SPFL Belief appoints Charles Barnett as new chair – Skilled Insights & Developments

The SPFL Belief has appointed a former BDO and PKF companion for its new chair. Charles Barnett has served as a treasurer for the group over the past decade.

Barnett commented, “This can be a pivotal time for the SPFL Belief as we glance to strengthen our work with related neighborhood trusts (ATCs) and golf equipment throughout Scotland to assist much more individuals and communities via the ability of soccer. The SPFL Belief is a power for good and I’ve beloved my time as Treasurer on the charity, getting the prospect to witness all the nice work carried all through the nation and the intention is to play my half in persevering with the spectacular progress of current years.”

The SPFL Belief is an unbiased Scottish registered charity that works with all 42 soccer golf equipment within the Scottish Skilled Soccer League (SPFL), and diverse golf equipment within the Scottish Ladies’s Premier League (SWPL) to enhance lives throughout Scotland. Since its launch greater than 15 years in the past, it has labored to advertise neighborhood well being, well-being, and schooling.

In late 2025, it introduced an extra collaboration with the SPFL and SWPL to learn from enhanced visibility and promotional alternatives throughout a few of Scottish soccer’s greatest phases together with illustration at flagship occasions such because the Sky Sports activities Cup, Premier Sports activities Cup, and KDM Evolution Trophy, in addition to involvement in different main fixtures within the soccer calendar. On the similar time, it introduced an formidable five-year plan, which goals to assist 50% extra individuals than ever earlier than and develop its work with younger individuals and football-related trusts throughout Scotland.

Serving to to implement that plan will likely be Barnett, an skilled non-executive director who has served as treasurer of the SPFL Belief for the previous 9 years and brings intensive monetary, governance and management expertise to the function.

Barnett additionally loved a profitable profession as a companion at PKF and later BDO, the place soccer was a key sector specialism, advising greater than a dozen UK golf equipment alongside a variety of rising companies. He additionally beforehand labored as interim monetary officer at Celtic soccer membership within the Nineties.  He now works as a enterprise advisor and non-executive director, supporting organisations via strategic growth, change and development, and at the moment serves on the boards of a number of UK corporations, together with the SPFL Belief.

Neil Doncaster, SPFL Group CEO, mentioned, “The SPFL Belief has made great strides in supporting communities and delivering programmes that create actual affect . That progress has been supported by a better partnership between the SPFL Belief, SPFL and SWPL, permitting us to align our efforts and improve the optimistic distinction soccer could make. Charles brings intensive expertise, sturdy governance and a transparent understanding of the sport, and I very a lot sit up for working carefully with him as we proceed to construct on this partnership and supporting the Belief within the months and years forward.”

Barnett takes over from Bernadette Malone, who steps down after 5 years as chair. Throughout her tenure, the Belief strengthened its nationwide attain, deepened partnerships throughout the sport and supported hundreds of individuals via programmes targeted on well being, schooling and inclusion.

He added, “I’d prefer to thank Bernadette for her excellent management and dedication over the previous 5 years. She leaves the SPFL Belief in a robust place, with clear momentum and a stable basis to construct on.”