A Difficult Birth, Prior To a Surely Hard Life

SO, WE have a brand, spanking-new, all-singing, all-dancing Scottish Professional Football League - haud me back!!

I will, this once, fore-go my default position when assessing the thought processes, such as they are, of the Hampden "blazers" (We're awe doomed, doomed ah tell ye); no, let's be charitable and wish the new body well - but.....cue sharp intake of breath.

I fear the doubts and misgivings of the body of the old SFL kirk were all too real; I do feel they were led up the garden path and held to ransom by the old SFL First Division clubs, but, what has been decided is not the way forward for Scottish football.

We have gone from three ruling bodies to two - which is still one too many for a country as small as Scotland. It is still far too easy to become a professional footballer in Scotland. We still have too many "senior" clubs and, I am sorry but, a part-time football club cannot, by definition be a "professional" one.

It will all end in disaster, but, since "Disaster For Scotland" is a pre-set headline on every national Scottish newspaper, we cannot, when disaster strikes, as it surely will, say we weren't ready for it.

No use going over old ground, but, this isn't the right set-up, it has been cobbled together far too quickly and it will all end in tears.

THE new Rangers' strips were unveiled yesterday - well done the Stevie Wonder School of Football Kit Design, another triumph.

And well done James Traynor, Rangers' Head of Corporate Affairs - brought in at what is surely a handsome wedge, considering the Daily Rhebel and English Broadcasting Corporation retainers he had to forego - on demonstrating how (not) to make maximum impact.

When arranging these photo-shoots, attention to detail is everything, so, when trumpeting a new kit deal with Puma, attention to detail ought to include making sure none of the featured models or "players" is wearing non-Puma and most-definitely NEVER Adidas boots.

Come on James - you ought to know that.

I HAVE not yet got around to watching the BBC documentary about Andy Murray, which was shown as a prelude to Wimbledon. But, from speaking to friends who have seen it, it appears that our Andy does more training in a single day than our so-called top footballers do in a week.

That's maybe why he's Number Two in the world and Scotland is number whatever we are this week in the football world. This, of course, comes back to what I said at the start of this post - it is far-too-easy to become a professional footballer in Scotland and, until we demand greater fitness, more skill and much more dedication of our players, Scotland will be also-rans.