I do not think anyone will be surprised if, or more-likely when, early in the new week, the Scottish Football Division of Her Majesty's Press Corps are summoned to Tannadice Park, Dundee, where, to nobody's amazement, a suitably stone-faced Stephen Thomson will announce that: "by mutual consent", Jackie McNamara and Dundee United have parted company.
It's the way things are done on Planet Fitba; the normal niceties in the serious matter of someone losing his job don't come into it. In fitba, rumour and the search for the next big headline take precedence.
We will have a week or so of "EXCLUSIVE" conjecture as to who will be the next man into the manager's office at the foot of Tannadice Street. Someone will be unveiled as McNamara's replacement, and the circus will move-on in search of the next victim.
I feel for Jackie, I really do.
MARK WARBURTON is also, as ever for the man in his job, wall-to-wall across the papers, after his not entirely revealing opinion that the Scottish League needs re-organisation (again).
Of course, 12 clubs playing each other three times per season, before the top six and bottom six split for the final five fixtures - is mind-boggling nonsensical NONSENSE.
Everyone knows the present system is stupid and does nothing for the quality of the product, but, to expect the other Premiership clubs to voluntarily give up their two home games per season with Celtic, and almost-certainly next season, two more against the Rangers Tribute Act, the only time all season when the majority of the seats in the away end are occupied - Aye Right, it isn't going to happen voluntarily.
The RTA's removal from the League Cup in midweek had the MSM, and in particular the Lap Top Loyal calling for yet another change to the awkward child of the game up here.
Since the winners of the third-most-prestigious trophy in Scotland do not gain a place in Europe, this competition offers wonderful scope for experimentation.
Why doesn't the SPFL, (for instance), insist on such changes to the competition as:
Playing it under the "three foreigners" rule - to encourage youth development
Use if for Law experiments - new variants on the offside law for instance
Silver or Golden goals in Extra Time; Ice Hockey-style penalties in a shoot-out
Doing nothing is not an option. Are there no blue sky thinkers inside the Scottish game, capable of coming up with something to breath new life into the League Cup?
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