Sensational Saturday - Did All These Unusual Things Really Happen?

BETWEEN blue moons, red moons and super moons, astronomers, and let's not forget astrologers, were having a field day. But, the thing nobody saw coming was surely Saturday afternoon's events, when, amazingly, both Bigot Brothers lost in the Scottish League; and, for extra spice – an event which sent the football historians racing to check when last it happened – Rangers conceded a penalty AT IBROX.

Oor Wullie - was that Ibrox penalty an effort to say: "See, Ah'm no a Hun?"

I can only assume, in awarding the penalty from which Jamie Maclaren scored Hibs' winner – note the name, he will be a sports quiz answer in years to come – Willie Collum was making what was probably a vain attempt to divert accusations of a pro-Rangers bias.

Then, a Rugby Park, Youssouf Mulumbu's goal sent the whole of Ayrshire, other than the Honest Men sector, into raptures and they were dancing in the streets of Cumnock, Drongan and Kilwinning as Celtic were beaten – a result which allowed Scott Brown to again display what a thoroughly decent cove and great sport, who can take the twin imposters and treat them both the same, he is.

The down side to the Killie win over Celtic is, the churnalists and stenographers of the SFWA will, this week, go into panic mode to try to have Stevie Clarke installed as the next keeper of the poisoned chalice as Scotland national team boss.

 Stevie Clarke in his Chelsea days - we would like a similar picture at Rugby Park, so: Hands off SFA

I have no doubts that Stevie would do a sterling job as Keeper of the Poisoned Chalice, but, not yet, we need him for a wee while longer at Rugby Park, his task there has barely begun. No, better perhaps that we allow the winds for change to blow a little longer along that sixth-floor corridor of power at Hampden, to bring a bit of fresh air and sanity into that benighted corner of the football kingdom.

The SFA board has three huge choices to make between now and the end of the season:

• They must appoint a new Chief Executive
• They must appoint a new National Team Manager
• They must decide between Murrayfield and Hampden as our home for the really big games.

And, that, as I see it, is the order in which they must dispose of these problems. Getting the right CEO in is the most-crucial job, and, it will be the hardest to fill. The SFA, as it currently works, is not fit for purpose. To his credit, Stewart Regan managed to bring in some much-needed changes. But, his problem will still be there, confronting his successor.

That problem is simple – the low quality of club official with which he or she, will be dealing with. There is not, we are told, a lot of talent from which to pick a Scotland team these days – well, there is even less talent in the board rooms of Scottish Football, from which the men to actually drive the game forward come. And sorting-out this lack of leadership talent, this paucity of people with clear vision for the future and how we turn-around the fortunes of the game in Scotland, will not be an easy fix.

HERE'S a wee thought for whoever the next CEO might be, why not have a look at something your pals across at the SRU have come-up with?

Mark Dodson, Capo di tuti Capo of the Murrayfield Mafia is trying to railroad through a new set-up, just below the elite PRO14 level, which will see the current ten BT Premiership sides reduced to just six “super franchises”.

The SRU will take a share in each of these six clubs, and have a say in their management, with the idea of seeing more, and better battle-ready Scottish players coming through into the top flight.

 The SRU's Mark Dodson - massive  opposition to his plans but, he insists - the new set-up WILL happen. The SFA could do with that type of firm leadership

Now this plan has hit a whole truck-load of opposition; not because it is a bad plan, indeed, most within Scottish Rugby see it as the basis of a good idea – they just don't like the particular model being touted, and can see a lot of flaws in the plan, or, as much as is in the public domain. However, the bold Mr Dodson has said: "Super Six WILL happen." That's the sort of definite management the SFA needs.

I know it probably would not get him the gig, but, imagine a potential CEO pulling something similar out of his executive briefcase. The SRU plan calls for six super-clubs, covering the four traditional Districts in Scottish Rugby, plus two floaters. Well, six is too-small a number for Scottish football, but just supposing, someone was to suggest a cut in the number of senior clubs, so we have super clubs covering the following areas:

• Glasgow East (Celtic)
• Glasgow West (Rangers)
• Edinburgh East (Hibs)
• Edinburgh West (Hearts)
• Aberdeen
• Dundee
• Fife
• Lanarkshire
• Ayrshire
• Renfrewshire
• The Lothians
• Central Scotland
• The Borders
• The Highlands

These 12 clubs would be centres of excellence within their franchise area, but would be required to meet certain standards as regards stadium and pitch facilities and standards. They would have a grass-roots development function as well.

Beneath them would be regional leagues, at the head of regional pyramids, while the 14 franchises would be guaranteed ten-years of operations. Of course, this is a broad brush-strokes suggestion, the devil would be in the detail, but, since the present set-up, which is as it has “aye been” with minor tweaks clearly is not working, why should we be afraid to try something else?