I LIKED much of what I read when I first read Part II of Henry McLeish's review of Scottish football - but, even as I read it I came to the conclusion that Scottish football would never buy it.
Since Henry's mammoth work thumped down on the desks of the Hampden "blazers", it has all gone quiet, while their tiny minds attempt to take it all in. Nobody from within the Hampden corridors of power and influence has yet come out in the media with an opinion, but, at the end of last week, we learned that the view from the SFL is: "We don't like it, we don't want and we urnae hivin it".
Well, I cannot say I'm surprised, in particular that the majority of the SFL clubs - Divisions II and III have come out against regionalisation.
For years these stumblebums have had but one goal, to hang on to their "Senior" status, in spite of the fact that in comparison with the best of the Junior clubs, the "Senior" ones are more-junior in their outlook.
These clubs are parasites, living-off the crumbs from the rich man's table, praying for their own winning lottery ticket - a cup draw against either half of the Old Firm, thereby guaranteeing one big pay day which will keep the club going for a wee bit longer.
If they were to re-define themselves as "community" clubs, give local boys a chance, support football in their area more, then maybe they could find a meaningful and successful role in 21st century football. But that would call for a sea change in attitude within their board rooms, and I don't see that happening.
Scottish football is almost a microcosm of pre Union of the Crowns Scotland - a cold, dark, nasty, backward place, full of near-neighbours who hate each other, of centuries-old death fueds, ruled by an elite who may be poor, but think themselves better than those beneath them and are forever looking at problems through the vehicle of "What's in it for us".
There mantra has always been - ye canna change, it's aye been din this wey.
We're awe doomed, ah tell ye - doomed.
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