Socrates MacSporran

Socrates MacSporran
No I am not Chick Young, but I can remember when Scottish football was good

Thursday 22 June 2017

Dave King Has Spoken, But, Do We Believe Him?

PARDON me if do not slaughter the fatted calf, or call for the ringing of bells and the setting-off of fireworks, because Rangers have signed a new retail deal with Sports Direct. Experience has taught me two things: Mike Ashley does not readily give-away a commercial advantage, and, Dave King was branded: “A glib and shameless liar” by a leading member of the South African judiciary.

 Would you buy a nearly-new football club from this man?

I await with interest the information which Phil Mac Giolla Bhain's highly-industrious “moles” bring blinking into the sunlight. Of course, Phil has a vested interest in pricking the pomposity of Ra Peepul, but, he has a track record of being right more-often than the Stenographers, when it comes to Rangers matters.

Of course, it is very much in Rangers interest to reach a deal with Sports Direct over replica strip sales, but, surely they have learned in their previous dealings with him – Mr Ashley strikes a hard bargain.

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on the club's preparations for their Europa League qualifiers. How they must long for the good old days, when a Scottish team being drawn against one from Luxembourg was a guaranteed victory. But, these days are past now.

Rangers should still win. Let's face it – they have to win, first time out, with a brand new squad. It should be a skoosh case, but.......



TIME moves slowly when it comes to the SFA. That was my first thought when I heard of the discord between the governing body an the Scotland Women's team, as regards perks, such as appearance and bonus money, around the upcoming European Championship finals.

Because, we have been there before. Much of the aggro around Jinkygate, that quiet swally in Norway and various other sub-plots, lang syne almost forgotten, which surrounded the Scotland World Cup effort in 1974, stemmed from the failure to agree a perks deal between the players and the SFA.

The three white stripes on the SFA-supplied Adidas boots were blackened over; there were a lot of furious rows and genuine bad feeling. Given this row with the women, it seems, the SFA has learned not a lot in 43-years.

SFA - don't argue with the Women's team - look who's their new midfield enforcer - The Sturgeonator


Any way, everyone on the sixth floor ought to know – you never argue about money with a Scotswoman, she will make an absolute fool out of you as she wins her fight. There are some lovely girls in our squad, but, behind the eyes there is that tell-tale steeliness best explained as: “Ay widnae want tae tak a broken peay hame tae hur”.



OUR clubs who have qualified for the European competition qualifying rounds will be kicking-off their new season before the end of June. Indeed, it is not outwith the bounds of possibility that some of our teams might be out of Europe before the Glasgow Fair has started. How are the mighty fallen?

Has it never occurred to the intellectual giants on Hampden's sixth floor, that, just maybe, because Scottish football is now down among the dead leagues at the bottom of the European football food chain, we should maybe look at re-scheduling our season, perhaps to mirror the seasons of our Scandinavian neighbours across the North Sea, so, the early European rounds come in mid-season for us, and our representatives are better-prepared to compete.

Aye Son, but, fitba's aye been a winter sport – ye canna change that.

There, answered the question for you. Aye Beenism, Scotland's secret shame.



JUST a passing thought, but, what will our supposed big teams do when, after Brexit all goes tits-up, we re-take control of our own borders, and importing shite players from overseas becomes harder, as it will?

No more over-hyed continentals, we will have to survive on our home-grown players. Bring it on, I for one cannot wait.






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