Kenny Shiels - Surely the Ynaff Of The Year

THE BOYS doon at the ludge will not like this, but, I agree with Neil Lennon. Kenny Shiels is a wee, big-mouthed, opinionated ynaff.

If Shields managed Kilmarnock even half as well as he manages to get his name in the paper for some outrageous bout of verbal skitters, Killie would be in Europe, rather than in the bottom six of the SPL.

But, having said that, I again caution Mr Lennon - Neil son, haud yer wheesht. Don't give Kenny the oxygen of publicity; he seems to me to believe in the doctrine of that other oft-quoted Irishman, Oscar Wilde: the only thing worse than being talked-about is not being talked about.

FAR BE it for me to give unsolicited testimonials to other websites and places on the blogsphere, but the erudite Celtic fan who goes by the interweb name of Brogan, Hogan, Trevino and Rogan recently posted an excellent piece on Scottish Football Monitor, regarding the present state of affairs in Scottish Football.

I commend BHTR's views to the body of the Scottish Fitba Kirk; they are well worth reading.

KEN Smith's consistently-excellent Herald Diary had a couple of corkers today. I particularly liked the story about the guy who 'phoned up and asked if it was true that Wembley Stadium was currently covered in beach towels - that's subtle.

There was also, however, a Peter Grant story, about Billy McNeill encouraging him to kick Graeme Souness during an Old Firm game and not to worry about getting sent off, since Rangers would miss Souness more than Celtic would miss Grantie.

I have another couple of Grantie stories. One afternoon at Rugby Park, he was giving the big time Charlie-Loadsamoney patter to a Killie player, who simply replied: "Grantie son, I could buy and sell you".

Grantie then asked ex-Ranger Davie MacFarlane what the Killie player was on to think this; only to be told: "But Grantie, he could buy and sell you; he owns the biggest office equipment company in Scotland and that's his big BMW coupe in the car park".

Exit one chastened Grant.

Another time, again at Rugby Park, Grantie had a kick at Killie's Tam Broon, who flew about ten yards, then got up, marched over, nutted Grant and was sent off.

At time-up Grant's hopes of some sympathy from manager Tommy Burns came to nothing: "Grantie, wee Tam's a Govan man - you never kick a Govan man", he was told by Burns.