it is not our intention to charge our season-ticket holders for the play-off final at Fir Park. We believe we have sold them tickets which entitle them to the full story of the season.”
The rule (C26) in question is quite clear: A levy of 50% of the monies (gross excluding VAT) received or receivable by the Home Club for all Play-Off Matches played in the Premiership/Championship PlayOff Competition from all admission charges paid and payable to and for the relevant Play-Off Match shall be paid by the Home Club to the Company within seven days of the date on which each Play-Off Match is played.
The idea behind the rule is that the monies raised fund the parachute payment scheme and Motherwell agreed to the adoption of the SPLF rulebook a couple of years ago. Reports suggest that Rangers are considering a similar move.
At the recent league AGM the club supported the proposal from Hibs that the 50% levy be reduced to 25%. That idea was overwhelmingly defeated. Had it succeeded would Motherwell have gone ahead with the season ticket move? The club runs the risk of being accused of hypocrisy – failure via the legal route followed by a flagrant breach of the rules.
It’s certain that the club board has considered this issue and has agreed to the release of the decision. Fans will have a chance to press Les Hutchison on the matter when he meets Well Society members on May 19.
The best way to avoid the problem is by winning a few games and avoiding the pay-offs altogether and that has to begin when Ross County visit at the weekend. In the long term there will have to be an agreed solution and an understanding that all clubs have to play by the rules.