A wee history lesson: 1890 - Scottish Football League is formed, so that the top clubs of the time could organise regular matches against each other - and make more money.
1975 - the Scottish Football League, forms a "Premier" Division, so the Top Ten clubs could meet each other more often - and make more money.
1998 - The "Top Ten" Premier Division clubs break away from the SFL, to run their own competition: The Scottish Premier League - and make more money.
2012 - The biggest club in the SPL are in dire financial trouble, through their own mis-management. This club is in administration, it will run out of money some time in June and if not sold to new owners by then, will be liquidated, thereby, potentially hurting the other 11 clubs. There is a belief that post-liquidation a new company will rise, phoenix-like from the ashes and this club will attract the failed club's huge support. Should this newco be (as SPL rules demand) forced to apply for membership of the SFL and from admission, work their way back to the SPL, or should they (against the rules, as written), be immediately admitted to the SPL - and make more money.
Guess which way the SPL are likely to vote today.
SHUGGIE Murray bid farewell to St Mirren Park on Saturday, after 468 league games for the club. Now Shuggie was no Tony Fitzpatrick, Paul Lambert or Norrie McWhirter. I was covering the Buddies when he joined as a 16-year-old from Coatbridge. I saw his debut; I rejoiced in his great winning goal at Forthbank which saved the club from relegation to Division Two; I have spoken with him often - nothing wrong with Shuggie. I wish him well in whatever he does in the future.
But, the truth is, he's not that good a player. He would not get anywhere near my eclectic choice of Best St Mirren XI - he wasn't even the best player in the St Mirren Under-18 team he was in.
However, that said - respect to Shuggie for making the most of his somewhat-limited talents and enjoying a longer career than more-talented Buddies contemporaries enjoyed. And that is the problem I have with Scottish football these past 25-years. I remember watching Shuggie during the season Saints won promotion back to the SPL. He was switched to the left side of midfield, the trouble was and is - his left foot is for standing on. To see a former Scotland Under-21 player almost tying himself in knots to get the ball onto his right foot so he could do something with it spoke volumes about the quality of coaching in Scottish football and about his application. By that time he had had over a decade of full-time football, but, still did not have the confidence or control to use his left foot - in what other sport, in what other nation would that be tolerated? Only in Scotland.
This, by the way, is not so much an attack on Shuggie Murray as on the standards we expect and enforce in the most-popular game in out country. Nae wonder we're shite.
JOHN Yorston, the Dunfermline Chairman, got some good publicity at the weekend with his call for sporting integrity in the matter of the SPL and: "How do we solve a problem like the Rangers". It was interesting to follow the on-line debate. Even the more-sensible Bears, yes, there are a few who can understand joined-up writing and do joined-up thinking; accept that should the on-going rescue attempts fail, any newco ought to start in Division Three of the SFL. But, still the WATP mob insist: "We are Rangers, we are too-big, too-important to be relegated; we are crucial to the survival of Scottish football; you need us".
I have known Sandy Jardine since we were both teenagers, I accept his great love for the club, but he lost some of the great respect I have long had for him with his tawdry performance as the mouth-piece of that ill-advised march on Hampden the other Saturday.
I like Alastair McCoist a lot, but he too let himself down with his intemperate rage against the SFA Tribunal - and I accept here, as I have said before, the need to keep the names of the three men on the tribunal secret says a great deal about the failings of modern-day Scotland.
The Blue Knights failed, I feel, in part because they wanted Rangers to carry-on as before, regardless of the fact - in the financial climate of the 21st century, the goal posts have moved.
Is there nobody inside Rangers prepared to say: "Sorry - we accept our punishment and will fight to re-establish this club's good name?"
That is what is needed - how long must we wait. If Italian football could survive the demotion of Juventus, then surely Scottish foobtball can scrape through without Rangers in the top flight.
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