BEING a simple wee soul and as a former goalkeeper (allegedly) two sandwiches short of a picnic, the politics of football largely passes me bye. But, of one thing I am certain, it is Rangers' lack of "friends at court" which is costing them dear during their current and on-going problems with the "blazers" on the top floor at Hampden.
I cannot for the life of me think of a big player from Rangers who has held office within either the SFA or the SPL and before that the SFL in the past 50 years. Bill Struth was at one time on the SFA committee, while George Brown - the Rangers and Scotland captain of the 1930s - was Chairman of the SFA's selection committee in the mid-1950s.
Willie Waddell, of course, because of his record as a Scotland player, as a leading journalist and as one of Scotland's foremost managers was an influential figure - when the "Deedle" spoke, Scottish football listened, but I do not recall him being a member of any of the vital SFA or SFL committees. John Greig, another of the few men who have emerged from the Ibrox dressing rooms and climbed the marble staircase to the board-room was kept as largely an ambassadorial figure by the club and while John McClelland held office in the European Clubs Association, I do not recall him having an SFA portfolio.
David Murray had little or no time for the politicking of leagues and associations and, under his fiefdom, Rangers were represented in the corridors of national power by a succession of what were known in Soviet Russia as "Apparatchicks" - men of limited intellect and ambition who could only be guaranteed to toe the party line and not rock the boat.
Rangers apparent contempt for the national associations is now coming back to haunt them with a vengeance. The club, allegedly Scotland's "Establishment" club has not had a president of the SFA since Queen Victoria was on the throne, in fact, since a D MacKenzie had the job in season 1897-88.
Of course, many of you will be asking: "What about Campbell Ogilvie?" Yes, the current SFA president has been around Hampden for a while, but, during his years with Rangers, he was always regarded as something of an administrator rather than an ideas man and I feel he has made greater progress within Hampden's corridors of power since swapping Ibrox for Tynecastle than he ever did as a "Rangers Man". I doubt if, in his Rangers days, Mr Ogilvie shit withou first asking Sir David Murray's permission.
Celtic, the team whose fans claim they are the "Outsiders" have, in fact, produced four SFA presidents since Rangers only such figure, the said Mr MacKenzie in 1898.
So, given they have no friends at court and haven't had for many a long year, is it any wonder that the SFA have this week put the boot in in no uncertain terms? Of course, it should be pointed-out to those Bears who are feeling hard-done-to - the SFa could have been a lot harder on their club and indeed, further sanctions may follow, with an SPL investigation on-going, not to mention any possible fall-out from an adverse outcome to the Big Tax Case.
The Rangers' position of fans and club since administration has been denial, obfuscation, outrage and objection. "We are Rangers; We Are The People; How Dare They - these representatives of the wee diddy teams treat us like this".
It is long past time for such childish foot-stamping. Yes, a big boy did it and ran away - his name was David Murray, it is his reckless mis-management, allied to the equally-appalling non-management of Craig Whyte - the wee boy he left to carry the can, which has brought the club to the brink of liquidation and winding-up.
Paul Murray and his Blue Knights will not help - they were never more than a ready chorus to the songs of triumph. Only the post-liquidation rise of a new Rangers, well-divorced from the shameful mis-management of the past will cleanse the club. That new club should start again in Division Three of the SFL and work through the penalties and sanctions imposed by the SFA as it take its chance from there - nothing else will satisfy.
That said: If I had the estimated £100 million or so it could well take to get Rangers back to the top, I would be doing it through 'Portsmouth Rangers', or 'Port Vale Rangers' or 'Carlisle Rangers' - an existing English club, bought-over and re-housed in Ibrox, but playing in the English League. That way, I might, within five years, expect to start making real money. Putting a great deal of money into a Newco Rangers, continuing to play in Scotland, would be a case of throwing good money after bad.
The other thing about moving any Newco Rangers into England is - the biggest losers would be Celtic. Without Rangers to hate, to compete against, to beat and to have as a target, Celtic will be just another diddy team, playing in a diddy league. Sure, initially they would carry all before them, but, this would become boring, the quality of player would drop, only the fans they don't want - the bigots (they have them too), the glory-hunters (ditto) and the riff-raff would remain.
With Rangers gone and Celtic losing interest, the wee teams would (hopefully) have their time in the sun; however, I'm none-too-sure about that. For too-long the rest have lived off the Old Firm, like those small birds which hang around rhinos in Africa, it would take a major change in attitude for some to have a go, however, if that happens, I vouch it would be a good day for Scottish football and maybe the saving of that tainted tartan brand.
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