A Job For Television's Sewermen Perhaps

LIKE MANY a Scot, I have grown weary of the antics of Forces of Darkness within Scottish football, those followers of the two largest Glasgow-based clubs, who glory in the fact: “No one likes us, and we don't care.”

Two cheeks of the same erse

Of course, the largest and most vociferous of the two groups at making that ludicrous claim, have, quite rightly copped a good deal of flak for their antics at Rugby Park on Sunday. I mean, how big a bam do you need to be to bring down a roof on top of your own disable fans?

However, they immediately went to their default position - “a big boy or boys did it and ran away; it wisnae us Mr. It was all the fault of Kilmarnock FC, East Ayrshire Council, Police Scotland, the SPFL, the SFA, yon Nicola Sturgeon – everyone but the Rangers support. They are paragons of virtue and staunch, Protestant good behaviour, particularly on the Sabbath, and would never break the requirement to behave with dignity and propriety on the Lord's Day. Aye Right!! As we say in these parts.

The behaviour of the Ibrox Lunatic Fringe at Rugby Park immediately, in the course of the first game of the new league season, surrendered the moral high ground to their chums across the city, and the usual suspects in The Celtic Family, with The Donegal Blogger in the van, were quickly onto the story – like hyena at a kill.

These guardians of good order and football fans discipline, these paragons of virtue, however, have dragged their feet somewhat, in calling-out another, albeit less-serious occurrence of bad behaviour on Sunday, when a detachment of the Green Brigade apparently took themselves off on a wee day trip to East Kilbride, to thoroughly abuse the Rangers Women's team, following their game with their Celtic rivals.

Bad enough the poison surrounds games between male sides representing the Bigot Brothers, but, when that poison is transferred across to the women's game – it is maybe time for the SFA to issue a serious ultimatum to the two clubs: sort your fan base out, or, we will.

Hit them where it hurts, in their pockets, by bringing-in strict liability.

• The first time a club's support misbehaves, they have to play their next home match behind closed doors.
  
  
• The second time – it's a two-game fan ban
  
  
• The third time – it's a four-game fan ban
  
  
• Each subsequent occasion – the fan ban doubles in length.
  
  

I reckon, between the damage this would do to the clubs' finances, and the self-policing of their decent supporters, and they have many, then in short order, the bams would be removed from the game.

Of course bigotry and sectarianism does not begin at the turnstiles and end on the way out at time-up, it is learned behaviour, which starts at home. It is Scottish society's problem, and it has been around for a long, long time. It will take generations to wipe it out, but, at least, we can in a relatively short time, get rid of it from football.

Provided the will is there.

I knew there was a drawback.

SCOTT McKENNA has, in fairly short order, established himself in the Scotland national side. He has now played in 12 of our last 14 internationals, so, by any measure, he is a current first pick – and he is still only 22 years of age, a “baby” in central defender terms.

Scott McKenna - his head has been turned

But now, on the starting line of the new season, he wants to leave Aberdeen, to test himself in the choppier waters of English football. Old cynic that I am, I smell the malign hand of an agent on the make behind this one.

Right now, McKenna is “hot property,” maybe the agent feels he can get him a move before the English transfer window closes. However, you can bet, it will more-likely be to a Championship than a Premiership side, the top sides down south no longer raid Scotland when they need a good player: these days are past.

They do not rate our players, and Aberdeen will, albeit reluctantly, be forced to let go a guy who has proved himself in the international arena. I do not think they need to sell him, however, even with a new ground to pay for.

But, if they feel they do need the money, can I remind the Aberdeen board, Harry Maguire, a 26-year-old who has played just eight more internationals than McKenna, was sold for £80 million this month. That is now the going rate for British defenders with a proven international pedigree.

Now, I am not suggesting McKenna is worth that transfer fee, but, pro-rata, he has to be worth a bit more than any English Championship side will be willing, or able, to pay for him.

ONE OF the best operators in the field of Scottish Football Writing quit last week. After 27 years, Scott Campbell – Mr Junior Football – left the Scottish Sun.

Scott, pictured left, and his equally-talented wife Margret are, for me, the first couple of Scottish Journalism. Scott is dipping his toe into the sometimes turbulent waters of freelancing, but, while he is best-known for his years of covering the juniors, he has a skills-set beyond most of the mainstream media in Scotland.

Scott is an accomplished writer and sub-editor; he can cover multiple sports and he is an excellent travel writer and popular music critic. The Campbells will not starve.

However, the juniors will miss him.

Having known Scott and Margret since they were both setting-out in the business with what was then the Guthrie Group in Ayrshire, I wish Scott well in freelancing. He managed to walk the tight rope between Talbot and Cumnock – the Montagu and Capulet or Hatfield and McCoy of Scottish football. He will, I am sure, survive and prosper away from Uncle Rupert's fond embrace.