Might Wee James Be Playing A Blinder For The Team He Really Supports

THE public perception is that wee James Traynor is the “inter-galactic PR mastermind” (copyright the Donegal Blogger), operating at Level 5, who is behind the public statements of a certain football club, based in the South-West quadrant of Glasgow.

 Wee James - Intergalactic PR Mastermind

The story is, wee James has put the fear of death in the churnalists and stenographers in the mainstream media in Glasgow, to the effect – they write exactly what he tells them, or, more-often, they copy and paste his press releases for their newspaper's style and production systems.

The wee man from Airdrie is now seen as: “A Real Ranjurrz Man”, preaching to the converted of the Lap Top Loyal. Trouble is, the Scottish football writer who knows him better than anyone else, has always insisted, once he got over being released by his beloved Airdrie as a youth, James turned his affections southwards, towards a club based in the East End of Glasgow.

Good tale, the veracity of which I cannot comment on, but, if wee James is indeed a “Sellick Man” albeit a closet one, then he's playing a blinder, and his latest stunt is an absolute cracker.

Even Real Rainjurrz Men that I know laughed like a drain at the thought of Alfredo Morelos being worth £10 million. To be fair to Wee James, with the weather we've been having in Scotland of late, we needed a right good laugh – and we got one.

Mind you £22 million, or whatever for Moussa Dembele, well that just shows how too-much cash has ruined English football. It will, if it happens, be nice work for both Celtic and the young Frenchman, but, I would say, going to any of the other clubs, except possibly Everton, would be a downward move.

AND on a subject which compliments discussion of the proposed Dembele move, nice bit of work by Aberdeen in getting to keep hold of Kenny McLean for the remainder of the season, following his transfer to Norwich City.

It continues to grate with me that a 26-year-old Scotland cap, playing with the number 2 club in Scotland, can be so-easily transferred to the number 33 club in England – then be loaned back!!

I know, only too-well, Scotland has always been England's poor relation, but, this is ridiculous. Yes, players have a short career, of course they have to make big money when they can, but, as Hunter Davies clearly knew, when he wrote his seminal book nearly half a century ago now, football is The Glory Game.

McLean has turned his back on guaranteed European football, playing in the top division of his home league, for what – a bigger pay packet – to continue my theme: what price Glory?

MEANWHILE, back at the Hampden ranch, Stewart Regan is earning his corn, taking all the flak for the SFA's failure to land Michael O'Neill as their next national team boss – after the SFWA (Scottish Football Writers Association) think tank had prematurely anointed him as Da Man.

Stewart Regan - Scapegoat for the failures of the elected "suits"

So, we are back where the SFWA foot soldiers like to be, avoiding hard work. They can, between now and our next meaningless friendly, get back to making telephone calls round the former Scotland players in their contacts books, asking: “Who do you think should get the job?” They can allow Wee Jim to write their copy for them, depending on which ex-Ranger is front runner, or coming up on the rails for the job.

At the moment it is big Alex McLeish who is the favoured son, seeking his second sip from the poisoned chalice. To be fair, Eck did very well the last time, but, still could not get us to either of the big shows. Since then, his managerial star has waned somewhat, however.

I might also point-out, twice before, the SFA gave a former manager a second go at the job. Andy Beattie, our first Team Manager, whose tenure in 1954 saw him preside over a couple of major disasters, ended with him posting a 33.33% winning average.

Against his better judgement, perhaps, he took the job again in 1959 and ended-up, if anything even more sick of working with the SFA, an with a 25% winning average.

In 1965, Jock Stein was persuaded to dig the SFA out of a hole of their own making, when they arbitrarily sacked Ian McColl, Stein's first spell saw him rack-up a 42.86 wins percentage, and us fail to reach the 1966 World Cup finals, from a strong position.

He again came to the SFA rescue after Argentina, holding onto the job until his untimely and tragic death in Cardiff in 1985. Second time round, he had a 42.62% winning record. So second chances have not been as good as first dibs for Scotland bosses.

FINALLY, that wee ynaff James Kelly MSP will be moving his Bill to scrap the Offensive Behaviour At Football Act in Holyrood tomorrow.

 James Kelly MSP - liked OBFA, until he realised Celtic songs were included

Kelly, like quite a few of the holier-than-thou section of the Celtic Family was all for the Act, until he suddenly realised some of their traditional songs would be considered every bit as offensive as those on that great CD, Donald Findlay Sings the Blues. Then, he lost all his enthusiasm for OBFA.

I have never deviated from my view, OBFA is bad law, badly and too-hurriedly drafted, but, it is needed and, flaws and all, it is better than nothing. Scrapping it will be a huge mistake.

The Scottish Government, if the combined opposition parties succeed in having it scrapped, ought to get touch with the SFA. They are the people who could end offensive behaviour at football overnight – all they have to do is tell the clubs: you are being monitored, if your fans misbehave, we are holding you responsible, and you will be deducted points. First offence, you lose three points, second six, third nine and so on.

I reckon, almost overnight, things would improve. It's worth a try.

And, if the SFA will not act – no more government money or help.