It Must Never Happen - But - Never Say Never

IT SEEMS we actually now are in the ever-shrinking “close season”. This being Scotland, I cannot definitely say this is fact, but, there does not appear to have been any football played in Scotland yesterday.

Savour the moment people, because, the first qualifying round draws for the Champions League and the Europa League will take place in Nyon tomorrow, an event which is sure to excite “the stenographers” - who can immediately begin spewing out their speculation as to how the draw will affect their two pet clubs, plus the other Scottish “diddy” teams who will be involved in the draw.

I spotted an interesting wee spot of speculation in one of the Sunday papers this morning, with regard to the draw. Celtic will enter the Champions League qualifying system at the second qualifying round stage, and, since the draw, at this early stage, is regionalised across Europe – there is the chance of Celtic being asked to visit Windsor Park, to face Linfield on 12 July.

Now, if I was a cynic, and a betting man, I'd be hammering on William Hill's or Ladbrokes' door tomorrow morning, keen to put some money on this draw happening. Mind you, I might well get better odds with Paddy Power.

It should not happen, it MUST not happen, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, plus Police Scotland are praying it cannot happen – but, this is UEFA folks. Return to your homes and prepare for war.

By my calculations, Rangers are ranked 46^th of the 100 clubs in the Europa League first-round draw, but, never mind, they could still end-up facing such giants as Ballymena United, Connah's Quay Nomads or various other clubs from even-diddier leagues than the SPFL. Again, however, given this is UEFA – I can see Derry City looming. Well, it will be nice for RA Peepul to be able to visit one of their favourite places in all the world.

First qualifying round, first-leg games, are due on 29 June. Out of Europe before the Fair anyone?

SPEAKING of those awfully nice Rangers men. I can well understand Pedro recruiting guys he knows and trusts, but, can I rehash something I saw in one of the papers during the week: “Aye, but, can they cut it on a dreich nicht in Dingwall in December”? That my friends is the £X-million question. Of course, the BIG Rangers question is – who's gonna pay for all this new blood?

WHILE driving back from what had been a very-pleasant lunch on Saturday, I was listening to Radio Scotland, when on-air came a familiar voice, that of wee Darryl “Boyne Band” Broadfoot, the SFA's former Head of Media, now a partner in a PR consultancy.

Darryl Broadfoot - back in the real world and talking sense

Darryl – to me he will always be: “Young Darryl” actually came across very well, as a rare voice of sanity on Scottish football. We might, and we have had enough practice at this, consider parking one's brains at the door as being a pre-requisite for success along Hampden's corridors of power, but, as Darryl's contribution to Saturday afternoon's BBC Sport Scotland productions proved – there has occasionally been intelligent life on the sixth floor at the National Stadium.

The trouble is, while the likes of Darryl could and still can talk intelligently, make sensible proposals and have a clear vision of where Scottish football should be going – it never has been and still isn't them who makes the big decisions, that is left to the stumble-bums sent to Hampden by the clubs.

“Fans with authority” might be a description of the club delegates, and, as we all know – fans are generally daft.

Still, it was good to hear Darryl making some intelligent contributions to the debate. Such a pity, when he had the platform as Chief Football Writer of the Herald – before he jumped ship to the calmer waters of the SFA's Media Department, Darryl didn't use that platform to argue for change, going instead down the safe, stenographers' route of printing the pearls of wisdom which dropped from the lips of the same constantly-recycled squads of players and managers from a handful of “big” clubs.

Maybe now he has rejoined Planet Earth, he can put his talents to good use in arguing for a better Scottish football world.

I SEE Billy Stark has been appointed Manager of East Kilbride. This is, I would suggest, a coup for the ambitious Lowland League outfit, but, shows the remarkable lack of vision and foresight among the bigger clubs.

 Billy Stark

Billy is now 60. He has been there, done it, got the tee-shirt, and, if a full Scotland cap is missing from his escutcheon, he is not alone in missing that – is he Sir Alex. To my mind, any Scottish club, genuinely seeking an experienced Director of Football, who has not considered Billy, has made a grievous error. He is still one of the best football men in Scotland.

I wish him well in his new post.