It Seemes To Be All Bad News For The GASL Just Now

BACK in the Swinging Sixties and the Anything Goes Seventies, when Scottish football was good and we feared nobody, the stenographers – actually in some cases the faithers of today's exponents of the craft – Scottish fitba writing was mainly about the Bigot Brothers.

Mind you, we had real writers back then, guys like Partick Thistle supporter “Dan” Archer and Killie fan Hughie Taylor, who knew there was a world beyond Ibrox and Parkhead, but, fiscal realities meant, the output was mostly shite spread between the two cheeks of the same sectarian erse.

So, there was a continual battle between the two clubs, to see which of them would get the back page lead each day. Rangers had the advantage in that most of the A Team of top names were members of the Lap Top Loyal, but, in the Merlin-like Jock Stein, Celtic possessed a master of what was not then yet termed “spin”.

 Jock Stein - had mastered media spin before the term was invented

Stein had a sixth sense of when Rangers were about to come out with a “good news story”, and, more-often than not, he would come-up with one of his own to derail the “Other Lot” from grabbing the back-page headlines.

These days, that's one managerial dark art which Brendan Roger does not have to embrace. Well, for a start I sense most of the big-name writers now worship at Celtic Park rather than Ibrox, while – there is no good news coming-out of Ibrox. Take today, Chairman King is up in court again, having disregarded a Take-Over Board order to make an offer for the remaining shares in his club, following the moves which saw him ushered into the Chairman's role.

Things really seem to go from bad, to worse, to worser for The Glib And Shameless Liar, who appears to some observers to be navigating the SS Rangers towards the rocks with a level of incompetence even greater than that of yon Italian captain of the Concordia. (Editor's note: well done for not mentioning the Titanic, bad memories for some of Ra Peepul).

At least, the stenographers appear to have put a positive spin on that little labour dispute which we should call the Miller's tale – for now, but, we await the memoirs.

OF COURSE, the Hampden “suits” wasted little time in kicking this latest Ibrox (small) Disaster into the long grass, by sacking WGS, when the SFA Board mets today. I lang syne gave up trying to predict the thought processes along the sixth floor corridor – such as there are thought processes, except to firmly believe, whatever the Bord decides to do, they will almost-certainly, in time, be shown to have taken the wrong option.

Gordon Strachan's successor meets the press

It may be a lucky break for the SFA that they have to decide WGS's future at this juncture. I mean, when you look at the catastroclusterfuck that is Brexit, the internal machinations of the Conservative and Labour Parties, the British Labour in Scotland leadership election, the on-going stand-off between the governments in Barcelona and Madrid, the my missile's bigger than yours game of one-upmanship between Trump and Kim What'sisname – the SFA board appear relatively united, intelligent and competent.

We await their deliberations with interest: Le Roi est mort, vive Le Roi, but, it could still be: Carry On Regardless - another farce. Excitement, haud me back.

DOWN HERE, in God's County, we are in the throes of our own waiting game, anxious to discover who will take-over as the new Killie boss.

To be fair to Billy Bowie and the Kilmarnock board, they have refused to be railroaded into a quick decision as to Lee McCulloch's successor. They sought applications, sifted through them, complied a long list, cut it down to a short list and are seemingly working towards an appointment.

Needless to say, some of the fans are screaming for the new man to be in place, a week ago last Tuesday, but, Bowie didn't build-up his considerable business empire by rushing, and, so the cynics down here have been saying, since he is used to wading through shite to make a buck or two, he's well-equipped to sort-out the applicants.

Stevie Clarke, the former West Brom and Reading boss, before that the assistant to some big names at Newcastle and Chelsea and before that a Scotland full-back with Chelsea and St Mirren appears to be the favourite – for what that tag is worth.

 Stevie Clarke - favourite for the Kilmarnock job

It helps that Stevie is a North Ayrshire boy, and that his brother Paul gave Killie sterling service as a player. Stevie has a very good coaching and player-development pedigree, he has contact down south for loan deals, I would not be amiss at seeing him installed. I would, however, wonder if he could cope with the limited budget he might have should he get the job. And, it would be good to see a successful Ayrshire man back on home turf (or astro-turf if you like).

THIS BLOG has never hidden it's liking for Junior Fitba – the true people's game. So, it would be remiss of me not to throw-in a wee mention of the Umbro Quadrangular tournament featuring the national Junior sides of Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland, currently being played in the Glasgow area.

In yesterday's opening games, Scotland drew 2-2 with Northern Ireland, while the Republic of Ireland went top of the table with a 3-2 win over the Isle of Man. Today's games see the Manxmen taking on Northern Ireland at Benburb's New Tinto Park, while at New Western Park, Renfrew, Scotland entertain the Republic of Ireland.

The players have a day off on Friday, before the tournament concludes with two games on Saturdy -the Republic facing Northern Ireland at St Anthony's new McKenna Park before the whole shooting-match concludes with the Isle of Man facing Scotland at Pollok's Newlandsfield Park.

If you're Jackie Baillied off with some of the rubbish served-up in our senior game, why not take in one of the games, you are sure to be entertained.