THIS is my 300th post. When I started this blog it was simply on the basis that, I felt I had some worthwhile thoughts to put forward on the state of Scottish football. I have seen plenty after all; my first visit to Hampden for a national cup final was in 1956, my first action with the Tartan Army was a year later. I have seen the likes of George Young, Eric Caldow, Jim Baxter, Denis Law, the Lisbon Lions, Billy Bremner, Jardine and McGrain, Graeme Souness etc play for Scotland; Tom Finney, Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Kevin Keegan, Paul Gascoigne for England; George Best, John Charles, Pele, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Maradona, de Stefano, Puskas, Zidane strut their stuff. I have had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing quite a few of these legends - I think I have some knowledge which I can contribute to man's appreciation of the place football holds in this nation.
But, as I pen this 300th post - I am depressed; that depression is down to a single thing, the seemingly endless saga of Rangersgate. What are we going to do with a constituency which, even though it has no clear leader, no definite structure and no apparent goal (other than to continue to believe that We Are The People) we must call Clan Rangers.
When the 18th century powers-that-be got on the case of Rob Roy, the McGregor name was banned. The 21st century powers-that-be are on the Rangers case, but the name isn't banned and those red white and blue symbols, not to mention the tartan can still be seen. Indeed, later this morning Charles Green, the man who would be clan chief and his estate factor - known to all as "Ally" will be eagerly waiting to see how many loyal clansmen and contracted mercenaries turn up at Castle Murray, to prepare for the new season of looting and pillaging.
Except, the ptb, "the blazers" across at Castle Hampden and their allies, "the wigs" from their fortress in Parliament House in Edinburgh are insisting that Clan Rangers has died and that the mercenaries are free to sell their skills elsewhere.
Clan Rangers don't have anywhere to play in the new season, they certainly cannot loot and pillage in the lands of the SPL - where there is a belief that over the past decade and a half, Clan Rangers have been breaking the ancient rules. This belief remains unproven, but in any case, they have failed, over the past year and more, to pay their due taxes to the Queen and that, for a clan which places great store on its loyalty to the crown, is beyond the pale.
It is a mess. At least, the wigs are moving - Lord Hodge having asked the court-appointed estate managers, Duff & Phelps to clear-up one or two points, whilst even more powerful bailiffs, BDO, are waiting in the wings to go in and clarify other matters.
Sadly, the blazers at Castle Hampden are apparently running around like headless chickens. They seem to be relishing this rare opportunity to give the previously all-powerful Clan Rangers a right good kicking; but, not so bad a kicking that they kill them all together. Rules are being flouted and bent, alliances formed, revenge being plotted, but, at the end of the day, for all the ills Clan Rangers have brought down on the other clans over the past 120-odd years, the blazers seem to find comfort in having them around.
This is not a good scenario. Yes, Scottish football requires re-shaping; for sure the lesser clans of the Highland, East of Scotland and South of Scotland Leagues, not forgetting the underclass of that fierce clan known as the SJFA deserve a chance to play in the big leagues. Did not the former High Heid Yin, one-time First Meenister Henry McLeish demand changes to bring this about. The blazers were stalling on that one, until Clan Rangers went wrong and kind of forced their hand.
But, to try to re-shape it during July, so the new, flatter playing field can be opened in early August, is impossible. The various sub-sects of each of the big clans: the SPL and SFL have to meet and agree to the changes; ditto the lesser clans, while God help anyone trying to get the underclass of the SJFA to agree on anything. Change will take longer than the four or five weeks available.
It is surely time for the blazers to pronounce, Clan Rangers are banned for at least one season, while we sort-out the mess their collapse has precipitated. Then, while the Clan Rangers followers will doubtless march around, as is their want, banging their drums, tooting their flutes, parading their colours and declaring: "We Are Still The People", there is a good chance that, long before the end of the year, the wigs have done their work, the Polis have laid their charges and we await due process.
By then, I have no doubt, factor Ally, his worn and wrinkled old retainer Scrotum Jardine and the like will still be around - I have a feeling Charles Green will have retreated, bloodied, to his Yorkshire home.
At this moment in time - we need leadership from Hampden. However, I am not holding my breath.
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