Sir Stevie Has Spoken

WELL – WE KEN NOO; Stevie Clarke has revealed his 26-man squad to cross the Atlantic this year in search of World Cup glory. No left field bolters, Clarke has always been a manager who goes with the tried and trusted, the only question now is – which player will be very-unlucky and pick-up a daft injury which costs him his place – it always happens.

The squad is:

IT SAYS MUCH about the desk jockeys running the Sports Desks of Scotland's failing mainstream media, that that eternal punch bag – the SFA – is copping some flak following the carnage in the East End of Glasgow. Fair enough, functioning brain cells are in short supply along Hampden's sixth floor Corridor of Power – and in a few newspaper offices I could name, however, sorting out Saturday's mess isn't an SFA problem.

The game was under the control of the Scottish Professional Football League, so, it's their job to smooth over the hurt feelings and deliver any sanctions which might follow. In particular, it falls to the SPFL's Board of Directors: Group Chief Executive Neil Doncaster, Chairman Murdoch MacLennan, Independent Non-Executive Director Karyn McCluskey, Malcolm McPherson (Hibernian), Phyllis Carroll (Kilmarnock), Patrick Stewart (Rangers) – representing the Premiership clubs; Willie Houston (Ayr United), David Cook (Dunfermline Athletic), representing the Championship clubs and Andrew Allan (Alloa Athletic) and Alternate Director Iain Dougan (Stranraer), representing the League One and Two clubs.

These ten officials will need to puruse Match Referee Don Robertson's official match report, the report of the SPFL Delegate at the game, the report from the Match Commander from Police Scotland, plus any comments submitted by the two club's involved – then, they decide what action, if any, will be taken.

Go into any pub or club in Scotland, go anywhere where Scttish football fans are congegrated, then ask the question: “What do you think will happen in the wake of Saturday's carnage?” - the chances are the answer you will get will vary between: “nothing”, via “a slap on the wrist for Celtic” to somewhere between “Swept under the carpet” and “two coats of whitewash”.

The dogs in the street know, while on the face of things, the SPFL is run for the benefit of all 42 member clubs, the reality is, two clubs are more-important than the other 40, and these two must never be embarrassed by the rest, since they do such a sterling job on their own.

The Celtic Family - will insist their club should not suffer any injury from the over-exuberant passion of a tiny minority of their following.

Ra Peepul – who follow Rangers – will be convinced, since Scottish Football is run for the convenience of Celtic FC, no action will be taken against that club.

The rest of us, including the bitterly-disappointed Hearts fans, are just wondering exactly how the High Heid Yins of the League will cover-up this latest example of bad behaviour from one half of the Old Firm and announce what will be too-little censure, while keeping a straight face.

My forecast? Well, the wheels of justice grind slowly, evidence has to be gathered and pored over, questions need to be asked, television footage reviewed. This will take some time, I would reckon, 24 June might be a good date on which to announce the SPFL's enquiry findings – then the whitewash will get lost in the furore over the Scotland v Brazil World Cup game.

WHILE, AT THE top level, we are still functioning somewhere around 1689 – 1690, elsewhere, Scottish Fitba is slowly moving into the 21^st century.

The SPFL Premiership is Level One in our game, The Championship is Level Two, League One is Level Three, League Two is Level Four, while the Highland and Lowland Leagues are Level Five.

When hostilities resume in late summer, the Lowland League will be split into East and West divisions, with some of the great names in Junior Football, having upgraded their facilities to meet SFA requirements, joining the new set-up.

The Lowland League (West) cast list for the new season is:

Albion Rovers

Auchinleck Talbot

Beith

Caledonian Braves

Celtic B ("guest side")

Clydebank

Cumbernauld Colts

Cumnock

Dalbeattie Star

Gretna 2008

Johnstone Burgh

Kilwinning Rangers

Largs Thistle

Newton Stewart

Pollok

Renfrew

Troon

The line-up in the Lowland League (East) for the new season is:

Berwick Rangers

Bo'ness United

Bonnyrigg Rose

Brechin City

Broxburn Athletic

Civil Service Strollers

Cowdenbeath

Dunipace

East Stirlingshire

Gala Fairydean Rovers

Hill of Beath Hawthorn

Linlithgow Rose

Lochee United

Musselburgh Athletic

Tranent

University of Stirling

This change offers an opportunity for giants of the former Junior game, such as Auchinleck Talbot, Cumnock and Pollok to perhaps advance into the Senior ranks. But, what about those clubs who haven't made the cut?

The likes of Glenafton Athletic, Irvine Meadow, Kilbirnie Ladeside and Arthurlie have lost lucrative local derbies, those neighbouring clubs, against whom they were competing to attract talent now have an advantage, they will be playing at a higher level.

And what of the fans, I was discussing the new set-up with some fellow coffin dodgers last week and one or two were complaining about the way admission costs had risen as the clubs have had to upgrade facilities in order to advance through the ranks. Some were also complaining of the additional costs of travel to away games. But, I suppose this the cost of progress.