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Les Gray rejected claims that the SPFL board bullied or coerced clubs ahead of the vote

Claims that SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster "bullied" clubs into backing the plan to end the lower-league season are "absolutely hysterical", says board member Les Gray.

Rangers, Hearts and Aberdeen have called for an independent review into the SPFL's handling of the vote.

A total of 81% of clubs backed the proposal, with Dundee's belated change of heart allowing it to pass.

"The silent majority have carried the day," Hamilton Academical's Gray said.

"It's the clubs that voted 'no' that are the noisiest. And I'm looking at what their motives might be."

The contentious ballot to end the season early in the Championship and Leagues One and Two was eventually pushed through with Dundee voting in favour on Wednesday after retracting their no vote last week.

As a result, Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers have been promoted as champions, while Partick Thistle and Stranraer have dropped a division.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound, he added that claims of coercion were "complete nonsense"

"If you've met Neil Doncaster, the idea that he bullied anyone is absolutely hysterical. I feel sorry for him and [SPFL lawyer] Rod [McKenzie] and [SPFL chair] Murdoch [MacLennan] for the way they've been treated.

"They've remained silent in the face of huge provocation. And I think we really need to take a look at these accusations being thrown around."

Doncaster, meanwhile, is to chair a sub-group looking after broadcasting as part of Scottish football's Joint Response Group.

Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell and vice-chair Mike Mulraney are to oversee supporter welfare and club operations; Dr John MacLean will look after medical advice; and Calum Beattie will deal with regulations.

'Good people at the SPFL'

Gray believes it amounts to "good, proper governance" to investigate any concerns over conduct and conceded that some of the vote process "could have been done better".

He added: "But that's not what we're talking about here - we're talking about accusations levelled at people of impropriety. We have good people at the SPFL and they're being slaughtered all over the place."

Regarding any evidence of any wrongdoing - something Rangers said they had - Gray commented: "At the moment we don't have any evidence. We've asked for it on several occasions.

"We've got high calibre, non-executive directors and we're happy that they can look at this process and see what we could've done better. There's no wrongdoing here, we're absolutely certain of that."

Gray described claims that Neil Doncaster bullied anyone as "hysterical"

Championship, League One and League Two teams have received their outstanding prize money after clubs backed the motion to halt the campaign.

No payments can be released to the 12 Premiership clubs until a decision to call their campaign early has been made after Uefa's summit on 23 April.

The top flight could be decided on the same points per game basis if the SPFL board "determines the games cannot be played". Ten of the 12 teams have eight games outstanding, while two have nine fixtures still to play.

Gray and Hearts owner Ann Budge are co-chairing a task force on a reorganisation of the SPFL next term.

The 15-strong task force will take part in a Zoom meeting on Monday, Gray added, with the mute button to be used to avoid it becoming "a bunfight".