The Old Firm In England - Paper Talk But Not A Good Story

YAWN!! The imminent departure of the Old Firm for England is back on the agenda. Aye Right. Pardon the cynicism, but, I have been seeing the departure of the Bigot Brothers for English football being forecast for most of the last 25-years, roughly since Sky began to pour millions into the top flight south of the Solway. Make no mistake, both clubs would go in an instant, without a backward glance, but will they – this time? Personally, I doubt it. If the English Premiership was to invite the two clubs, and again, let their be no mistake – in England, much though the wilder elements in the Celtic Family will try to deny this – the two big Glasgow clubs are seen as a job lot, both go, or neither goes – it is only to the Premiership that they will go, speedily, without a backward glance. But, the plans which have come out this week would, should they be invited to transfer to English football, or should they choose to put themselves forward to join it, would call for the pair to join the new Fourth Division of the Football League – the fifth tier in England. This would mean, no European football for perhaps five seasons. No, I don't see two clubs with a guid conceit o' themselves voluntarily dropping out of Europe for that long.   Leaving aside promotion and relegation, let's assume the new fourth division was to be starting in August, with the new season – here is how it would look: The Championship – Burnley, Middlesbrough, Brighton, Hull City, Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich Town, Cardiff City, Brentford, Birmingham City, Preston North End, Queen's Park Rangers, Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, Nottingham Forest, Reading, Bristol City, Huddersfield Town, Fulham. League One - Rotherham United, Charlton Athletic, MK Dons, Bolton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic, Burton Albion, Walsall, Millwall, Bradford City, Barnsley, Scunthorpe United, Coventry City, Gillingham, Rochdale, Sheffield United, Port Vale, Peterborough United, Bury, Southend United, Swindon Town. League Two – Oldham Athletic, Chesterfield, Fleetwood United, Shrewsbury Town, Doncaster Rovers, Blackpool, Colchester United, Crewe Alexandria, Northampton Town, Oxford United, Bristol Rovers, Accrington Stanley, Plymouth Argyle, Portsmouth, Wimbledon, Leyton Orient, Cambridge United, Carlisle United, Luton Town, Mansfield Town. League Three – Wycombe Wanderers, Exeter City, Barnet, Hartlepool United, Notts County, Stevenage Borough, Yeovil, Crawley Town, Morecambe, Newport, Dagenham & Redbridge, York City, plus eight new clubs from Celtic and Rangers, plus the top eight in the National League – the top level in England below the Football League. Currently these top eight clubs are – Cheltenham Town, Forest Green Rovers, Braintree, Grimsby Town, Dover United, Tranmere Rovers, Eastleigh, Wrexham. I cannot in all honesty see the National League's management committee washing their hands of two of their clubs, to allow the Old Firm straightforward entry to the Football League. I can remember when new clubs had to be voted into the Football League. For years, Hartlepool United,like East Stirlingshire up here, seemed to be perennially voted back in, after finishing bottom. It took the non-league clubs a long time to establish the practice of automatic promotion and relegation between the top end of the English Non-League Pyramid and the Football League. I cannot see these clubs standing aside easily, if the Football League was to try to introduce Celtic and Rangers, I could see a long and costly legal challenge to the plan. The idea of travelling to Old Trafford, Anfield, Stamford Bridge, The Emirates etc, yes, that holds an attraction for the Old Firm fans, but, Crawley, Dagenham, Grimsby, Dover? No, I don't see either the Follow-Follow brigade or The Greatest Fans In The World being too keen on visiting such hotbeds of football. Also, I could see the travelling Scottish fans being the most-unpopular visitors to England since Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Highlanders called in 1745. Millwall v Rangers for instance – that, to me, spells sleepless nights for the Metropolitan Police's Divisional and Match Commanders. And let's not beat about the bush here, both lots, especially given well-publicised trips to Newcastle and Manchester, Ra Peepul, have “form” when it comes to causing bother in England. Ra Peepul making an erse of themselves in Manchester in 2008 Celtic haven't been involved in such major outbreaks of civil disorder, but, their fans too have let the club down badly on trips to England. And, what of the effect on Scottish football? Since this notion of departure surfaced in midweek, I have seen some fans of other clubs showing delight: “Don't let the door hit your erse on the wey oot”, is a typical reaction from elsewhere. OK, the notion of Champions League and Europa League football being available to others is a welcome one, but, some clubs would miss the added revenue games against the Old Firm bring. Many a struggling League One or Two club has seen their fortunes markedly changed by a indly cup draw for instance. I think the rest of Scottish football would miss them. It might happen, but, all things considered, I cannot see it. Never mind, it is good click-bait for the newspaper websites.

Games Can Turn On One Incident - But They Are Not Always Lost On Them

THIRTY-PLUS years ago, I covered a Scotland v England basketball international at Falkirk's Coasters Arena. Early in the second half, Scotland were leading the Auld Enemy by 20 points, which, in basketball is the equivalent of maybe a 4-0 lead in football. Then, Paisley's finest, big Bobby Archibald - whose son Robert is Scotland's greateste-ever basketball player - broke away unopposed and, rather than going for the simple lay-up (a tap-in), Bobby went for the big finale, an overarm, windmilling “slam dunk” - think of an “erse-hole winder” from six yards. But, instead of slamming the ball through the hoop, he caught the back, the ball rebounded the length of the court and England scored.

 

 

Basketball-playing Archibalds, Paisley and Murray International's Bobby (left) and his even bigger son Robert (right) who played for University of Illonois and in the NBA

This sparked-off a new belief in the men in white and in short order, the game was tied. However, to be fair to that Scotland team, they recovered their composure and eventually won by ten points.

Up until last night that was the best example I could come up with, of a single game turning on one incident – then Sevilla went on the attack from the second-half kick-off. Seventeen seconds later, it was 1-1 and, at that moment, I realised, the Spanish side was going to win.

I would hope, but not with any great belief in this happening, that, after last night, the English football media would give up this: “The English Premiership is the greatest league in the world” pish. Two Madrid teams contesting the European Cup Final, another Spanish club beats Liverpool to win the Europa League Final, and, none of these three clubs is the best in Spain – Methinks La Ligua has first dibs on the title: 'Greatest League in the World'.

Let's be brutally honest here, that last night was not a good Liverpool team. From Wullie Shankly through to Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool's success was built on fantastic defence. Shankly, Bob Paisley, whoever, they all accepted, success was more likely, the fewer goals you conceded. Aye, Ian St John, Roger Hunt, Keegan and Toshack, King Kenny, Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen maybe got the Kop going with their goals, but, the Koppites also worshipped Tommy Lawrence and Ron Years, Phil Thompson, Tommie Smith, Hansen and Lawrenson – the guys who kept the back door firmly bolted.

That Liverpool defence last night always looked fragile, when Sevilla attacked, and, in the end, they buckled in the way the great Liverpool sides seldom did, unless, perhaps faced with an Ajax team which in Shankly's immortal understatement: “Came here to defend”, by scoring at will on the counter-attack.

Daniel Sturridge - he's no Rush, Fowler, or Owen, far less a Dalglish

Daniel Sturridge is the poster boy of the current Liverpool team. I am sorry, but, apart from scoring a delightful goal, what did he do last night? He was anonymous from 1-1 on. He is not a team player and, for me, he is typical of today's top English player – over-hyped, lacking in application and not doing his talent justice. Shankly, Paisley & Co would have had little time for such a selfish individual.

 

AFTER the three-ring circus of the Europa League Final, it's back to purritch an auld claes tonight, with the first-leg of the SPFL Premiership Promotion Play-Off Final: Falkirk v Kilmarnock.

 Kris Boyd is Killie's best hope of salvation

I am, quite frankly, worried. Unless big Boydie can summon-up, somewhere over the two-legs, the goal-sniffing genius which has got him so-many goals over his career, I fear we are doomed. I cannot see a Killie team, whose recent form has been at best indifferent, can overcome a Falkirk team who, after the way they saw-off Hibs in the semi-final, must believe promotion is written in the stars.

Falkirk have all the momentum going into these two games, and, I fear, but am actually looking forward to, the return of the less-hateful Ayrshire Derby next season.

THAT Falkirk v Kilmarnock game is not the only crucial two-legged game coming up in Scottish football. That said, to be fair, the other one I wish to write about is not strictly speaking, a two-legged match.

Tomorrow night, at Newlandsfield, Pollok's home ground, Auchinleck Talbot and Hurlford United meet in the West of Scotland Cup final. Given the close rivalry between these two sides, this match promises to be a cracker.

 Hurlford United boss Darren Henderson (left) and Talbot boss Tucker Sloan (below). In essence their teams' seasons come down to the results of their clubs' back-to-back clashes at Newlandsfield tonight and at Blair Park on Wednesday.

 However, there is an equally-important clash between the pair, coming up at United's Blair Park, on Wednesday of next week, when they clash in the West of Scotland Superleague Prmier Division. This is, in effect, a league decider. Talbot lead the table, with 42 points from their 21 games. Hurlford lie third, with 35 points from 19 games.

In theory, therefore, if United win this, and their other two fixtures, they will overhaul Talbot and take the title, but, they have to beat Talbot. Should Wednesday night's game finish as a draw, United would then have to in their final two games, score ten more goals than they concede, to overturn Talbot's nine goal advantage in goal difference. As I was saying, nicely-poised and two potentially cracking games to come.

There is an exciting finish too, to the West Superleague, the First Division. Here, Largs top the table, with one game left to play, while second and third-placed Clydebank and Cumnock, who meet on Saturday, can still overhaul them for the title.

Cumnock, who have been playing their matches at Lugar's Rosebank Park, while Townhead Park has a new artificial surface laid, have four games left, as have fourth-placwd Kilwinning Rangers, so, dependant on results they could get themselves into the promotion and promotion/relegation places. There is even a chance that Largs might be overhauled and miss-out altogether. Quite honestly, nobody does drama quite like the juniors. On dry nights in May and into June, regular sernior football fans could do worse than get themselves along to their nearest junior clubs to see real fitba in the raw.

A few posts ago, I mentioned the possibility of Irvine Derbies in the West First Division next season, as Irvine Vics led the Ayrshire League. Sadly, they have been overtaken by Girvan, who will now go up to the West First Division next season, replacing relegated Maybole. Renfrew, having won the Central First Division, will also go up, to replace either Bellshill or Yoker.

OBFA - One Blundering Football Act - or is it?

SEVERAL General Elections ago, I was driving home as the polls closed, listening to Radio 4, who put out a programme poking fun at politicians in general and elections in particular. One of the “talking heads” was the late, great, Peter Cook, whose suggestion to the listeners was: “Don't vote, it only encourages them”.

Peter Cook - had the right attitude to politicians

During the 100-years or so of universal suffrage, Scotland has voted, in turn, National Liberal, Scottish Unionist or, for most of that century, Labour, while England has generally voted Conservative. Even when the Labour Party has had its occasional turn in power, in truth, it has done very little for Scotland – we are still, as we have been since the Union of Parliaments in 1707, the poor relations of the United Kingdom.

In 2007, we Scots voted in a minority SNP government in Holyrood. In 2011 we gave them a majority. Earlier this month, we again voted-in the SNP as a minority government. Now, some might argue about this, but, I think it is fair to say, given the constraints placed on their powers by the devolution agreement, and the fact, they have only had four years of majority rule in which to do it – the SNP has been unable to do all that much to sort-out our position as the poor relations. There are still many key issues, particularly around poverty and social deprivation in Scotland to be addressed.

So, with, so-much to be sorted out, you might have thought the Tories, Scottish Labour, Scottish Liberal-Democrats and Green who are in the majority, but out of power in Holyrood might have found a pressing issue to combine over and to, to use the currently popular political phrase: “Hold the SNP's feet to the fire over”.

Ruthie holding Nicola's feet to the fire

What about the fact so many Scots are having to use food banks? No cannot use that, the Tories' Westminster policies on austerity might be a factor there.

What about the well-known inefficiencies in Scottish local authorities? No, too-many of them are Labour-controlled.

Well, what can we get the SNP on? How about the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act? Great, aye, let's go for it. So, it began, the first great test of the new SNP government, the burning issue of the day in Scotland is to be OFBA.

Jings, crivvens, help ma Boab. Ah kent politicians were daft, but, Ah didnae think they were that daft. NO, strike that remark, one of the main supporters for repeal of OBFA is SLAB mouthpiece James Kelly.

Let me say immediately – I think OFBA is bad law, badly drafted and hurriedly introduced. I am told by friends who held high rank in the police, it is a difficult act under which someone can be prosecuted – the same officers still believe the former “catch-all” Breach of the Peace charge was a better means of nabbing the loonies at football.

But, for all that, it was a genuine attempt to sort-out a festering sore on the face of Scottish football, and, it addressed an issue which the Scottish football authorities had spent 100-years either ignoring or if they did give it some attention, shying away from tackling properly.

All good pals and jolly good company

Offensive behaviour at football matches is not a problem confined to just two clubs (or one club if you are a member of the most-easily-offended family of supporters of one club in the world). I have seen some offensive behaviour among less than 50 fans at a junior game, just as I have seen it among 130,000 fans in the old Hampden Park.

You don't have to be singing about being: “Up to our knees in Fenian blood” or chanting your support for the IRA to offend people. Fans at Scottish football matches have taken offence to such minor incidents as a club mascot placing a very large supposed air freshener in front of them (Paisley Panda v the Morton fans at Love Street) or the goalkeeper of the opposing team ostentatiously blessing himself (Artur Boruc, “the Holy Goalie” at Ibrox). I even remember a female Kilmarnock fan, on a near-deserted Rugby Park terrace, choosing to stand less than six feet away from the legendary Hamilton supporter “Fergie”, then being offended when Fergie gave his familiar exhibition of his command of early Anglo-Saxon invective.

Artur Boruc - upset the Rangers' fans

No, Offensive Behaviour at Football is not a duopoly, although, having more fans than the rest put together, the Old Firm must, by definition, have more loonies who are likely to behave offensively; therefore, they get the most attention on this issue.

As a sub-issue here, there are suggestions this whole – let's get rid of OBFA campaign has been hatched-up by the powerful Celtic-supporting wing of the Glasgow Labour Party, who believe, The Sash, Derry's Walls, The Billy Boys and the Famine Song – particularly the Famine Song - are offensive; while their favoured anthems are simply traditional Irish folk songs, or political protest songs, sung to emphasise Celtic's honourable Irish history and tradition. Aye Right.

The fact, some Celtic fans found themselves in court under OBFA legislation was not part of the plan.

The late, great Jock Stein, when faced with complaints that Celtic never seemed to get a fair deal from Scottish referees – the “Never defeated, always cheated” defence – used to say, the best defence against bad refereeing was to take the official out of the equation. Don't give him an excuse to award a soft penalty against you. Maybe Scottish football should do more, a lot more, to blunt the effects of OBFA.

Perhaps if the SPFL Match Delegate at matches involving the Rangers Tribute Act had proper hearing, and could make out the singing of being: “Up to our knees in Fenian blood” or “Fuck the Pope”, then, just maybe, some sort of penalty could be attached to the RTA – deduction of points for instance.

I wager, if the RTA were docked three points every time the Ibrox choir launched into one of their greatest hits, it would not be too-long before the board took action to rid themselves of the proportion of their following who continue to justify the late Ian Archer's tag of being: “A permanent embarrassment and an occasional disgrace”.

Ian Archer - his description of the Rangers' fans has stuck 

It is often suggested, the worst offenders in the Rangers support are to be found among the hard-core who follow-follow to away games. Now, given there are over 30,000 season ticket holders at Ibrox, and only two other Scottish clubs – Celtic and Queen's Park, have grounds big enough to accommodate that number, RTA away tickets are rationed, with most distributed through the various Rangers Supporters Clubs.

It follows then, the club must know which Supporters Clubs have tickets for which games, and, where they are sitting in the away ground. Therefore, if offensive singing breaks out in a particular section, it will not be too-difficult to deduce/prove, members of a particular Supporters Club were doing the offensive singing.

So, the secretary is called in, told his club is not getting any tickets for away games for a period and is under caution as to their future behaviour. I reckon, in no time at all, the offensive singing would stop. The decent supporters would silence the bams, or, the bams would be banned. I use RTA fans as an example here, the same plan would work on the other side of Glasgow.

That's the more-radical, long-term move. It would work, however, I don't think the will exists along the sixth floor corridor at Hampden to make it work. As we all know from past, bitter experience, there is a reluctance in Scottish football, to upset the Old Firm.

So, we have to come down to Holyrood again. I wonder what some of the politicians from the pro-Union parties, who are driving this call to get rid of OBFA will make of it, when some of the wilder elements of Ra Peepul, the staunchest guardians of Unionism in Scotland, make their presence felt. Will the politicos really wish to be seen with Ra Peepul?

Or, might the SNP spike their guns, by saying: “Aye, you're right, OBFA is not perfect, we need to do something about it”, then invite them to make representations to a Holyrood committee to tweak the Act? What will their attitude to that be? I mean, it is one thing to carp from the sidelines, to stick to their well-worn mantra of: “SNP Bad”, it will be quite another thing to have to come up with alternatives to an Act which, for all the opposition of the politicians – has proved popular with the public.

Not A Super Show But Ayr United Are Promoted

I MIGHT be a Kilmarnock fan, but, for 40-years prior to her untimely death, I was in a “mixed marriage” with a truly Bonnie Lassie. I enjoyed a few good afternoons at Somerset Park with her father and, for many years, I claimed to be: “the only neutral in Ayrshire”, as my football-reporting beat was Somerset Park one Saturday – Rugby Park the next.

So, I was delighted to see United beat Stranraer on penalties yesterday to clinch promotion to the Championship next season. I fervently hope Kilmarnock can see off Falkirk in the Premiership Play-Off final, and retain their place in the top flight, but, in truth, I am not that confident about their ability to do this. In which case, I will relish the return of the Senior Ayrshire Derby next season.

Ayr United shoot-out hero Greg Fleming

Yesterday's game was hardly a great advert for Scottish fitba, in fact, for long spells, it was dire. However, when the penalty shoot-out became inevitable, I just knew, Greg Fleming would emerge as the hero. And so it proved. Well done Ian McCall and his boys. And, lest I forget, a well done too to Queen's Park, who beat Clyde in the League One Play-Off.

BUT. Condolences to that hardy band, the East Stirlingshire fans, following their loss to Edinburgh City and consequent demotion to the Lowland League. 'Shire have been flirting with losing their league status for a long time, finally, the trap door has opened.

I can only hope, they regroup and in time, find their way back into senior football. I also wish City well “upstairs”. If they need encouragement, the former Highland League clubs who were admitted through league extension, have not done too badly.

City's promotion shows, the pyramid works. I would, however, like to see still greater re-organisation of Scottish football, with the Highland, Lowland, East of Scotland an South of Scotland Leagues and the Juniors combining into a single organisation. I know this goes against the Aye Beenism which is endemic in Scotland, but, to me, it makes sense.

THE Scotsman this morning has printed on its website what it claims are snatched pictures of the new Rangers kit for next season – along with suggestions the RTA will wear the new strip in Saturday's Scottish Cup Final.

Call me an old curmudgeon if you must, but, I have never liked advertising on team kits. I know commercial firms put a lot of cash into clubs, but, the idea of having a commercial logo emblazened across a strip has never appealed to me.

As far as I am concerned – this was the best Rangers strip.

This was the best Celtic strip.

This was the best Scotland strip.

Not a bad team - in a terrific strip

The NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB – the most commercially-successful leagues in the world manage to get by without commercial sponsorship on strips, why cannot the paupers in the SPFL?

Kilmarnock v Falkirk, Here We Go Again

BT SPORT picked up a cracker when they opted to show the second leg of the Championship/Premiership Play-Off Semi-Final between Falkirk and Hibs last night. OK, purists might quibble at the technical quality of the play but, this was Scottish football in the raw and at its best. Each side had spells in the ascendancy, there were some purple patches, no quarter was asked or given, and, the outcome was literally in doubt right up to the final kick. I must admit, I could see it going all the way to sudden-death penalty kicks, before Bob McHugh sealed the Bairns' place in the Final, against Kilmarnock.

As a Killie fan, this outcome worries me. We have history with the Bairns, lengthy history. Take the key meetings in my own lifetime. In 1957, Killie finished third in the Division One table, Falkirk finished fourteenth. On their way to meeting in the Scottish Cup Final, Killie had to win an Ayrshire Derby against Ayr United, then beat East Fife, their Scottish Cup nemesis, before beating Celtic in a semi-final replay – the Rugby Parkers went to Hampden as favourites.

Falkirk threaten the Killie goal during the 1957 final which they won

Falkirk's road to Hampden was more-straightforward. Yes, they beat Aberdeen and Raith Rovers, who would finish sixth and fourth in the league, but their other “victims”, Berwick Rangers and Clyde were Division Two sides. That, however, mattered little as the Bairns beat Killie 2-1 in a final replay, after the first game ended as a 1-1 draw.

But, as Sandy Ferguson's picture shows, Killie got their revenge in 1997

Okay, we had our revenge in the 1997 final at Ibrox, but, why have I this nagging feeling, it is perhaps again time for a crucial meeting between the two clubs to end up as Falkirk's turn to win? I just feel, we are going to see Ayrshire Derbies back on the agenda next season.

The two games between Falkirk v Hibs did not lack drama – that: “Was it a penalty” moment in the first game, when Falkirk's David McCracken clearly handled the ball, but, referee Alan Muir decided it had been accidental. Now, I accept Alan was probably the only man in Scotland, viewing the incident either live, in the flesh, or on TV, who arrived at that: “No penalty” conclusion. However, his was the only view that counted, after all, it is a core principle of the game, enshrined in Law V (I) - “The referee is the sole judge of fact”.

I will go to my grave, alongside the entire Nation of Leith, convinced Mr Muir got it wrong, but, the fact is, my opinion, the opinion of every Hibbee living, matters not one iota. The only opinion that matters is that of Alan Muir, and his was: “No penalty”. Live wth it and move on.

Last night, in the second leg, it was Craig Thomson's turn to be second-guessed. He did award Hibs a penalty, I (for what it is worth) agreed with his decision. James Keatings scored and, things looked good for the Edinburgh side.

But, Mr Thomson's decision to merely award the spot kick, and NOT to book or send off the sinning Falkirk defender, the aforementioned Mr McCracken, wasn't good enough for TV punditry's “Mr Angry”, Chris Sutton, and some of his colleagues among the BT Sport talking heads, notably Stephen Craigen.

Now, I am prepared to wager, during his recent past as a Motherwell and Northern Ireland central defender, had Craigen been penalised for the sort of tackle McCracken was pinged for last night, he would have been a most-unhappy bunny, had he even been booked.

We know Chris Sutton never accepts a referee's decision. He has built an entire post-playing media career on not agreeing with anyone else – only Chris Sutton can see truth, that is his unique selling point. Basically, Chris Sutton was an over-rated tit as a player, he is an over-rated tit as a pundit.

 Chris Sutton - never admits to being wrong 

Nowhere in the Laws of the Game, does it say that, when the referee awards a penalty, he must also consider if the infringement was worthy of a red or yellow card. Yes, I accept, McCracken fouled James Keatings inside the box, therefore, penalty. But, I thought his was an attempted tackle which he timed wrongly. As such, it merited the award of a penalty, but, not the secondary sanction of a card.

What Sutton, Craigen and those others debating if the challenge was worthy of a red or a yellow forgot was, how the red/yellow card sanction for: “denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity” came into being. I can tell you when it all started – it was back in 1980, in that year's FA Cup Final, at Wembley, when former Scotland Under-21 defender Willie Young chopped down West Ham's Paul Allen, who had skinned him and was bearing down on the goal.

Young hit Allen outside the box, but that single tackle sparked-off a lengthy debate about punishing what was deemed: “A professional foul”. It took years before action was taken, but, eventually, the “professional foul” inside the box, was punished by the red/yellow card sanction we see today.

There is considerable distance between the clear, cynical foul of the Young variety, and the mistimed tackle such as McCracken's last night, but, second-rate pundits such as Sutton, in a desperate effort to be “edgy” and controversial, all too often open mouth without engaging brain, in a desperate effort to be controversial. There is enough aggro in football, particuarly Scottish football, without churning up additional disagreement on the basis of possibly gaining viewers.

To be fair to Sutton. He might be a tit, but, he does voice his opinion, even when way wrong; which is maybe why he is more-often seen performing for the BT new boys, rather than for boring old Establishment “Auntie” BBC.

Chris Sutton was a somewhat lucky player. His fame is largely down to being the “junior partner” under Alan Shearer in Blackburn Rovers. “SAS” striking partnership. He won a single England cap, he failed in his one attempt at management. Shearer was a genuine “world-class” striker, meeting the benchmark for that accolade by averaging better and a goal every other game. Not even when plundering the porous defences of the Scottish Premier League with Celtic, did Sutton reach that 0.5 goals per game threshold.

He was a bit of a bully as a player, he is thus as a pundit. Yes, he is controversial, but, in my view, he adds nothing to the viewer's knowledge of football. I often wish he would shut-up, but, that's not what he is paid to do.

THE Offshore Game website has suddenly attracted attention this week. What's that, you might ask? The answer, it is the result of lengthy and intense investigation, by an organisation called the Justice Network into the incidences of offshore investment in British football.

 The principal portion of the report, as far as Scottish football is concerned, is their investigation into the ramifications of the collapse and liquidation of Rangers, and its causes. In particular, the Justice network forensically digests the often overlooked “Wee Tax Case”.

The Offshore Game makes certain allegations, concerning the SFA and the SPL's response to the WTC and the waves it caused. The report also focuses on Rangers being deemed fit to play in Europem prior to liquidation, and how this came about.

The documentation which they have published is lengthy, it is complicated for the layman to understand – the actual document, an the appendices which they publish to accompany the report are by no means an easy read. But, I would encourage everyone who cares about Scottish football and its standing in the football world to read it.

Campbell Ogilvie, one-time Rangers official and director, later President of the SFA, currently one of that organisation's three Honorary Vice-Presidents, gets a particularly hard time in the report. I am not qualified to comment on the accusations made against him and the SFA, but, reading this document has reinforced my long-held belief: when the whole Rangers storm broke, when the who knew what accusations began to be debated, Mr Ogilvie ought to have stood down until the whole matter was resolved.

This final resolution of matters will, of course, be at some point in the future. The Big Tax Case is ongoing, there are court cases to be resolved. Suffice to say, this document appears to add further weight to the claims that the SFA is not fit for purpose and requires immediate and thorough overhaul.

But, the biggest scandal surrounding this whole farago is – you will NOT see the Offshore Game being the subject of any article in the mainstream media in Scotland. A football press worthy of the name, would be all over this like a rash. The Editors, Sports Editors and opinion-formers in Scotland appear to have take a universal decision that there is no story here, nothing to see here, and decided to move along.

Shame on them.