SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster last night revealed he is still unclear why Rangers called for him to be suspended – and revealed the bitter fallout to the resolution on the end of the season had taken its toll on him and other senior officials.

The Ibrox club demanded that Doncaster and SPFL legal adviser Rod McKenzie both be removed from their positions after their alternative proposal was deemed not to be effective by the board.

They have claimed that “bullying and coercion” took place in the build-up to the vote – but have refused to hand over the “dossier of evidence” they have accumulated to the governing body.

Rangers, along with Hearts and Stranraer, have called for an independent investigation and have requisitioned a general meeting, which will be held on May 12, and have promised to supply their fellow members with their proof before then.

But Doncaster, speaking for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak and football shutdown last month, launched a robust defence of both the SPFL executive and board and admitted the insinuations of foul play had impacted on him personally.

“It has not been very comfortable for myself or for the members of the SPFL board, who I trust implicitly, because of vague accusations which have been made without a shred of evidence,” he said.

Asked why he thought Rangers had called for him to be suspended: “I have not got a clue. It is some weeks and not a shred of alleged evidence has been produced against either of us. Bullying is such a serious allegation it is the duty of the club to come forward with it.

“I don’t think there’s any suggestion that Murdoch (SPFL chairman MacLennan) has been bullying anyone, I’m not aware of Rod having any discussions with individual clubs apart from their legal advisors.

“All of my dealings with clubs have been entirely respectful. Clubs are entitled not to agree. I have always made it absolutely clear I would respect their point of view. I feel all of us have acted with integrity and acted with the best interests of all 42 clubs as a whole at the forefront of our minds.”

Douglas Park, the motor tycoon and Rangers interim chairman, has written to MacLennan asking him to refute claims, contained in an article in the satirical magazine Private Eye, that he was biased against the Ibrox club.

However, Doncaster has also defended the SPFL chairman, who yesterday sent an open letter to all 42 senior clubs answering questions on how the resolution was handled, and insisted Rangers’ grievances will be dealt with fairly by the former newspaper executive.

“You should judge people as you find them,” he said. “I find Murdoch to be an absolute professional. I have never seen anything to suggest he is anything other than that. Nobody can fairly question his integrity and his impartiality.

“If people have allegations they wish to make then they should have the courage to bring them forward to the chairman and let them be investigated.

“We’ve got demands for suspension of myself and another trusted employee of the SPFL without any clarity as to what it is we’ve alleged to have done wrong. I just don’t find that acceptable at all.”