Issue 7

12th Man ISSUE #7

the

September 2009

The Scottish Football Fanzine www.scotzine.com

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HOMELESS WORLD CUP MILAN 2009 | Q&A with David Duke

THIRD LANARK: Oor Football Years

Plus OLD FIRM OBSESSION YOUTH ACADEMY SEASON GUIDE

Transfers | Sandy Jardine | Csaba Laszlo | Sir Alex Ferguson | MyScotFC

Contents

Acknowledgements

Lanark: The Hi-Hi’s to 11 Third the Lows!

Editor: Andy M. Design & Layout: Andy M. Proof Reading: Lyndon N. Scotzine Historian: Eoghan Maguire CONTRIBUTORS William McCafferty [USA], Alan Temple, Mike Smith, Eoghan Maguire, Iwan Nazif, Jen McLean, Laura Montgomery, Ross Pilcher, Seb Gevers, Derek Harvie, Bryan MacPherson, Glen McMahon, Bert Bell, Kenny Morrison, Euan Wallace, Colin D. Young, Dotmund and Two Hundred Percent.

SPECIAL THANKS TO David Duke, Homeless World Cup, Football Poets, MyScotFC, Bert Bell of thirdlanarkac. co.uk and el Gringo from Pie & Bovril for the Kit Designs.

of Scotland: 33 Legends Sir Alex Ferguson

4 5 6 8 9 11 13

The Dugout What now for Kilmarnock?

The Fall of Livingston FC Sandy Jardine - A Pre-Season Interview The Old Firm Obsession Oor Football Years: Third Lanark Webwatch Poetry Corner 14 Csaba Laszlo: The Second Coming 15 Premier League preview 17 Key Players in the SPL 18 The Season’s Big Questions 19 Division One preview 20 Division Two preview 21 Division Three preview 22 Highland League preview 23 Scottish Juniors preview 24 For & Against: Summer Football 25 MyScotFC 27 Shit Shot Mungo 28 Homeless World Cup: Milan 2009 29 Q & A with David Duke 31 Playing football at the edge of a cliff 33 Legends of Scotland: Sir Alex Ferguson 35 1997: A Trip to Ibrox 36 Transfers In & Out: SPL, Division One, Two & Three

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The Dugout

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The irate ramblings of our editor and dictator....

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elcome to Issue Seven of The 12th Man football fanzine.

The new season is finally with us and we can go back to watching our club play week in week out, vying for silverware, beating our greatest rivals or just surviving. No more Wimbledon, no more sitting in front of the telly, flicking through every channel possible and then giving up. We can go back to making up excuses to miss work, travelling the length and breadth of the country to see our team run onto the pitch and, of course, getting out of the house and away from the missus giving you chores to do.

So it looks like Scotland have once again failed at qualifying for another major tournament, as Norway humiliated us 4-0. We are getting so used to it by now that nothing ever surprises us anymore, either it is a glorious failure or a total failure, either way it’s the same outcome - listening to drivel from English commentators on how they will win the World Cup again. At least we will have some entertainment next summer, when England fall flat on their faces once again - hopefully in penalties.

Anyway, what’s in this issue?

To start with we have our season guide. We look at the SPL, Divisions One to Three, the Highland Football League and the Juniors. We give you our predictions of the winners and the losers; who the key men will be, who the bookies are tipping also.

We also give you another in the series of Legends of Scotland. Profiling arguablythe Greatest Ever Scottish manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. We take a look at Livingston and its dramatic fall from grace under the stewardship of Angelo Massone, as well as reminiscing about Third Lanark in Oor Football Years.

We debate the issue of Summer Football, we look at the obsession with the Old Firm and look at the Homeless World Cup and interview Scotland’s HWC team Head Coach David Duke. Sandy Jardine also talks to us about pre-season training and we begin our look at the Youth setup in Scotland.

Remember you can contact us in regards to any of our articles or the fanzine in general. Just email us at letters@scotzine.com for your voice to be heard.

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What now for Kilmarnock?

Text | Colin D. Young

clause. With Rangers publicly offering all of their players ‘for sale’ to alleviate their own debts, optimistic Killie fans must be praying that they manage to sell Naismith as well.

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ith recent announcements from Diageo Plc signalling what some view as the wholesale destruction of the economy of Kilmarnock, it’s worth asking the question of whether Kilmarnock F.C. can now survive in the long term.

Although Kilmarnock F.C. has seen revenues rise steadily over the past few years, this is more a direct result of the Park Hotel rather than footballing activities. Despite this rising turnover, debt levels have not significantly reduced over the period. Kilmarnock, for example, has debts half the size of Rangers F.C., but their turnover is only just above 10% of what Rangers generate. All debt is expensive and, without additional investment from a benefactor or continued significant profits, the future looks bleak.

The club made a £1.6M profit in season 2007 / 2008, but we have to take into consideration that this was after the sale of both Steven Naismith to Rangers, which generated a profit in the region of £2M, and the sale of land for £0.5M. It’s simple maths to see that the underlying number isn’t a profit, and these losses are unsustainable in the longer term. Last season, Kilmarnock struggled with relegation and faced crowds affected by the credit crunch. It’s highly likely that this will have generated further losses requiring further debt to finance them.

Hibernian, over the past five years, have virtually wiped out their debt, but only by stripping the club of its footballing assets. St. Mirren, in similar fashion, have wiped out their debt by selling their former proud home (Love Street) to Tesco. Kilmarnock, unfortunately, do not have the same assets to strip to ensure their longterm survival. Kilmarnock’s best hope for the coming season must be for Rangers to sell Kris Boyd to an English Premiership club and reap the benefits of their contractual sell-on

The SPL as a whole is reeling from the blow dealt by Setanta’s collapse.

For Kilmarnock, this could mean a very significant reduction in turnover.

Recent press has indicated that any combined offer from Sky and ESPN is only likely to be worth 65% of the previous Setanta contract. George Foulkes recently commented that for clubs of similar size to Kilmarnock, this television income could be as much as 30% of the clubs’ revenue.

Kilmarnock’s football-related turnover in season 2007 / 2008 was about £6M, but based on the above this potentially could reduce by about £600K with the weaker TV deal.

Coincidentally, Kilmarnock currently pays £600K annually on debt interest.

Kilmarnock F.C. proudly boasts the best wage to turnover ratio in the SPL but, with turnover falling, management will have to take action to reduce the cost of the playing squad to maintain this ratio. The fans suffer most from this, as favourite players, such as Derek Lilley, are no longer affordable.

The bigger picture for the club is even more frightening as Killie faces a unique challenge compared with other S.P.L. clubs as a result of Diageo’s decision to close its Kilmarnock packaging plant. A great number of these 700 redundant employees, and their families, are faithful Killie fans and may no longer be in a position to afford to watch games at Rugby Park.

Kilmarnock’s attendance levels dropped in season 2007 / 2008, influenced by the bottom half finish and weaker performances on the pitch. Now that the credit crunch is in full swing, people have even less money available. With the club enduring a relegation battle in season 2008 / 2009, it remains to be seen how far the attendances have fallen already. Kilmarnock’s stadium is only one third filled on average during the season and the potential of another thousand or so fans being unable to afford tickets could have an even more devastating effect on the club than the collapse of Setanta.

of tens of millions of pounds of wages from the local economy, the club would struggle to replace this.

The management team at Kilmarnock F.C. have performed miracles during their time in charge, and fans are grateful for the loyalty, tenacity and ability shown by Jeffries and Brown.

Diageo’s management, by contrast, have ceased their previous loyalty to the town that has given it the worlds No.1 selling whisky and one of the most recognisable worldwide brands.

Would Diageo have become the selfproclaimed ‘world’s leading premium drinks company’ without John Walker and the service of the people of Kilmarnock since 1820?

It’s questionable whether Kilmarnock F.C. can survive another financial blow without joining a growing list of insolvent clubs in Scottish football.

With concerning levels of debt and no visible alternative income to offset the problems looming on the horizon, fans of the club must be worried for its survival.

The best way for fans to respond to this threat is to continue to support the club, encouraging the management and players to keep on punching above their weight, like in season 2006 / 2007 when a cup final appearance and top half finish in the SPL lifted both the club and the town.

While politicians and business leaders debate the justification behind the Diageo closure, fans of Kilmarnock F.C. should keep a wary eye and ear open for the outcome.

If the club, and the town itself, are to survive this monumental conclusion to Johnny Walker’s 190-year association with Kilmarnock, the people of Kilmarnock need to draw on their reserves of strength, rally together and support the town in every way possible.

Remember the cheers at Rugby Park.

You’ll know us by our noise!

It should also be remembered that a great many of these long-serving Diageo employees also eat and drink in the Park Hotel. The turnover generated from the Park Hotel has supported Kilmarnock F.C. over the past few years and, were this to fall significantly as a result of the removal www.scotzine.com 5

Text | Euan Wallace

The Fall of Livingston FC Massone surveys the devastation he has left behind at Almondvale with his entourage....

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his close season should have been duller than most.

No international tournament for us to not qualify for, new signings fail to capture the imagination, half of last season’s best players leave, or if you’re a Clyde fan, the whole team. Not even the Old Firm have money to throw around and early results from Europe show that Scottish football’s capacity for embarrassment is still alive and well and that even in summer, games can still get abandoned due to adverse weather.

Good thing then, for the drama that unravelled at Almondvale this summer. The story of the pre-season in Scottish football has been the near demise of Livingston and the fallout from the deal that rescued them. The news trickled out over the course of the close-season. The information was stark and it seemed highly unlikely that Livingston could even make it to the new season.

Reports of unpaid wages and a West Lothian Council bill of £330,000 in outstanding rent payments for Almondvale stadium demonstrated the severity of the club’s financial trouble, but owner Angelo Massone was determined to walk out of the situation with some dignity, having bought the club from Pearse Flynn for £1 in 2008. He refused offers to sell from the administrator and as the local council began legal action to recover the arrears, things looked very bleak for Livingston. They were days away from going out of business.

Enter Gordon McDougall, a businessman who had previously been chairman of Cowdenbeath and a board member at Dunfermline Athletic, and Neil Rankine, former chairman of Dumbarton. McDougall and Rankine were interested in taking over at Almondvale but sensibly ignored Massone’s calls for a six-figure sum, or his claim that he would ‘maybe sell for £10million.’ In the end he got £50,000 for his stake in the club, closing the door on another remarkable period in Livingston’s short history.

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Having new owners in place far from solved the problems at Livingston. However, a controversial deal with the SFL, whereby the investors and interim manager Donald McGruther - of administrators Mazar - will finance the club for a year, has saved them from extinction for now, though the new investors will still have to deal with the eventual outcome of the Council’s legal action to recover the arrears.

This deal allows Livingston to remain in business provided the investors put up a bond to ensure that the club can fulfil a season’s fixtures and to put forward a business plan for consideration by the SFL, an assurance that the club can survive. They have been given a lifeline that was not available to clubs that had previously been in their position. No surprise then, that this would be a controversial move. What about clubs like Airdrie and Gretna, who had similar problems with debt but received no help from the SFL? What makes Livingston different?

Airdrie United manager Kenny Black accused the SFL of setting a ‘dangerous precedent‘ by making allowances for Livingston. It’s true that the SFL could come to regret this move in future. It is now very easy for clubs to cite this ruling if they accumulate debts that they can’t afford to pay off and face liquidation. Undoubtedly sad as it is when a club, any club, goes out of business, it makes no sense to allow an insolvent club to avoid the consequences of their own actions.

This is not even the first time that Livingston have had financial difficulty. They were placed in administration back in 2004, when creditors lost patience with the club over their £3.5million debt. They were rescued by Pearse Flynn’s Lionheart Group. It’s all the more remarkable then, that the same thing could happen on a smaller scale a few years later. Why were lessons not learned? Clubs like Dundee, Airdrie and Dunfermline have all been in

administration before and have made changes to their business operations as a result of that, but not Livingston.

With the bulk of the attention on Livingston, another club in serious financial trouble has been largely pushed into the background.

Clyde were in a similar situation to Livingston and owed money to the North Lanarkshire Council for renting Broadwood Stadium. The economic recession raised costs and meant that the club could no longer spend beyond their means. The club had to take drastic action to avoid administration last season and released the entire first team squad. They have since paid the rent arrears but the club have warned they are facing an uncertain financial future over the next two years and still carry significant debt.

Clyde made the difficult decision to release players so they could avoid administration and stay in business.

Livingston have somehow managed to retain most of their squad from last year.

Livingston haven’t escaped unscathed however. The SFL’s decision to relegate them to the Third Division was a tough punishment but perhaps serves as a warning to clubs that in spite of their ruling, it is unacceptable for clubs to have debts that can’t possibly be repaid. Livingston lost

their appeal against the decision and played their first game in the division in a 2-0 win over Montrose. They have still to be punished for their refusal to play the season opener against East Stirlingshire however, and can consequentially expect a considerable points deduction from the SFL. It’s not just Livingston who have been affected by this though. The two clubs that have been automatically promoted by the SFL’s decision will have had an uncomfortable time in the past few weeks. Airdrie United have ironically been saved from relegation twice now by the demise of other clubs but are entering the First Division unprepared.

The situation is the same for Cowdenbeath, but the gap in quality and finances between the two divisions is much smaller. It is difficult for clubs to maintain professional status in the Second Division, so many will choose to become a semi-professional club instead, at lower running costs. With automatic promotion coming so close to the start of the season, Airdrie will have to plan everything again in a short time. While you could argue that the fans and club would prefer to be in the higher division, the uncertainty and change the SFL’s decision has brought about would not have been welcomed by either.

It will be some time before we know if Livingston really benefit from the SFL ruling or before we know the true consequences of this ‘dangerous precedent’, but it is certain that Livingston are in safer hands than they have been in recent years. The new owners will have to prove that the SFL were justified to put faith in their investment. Meanwhile the SFL will hope their decision to help Livingston isn’t one they will come to regret in future. Hopefully Livingston will learn from this episode and prioritise solvency and self sufficiency, the values espoused by new Dundee director Calum Melville, over success on the pitch.

We would like to hear from Livi fans and their opinions of the whole saga, their views on Massone, the suits at the Scottish Football League and those clubs who rejected their appeal against demotion to the Third Division.

Q & A with Livilions’

Charles Darwin Esq. Interviewed by Andy Muirhead

AM: In your opinion, how did Livingston get into this situation? Can it be solely down to Angelo Massone’s incompetence?

owner. A background check would be ideal too, and would hopefully weed the caring from the cowboys.

CDE: The situation was caused by a mix of incompetence and a lack of Scottish football knowledge. Massone’s partners did a runner once they actually looked at the books, and Massone himself was left to carry the can. This he did, but in the manner of a bull in a china shop. He completely lacked any sense of business etiquette as well as the ability to seek help when it was needed.

AM: Has the fan base been split throughout Massone’s time at Livi & what is the opinion of those who backed Massone what happened to them when he took the money and ran?

AM: If Livi goes into liquidation what would the fans do then? Turn to another SFL club, a Junior/Amateur league side or an SPL side? Or will they just walk away from football for good?

CDE: There’s been talk about this, and most would likely disperse into following their local junior sides or return to previous elegances, though there was mention of an FC Livingston following Clydebank’s model. I can’t see that happening though.

AM: How can Scottish Football and its governing bodies prevent people like Angelo Massone from gaining control of clubs?

CDE: It’s a difficult one to police, but there needs to be some mandatory minimum level of experience for any potential club

CDE: Massone deliberately created a divide between the fans as soon as talk of his mismanagement became public.

He embraced the more animated element of the support by telling them what they wanted to hear, encouraging them to denounce those fans opposing his regime as “enemies of the club”. It almost worked too, which lead to unpleasant scenes in Dingwall at the end of last season.

Fortunately though, they saw through his spin and admitted they’d been duped. It’s a united front now.

AM: Were the SFL right to demote Livi to Division Three for breaching the league’s insolvency rules or should another punishment have been handed down?

CDE: Demotion was a disgrace on the SFL’s part and a complete knee-jerk reaction following cross words from the dusty old blazers brigade. Livi have never been popular with the fossils in our game, and this was their chance for revenge. It takes at least 100 years to gather enough

dust in an empty trophy cabinet to be considered an established club apparently.

AM: If Livi go under would a club run by the fans similar to Gretna 2008, Clydebank, AFC Liverpool & FC United of Manchester spring up? And if so could they play their games at Almondvale?

CDE: As mentioned earlier, I very much doubt it. West Lothian still has too many people rooted in the past and unwilling to help their local senior football club to make it work. Buses to Glasgow and Edinburgh on a Saturday are more important unfortunately. Any new team couldn’t afford to rent Almondvale either.

AM: Throughout the whole saga, what one thing stands out as the msot unbelievable moment you have witnessed?

CDE: Probably Massone saying he never paid the stadium’s electric bill just to teach the fans a lesson. That was a staggering statement to make, especially as it was a blatant lie!

Thanks to Darwin at Livilions.co.uk for answering some of our questions on the debacle that surrounded Massone’s tenure at Livingston Football Club.

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Text | Glen McMahon

Sandy Jardine I

A Pre-Season interview

t is the time of the year that every professional footballer dreads the most. The close season is over; no more lounging by the pool in some VIP resort, all past glories from the season before have been all but forgotten, and it’s now time to go back to work. Everyone who has taken part in a pre-season training session will remember the nervous feeling in the pit of their stomach awaiting the first session, followed by the burning feeling at the back of the throat, as the lightheadedness and jelly-legs set in.

However, the nature of pre-season training has changed dramatically over the years, with advances in technology and the increased use of specialised coaches. Modern football has almost reached a stage where fitness and athleticism comes first, and technical ability second. We spoke exclusively to Rangers and Scotland legend Sandy Jardine, who shared his views on the current training methods, whilst reflecting on his personal experiences of pre-season training, and the importance of fitness in the modern game.

Sandy Jardine was the original rampaging full back, keeping it tight at the back whilst also terrorising opposition defences for 18 years at Ibrox, making 674 appearances. Jardine also earned 38 caps for Scotland, playing in both the World Cups of 1974 and 1978, and is now Sales and Marketing Manager at Rangers. He was renowned for his fitness and athleticism, but even Jardine admits that pre-season was not often an enjoyable experience. “It was always very hard,” he insists. “If you weren’t prepared and showed up for pre-season it would be hell.”

Sandy Jardine wasn’t one to be unprepared however. “I never let myself get out of condition,” Jardine says. “In my 20s I would take about a fortnight off before I would start to train every couple of days to build my fitness back up. In my 30s I started to train every day, and train hard!”

A major difference between pre-season training now and then is the length of the close season. The close season in modern football is seemingly shortening by the year, especially for teams involved in qualification for European competitions. Players and fans alike are allowed little time to reflect on the season passed, before the fixture lists are released and the players are back in training. Take Motherwell for instance, only 5 and a half weeks after finishing their SPL campaign at home to Kilmarnock, they were back in action in their Europa league qualifier first leg against Welsh outfit Llanelli, on the 2nd of July. Considering that the players would have been back in training at least 2 weeks before this match, it leaves them with only a 3 week break. When Sandy Jardine first became a pro at Rangers at the age of 15, he says “the close season break was at least two months long”.

For many, the close season is becoming shorter not only physically, but psychologically as well. Darren Fletcher’s strongest memory of winning the Champions League in Moscow in 2008 is Ryan Giggs saying “Right lads, we all know how good this feels, let’s do it again next year!”. The celebratory champagne hadn’t even lost its fizz, but Giggs was already focussed on the challenge of the season to come.

Such is the nature of the modern game.

Another thing that has changed over the years is what players get up to in the close season. Gone are the days when players would come in for the first day of pre-season a stone overweight after a summer of excess. These days players are given strict close-season fitness plans, and are expected to return to training in almost peak condition so that there is more time for the coaches to concentrate on tactical and technical issues rather than simply building fitness. Jardine was known to keep himself in the best possible condition throughout the close-season, however he denies claims that his fellow pros were not as disciplined as he was. “It was actually quite common for others [to share his close season training habits]. You hear a lot of myths about the old players and what they got up to, and some of it was true, but the vast majority of them were really good pros.”

Another major and perhaps more obvious difference is in the actual training itself. Sandy Jardine played under Jock Wallace for six years between 1972 and 1978, and describes the pre-seasons during that period as “severe”. “I remember seeing players being sick through exhaustion,” he claims. “I’ve even seen players having to get oxygen at the side of the track.”

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Although pre-season is still very intense and punishing, Jardine explains that things are far more scientific now than they once were. “Nowadays, the first couple of days are filled with tests,” he states. “They have their sports scientists and their testing, blood and urine samples to monitor how every player is performing. They also all wear the heart monitors.”

Things weren’t quite so technical when Jardine was playing. With no scientific tests to determine how each player was coping with the training, “it had to be judged by the eye,” he explains. “It was up to the trainers and the coaches to judge how each player was coming along, which became easier as they got to know the players better”.

Not that Jardine was one that the manager needed to keep an eye on.

The energetic full-back was fully aware of the importance of fitness, as he demonstrated so clearly between April 27th 1972 and August 30th 1975, when he made an incredible 171 consecutive appearance for Rangers.

Jardine is characteristically modest about this achievement however. “To be honest, it was more to do with having that wee bit of luck to stay injury free,” he claims. “But it was also because I was quick and a good athlete, I could use my pace and anticipation to nick the ball away from people and avoid any challenges.”

Although Jardine was clearly a superb athlete, his technical ability as a footballer was never in doubt; the great Franz Beckenbauer was amongst the many that admired his elegant attacking play. There are claims however that the modern game is becoming so obsessed with fitness and athleticism, that it is causing a decline in flair and skill. This is a view not shared by Jardine, who believes that fitness and athleticism have become more important, but does not think that there is less technical ability and flair as a result. “The modern game has changed a lot from when I played,” he says. “It’s a lot quicker now. The pitches are better, the strips are lighter, the boots are lighter, and the diets are better. All this means that the modern game is about finding the balance between skill and athleticism.”

However, Jardine doesn’t deny that fitness has become one of the most important factors in a player’s career. “In the old game, skill dictated how far you could go in the game, but now it’s athletic ability that determines the level you play at,” he explains. “Just look at Barcelona, everyone talks about their obvious ability on the ball, but they are all so quick and mobile. If they weren’t so fit they wouldn’t be able to play the game the way that they do.”

Like the rest of us, Jardine is an admirer of the football that Barcelona play. He names Messi, Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo as the three modern players that he admires the most. Unsurprisingly, these are all players that combine breathtaking skill with pace and stamina, something that Jardine made a career out of.

After 18 years of dedicated service to Rangers, Sandy Jardine had won every possible domestic trophy, won the European Cup Winner’s Cup, represented his country in two World Cups and been named Scottish player of the year. Some would have retired at this, and enjoyed some well deserved time off. But Jardine signed for his boyhood team, Hearts, and continued to excel way into his 30s. In 1986, whilst playing at sweeper at the age of 37, Sandy Jardine was named Scottish player of the year for the second time. He admits that his dedication to fitness played a large role in securing the title. “I was at Rangers for 18 years and I thought I was a good hard working pro then,” he says. “But when I went to Hearts, I became a better pro. When you get into your 30s you’re competing with the younger boys in their 20s. You have to dedicate yourself more, and training is about being totally prepared for the game on the Saturday, not just something you have to do.”

Sandy Jardine had a short spell in charge of Hearts during the 80s alongside former Gers team mate Alex MacDonald, who he names as the best trainer he played with. Jardine’s obvious knowledge of training methods and the importance of fitness leads us to ask whether he has considered getting back into either the management or coaching side of the game. “No, not really,” he says bluntly. “I had my time on that side of the game and I really enjoyed it, but it’s over now. I’m in a position at Rangers now [Sales and Marketing Manager] where I’m still involved with football and I’m really enjoying it.”

And finally, when asked to give his predictions for the coming season, Jardine was predictably loyal to his employers. “It will again be very tight.

The last four years have all been tight, the amount of times it has gone to the last game of the season is incredible,” he says. “Celtic will obviously be hurting after last season and will look to present an increased challenge, but hopefully we [Rangers] can come out on top again.”

Text | Andy Muirhead

THE OLD obsession F I R M

“ Rangers fans cry foul, claim victimisation because Celtic supporters apparently get away with naughty songs of their own. Celtic fans are outraged. Squealing that the authorities must clamp down in the firmest way possible....”

- Ewan Murray, The Guardian September 2008

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he Old Firm rivalry is one of the oldest and fiercest in World Football, dating back to the late 19th century, when Celtic were founded in Glasgow’s East End. The first match took place at Celtic Park on May 28th 1888, in the Parkhead club’s first ever match. 2,000 fans saw Celtic beat a Rangers select side 5-2.

Since then the two Glasgow sides have dominated Scottish football and are the most successful in the country, much to the sheer hatred of fans outwith the Old Firm.

The competition between the two sides is not just rooted in football, but also in disputes centred around religion and politics. The result is an enduring hatred between the fans that has extended beyond normal city football rivalry. It has also manifested itself in a history laden with sectarianism and violence, sometimes leading to death.

Despite both clubs actively participating in initiatives and campaigns, along with religious organisations and the Scottish Executive, the problems are still evident in the stands. A problem that is inbred in the mindset of many supporters on both sides of the divide.

Financial Benefit to Scotland A study in 2005 said that the presence of the Old Firm itself is worth £120 million to the Scottish economy annually and creates thousands of jobs for Scotland.

Such figures include cash spent by fans at matches, as well as travel and food. Not to mention the jobs created in the hospitality industry.

Obsession Can we really blame the Old Firm supporters for following their club, whether it is down to ideology, sectarianism or just family loyalties? Or is the blame firmly in the laps of the journalists obsessed with the Old Firm?

Obsessed could be a strong word, given that they are paid to do their job. But the media is obsessed to the point of producing articles on a daily basis, 90% related to the Old Firm whether it is fact or fiction. These articles breed controversy and that controversy in turn breeds sales. And sales mean pretty little bonuses for the big wigs of the media industry.

Scottish Football has given birth to football greats such as Jock Stein, Sir Alex Ferguson, Denis Law, Billy Bremner, Jimmy Johnstone, Willie Miller, Jim Baxter, Davie Cooper and so on - yet it is always the Old Firm who are talked about both in Scotland or across the world - why is that? Media exposure.

The gaze would fall more on a Celtic - Rangers clash than say the Edinburgh derby between Hibernian and Hearts or Aberdeen and Dundee United.

Despite the fans knowing that the hacks love controversy, and write articles to breed further controversy, they participate in radio shows, buy the

papers and read the articles that employ those hacks who they just love to hate.

Hugh Keevins, Chick Young, Graham Speirs, James Traynor and co. are the usual suspects in producing articles that either slate one side of the divide or the other, or both at the same time. But are they doing anything other than their job? And feeding of the hatred that eminates between the fan base of both clubs?

Sectarianism, Bigotry & Racism: The Fans hit the Headlines We all know that there is without a doubt an agenda in this country that favours the Old Firm, over any other club in the country. But when it comes to the fans, how can they turn a blind eye time and again?

Over the years both Celtic and Rangers fans have been guilty of singing sectarian, bigoted and racist songs or chants. Yet the SFA, SPL and the Scottish Executive still fail to clamp down on the two groups of supporters - why is that? Fear that the Old Firm would challenge them in court? Nope. It’s all down to money. Without the away supporters of Celtic and Rangers, the majority of clubs in the SPL would struggle financially even more so than they do at the moment. If the governing bodies took action against the Old Firm fans, the only logical punishment would be to ban their supporters from travelling to away games and this in turn would hurt the whole league.

As we touched on earlier in the article, both clubs are actively trying to rid themselves of the scum who have infested their support, maybe not beause of the SFA or SPL pressure but certainly from UEFA and their watchful eyes.

The problem that surrounds this whole saga, is that the fans resort to tit-for-tat accusations. If one fan base was punished then the other fan base would have to be punished also, otherwise they would be seen to be favouring the other side.

Last season, the Famine song reared its ugly head amidst the Rangers supporters. Celtic fans complained to the Irish embassy about the song which they claimed was anti-Irish in its context. The Irish government then contacted the Scottish executive over the issue and that is when it hit the headlines. The Hacks pounced, they could smell the money rolling in with this story.

Rangers, to their credit, acknowledged that the song would cause them a problem, but sadly they did not come out and condemn the singing of it. But they did seek police advice and thereafter the singing of the song was deemed as an arrestable offence and to date only one fan, William Walls has been convicted. The Rangers faithful claimed that the song was just terrace banter and taking a pot shot at those Celtic fans who fly the tricolor and who are to them ‘plastic paddies.’

But the same reply from Celtic fans does put the song in perspective. If the same phrase, “The famine is over, www.scotzine.com 9

why don’t you go home?” was aimed at the Jews and replace the word famine with the word holocaust - then those singing such songs would be condemned by the media and football governing bodies not only in Scotland but also in Europe, and the club would be hammered by sanctions.

But it seems as though because it is aimed at Celtic fans and the Irish that it is then okay.

And herein lies the tit-for-tat mentality with Old Firm fans. When the song was deemed racist by such groups as ‘Give Racism the Red Card,’ the Rangers fans then challenged the authorities to punish Celtic fans in turn for their racist behaviour towards a former Rangers player Mark Walters, over 20 years ago. When Walters first signed for Rangers and took to the field in his first Old Firm derby, he was on the receiving end of Celtic fans throwing bananas from the terraces. Thankfully such racist actions do not happen in Scottish football anymore. And would it be acceptable for Rangers fans to throw potatoes at the Irish contingent of players at Celtic Park or any other club in Scotland? Of course it wouldn’t.

But this is what the Scottish authorities and those fans who detest such incidents have to deal with.

Tit for tat accusations, Celtic fans demanding action be taken against their rivals for songs being sung and then Rangers fans demanding action also for the songs being sung

by Celtic fans or action taken over incidents stretching back 20 years.

One Rangers group, Vanguard Bears, are actively calling on all ‘Loyal Protestant Rangers fans’ to produce instances of Celtic fan misbehaviour and have produced a site detailing such incidents also. This is how far some will go to justify their claims of having the right to defend themselves and the singing of the songs that are cause for concern at Rangers football club.

A point that is never raised by those Rangers fans mentioning the treatment of Mark Walters, was also the behaviour of their own fans that day. Giving a rendition of Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue: “the army, the navy and the UVF.” At the time it hit the headlines more than what the Walters’ incident did, but back then racism was ingrained in every part of the British society and not just in Scotland, and while it is not an excuse, we are thankfully changing our ways as a nation to an extent. Although those BNP sympathisers and activists who stand outside Ibrox Park each match day selling their goods and propaganda proves otherwise.

10 www.scotzine.com

Now this article is not an attack on Rangers and Celtic fans, just those scum, apparently increasing in number, who have more of an obsession with their rivals than their own club. The Middle East has its fundamentalists, America has its fundamentalists and extremists, and Scotland has its own share our own share of zealots and fundamentalists who use the allegiances of Celtic or Rangers to not only recruit new members but also to increase their hatred for another faith.

In retaliation to Celtic fans trying to get Rangers punished for their fans singing the Famine song, Rangers fans in turn contacted the Spanish embassy, to inform them that one of their citizens, Nacho Novo was being victimised while in Britain. However, their calls for condemnation from the Spanish embassy didn’t go as they had planned it, when the reply was “Sorry, Nacho who?”

The above claim of victimisation was aimed at a well known Celtic messageboard, after one of its members published the street address of Nacho Novo. While the exact address was not published, it wouldn’t be hard to find out which one would be Novo’s. But in reality was this newsworthy? Given that you could easily walk into any council office or library and obtain documents relating to rival players quite easily under the freedom of information act.

What was newsworthy was the subsequent posts from members wanting Novo to be taught a lesson and so on. So the headlines were splashed all over the country,that Novo was receiving death threats and that the club were taking measures by increasing security around Novo’s house.

This came hot on the heels of Celtic coach Neil Lennon being assaulted in the West end of Glasgow to the point of unconsciousness by two Rangers fans. And this was huge news back on August 31st when it happened, just hours after Celtic were defeated 4-2 at home against their rivals. But was every article condemning the assault? The majority were, but for every article condemning the attack and supporting Lennon there was two or three condemning Lennon for being out on the town after an Old Firm match. This incident forced then manager Gordon Strachan to impose a city centre drinking ban for all Celtic players. This has now been overtuned by present manager Tony Mowbray.

Such an attack was defended by the blue clad punters on forums such as Rangers media and Vanguard Bears, because it was Neil Lennon

and that he was a gobby prick in their estimation. Why? Because Lennon epitomises everything that they hated about Celtic Football Club.

Players hitting the headlines Old Firm players have always hit the headlines over the years. Duncan Ferguson for being jailed for an assault on the pitch, to Celtic players being attacked outside a nightclub to driving bans for speeding down motorways etc. One such player who was invariably in the headlines each week was Derek Riordan. Back in August 2008, Riordan was banned from every nightclub in Edinburgh fora year after he verbally abused staff at a club in the city when refused entry. He was subsequently caught breaking the ban and had his ban extended to two years.

This was front page news in Scotland and had enough column space to fit Jabba the Hut’s perky bum into. All because he was a Celtic player. Yet the incident initially took place when he was a Hibs player.

Fast forward a year to August 2009, Riordan gets arrested for breach of the peace and fined £40 for verbally abusing door staff at another edinburgh nightclub and Police attended the scene also. Yet nothing more than a paragraph was written.

Why? Because he was no longer a Celtic player as he was back at HIbs and it would have taken up valuable column space reserved exclusively to talk about the Old Firm.

Death & Violence surrounding the Old Firm For decades a shadow has been cast upon the Old Firm, as murders, stabbings, violent assaults and domestic abuse have all been linked to the Glasgow derby. Despite violence at the games dropping, a paper published by the Scottish Executive and Strathclyde Police stated that the violence has risen on the back streets, the pubs and in the family homes during the 24-hour period around the game.

According to the information, last season there was a 113% surge in violent crime during the last three Old Firm matches, with domestic abuse climbing 41% and antisocial behaviour rising by 28%.

However these stats did not take into consideration incidents across the whole of the country nor in Northern Ireland, where there was significant violence also.

One bit of good news however, is that the Police stated that the majority of offenders do not in fact attend the

matches. But despite the evidence stating that it was not in fact football fans, the media still emblazon ‘Old Firm fans in violence outrage’ all over their papers the next day. Now why is that? If you don’t know by now then you certainly are clueless.

A brief summary of Incidents If we were to sit down and trawl through the police archives and newspaper cuttings, we would probably fill hundreds of issues of the fanzine with violence surrounding the Old Firm or linked with the two clubs.

However we have decided to select a few that show you what Scotland and football fans in general have to deal with on a weekly basis: • Rangers fan Frank Fenwick was stabbed to death in December 2000 after a long running feud with a neighbour who was also a Celtic fan.

• Celtic fan Mark Scott was knifed to death by Rangers fan Jason Campbell, whose family had links to the UVF in 1995.

• September 2008. Celtic coach Neil Lennon was attacked by two Rangers fans in the West end. The two assailants were jailed for two years after punching Lennon to the ground and kicking him in the head and body as he lay unconscious.

• September 2006. Violence broke out after an Old Firm clash as Rangers fans went on a rampage in the city centre of Glasgow. 30 supporters sparked a mini riot as they marched up the high street towards McCuill’s, traditionally a Celtic fans’ pub.

• In the aftermath of Celtic’s victory at Ibrox in the final Old Firm match in season 2004-05, shoppers were in fear of their lives as fans fought running battles in Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire.

• A riot broke out on the Troon to Larne ferry service as up to 100 rival fans clashed on the return journey to Northern Ireland after the game.

Strathclyde Police making the Sectarian problem worse?

Glasgow University Director of Football Studies, Bert Moorhouse claimed in March 2007, that the Scottish Executive deliberately suppressed a report on Sectarianism in Scottish Football that he had compiled.

Moorhouse’s report details claims from fans that Strathclyde Police were making the sectarian problem worse rather than helping to stop it. Of course, the Executive denied Moorhouse’s claims.

The report finally saw the light of day when the Scottish Sun obtained it under the freedom of information act.

Claims were publised that officers who supported Rangers or Celtic were accused of taunting rival fans. Police were also said to have turned a blind eye to Old Firm fans’ sectarianism.

However the Police replied that the document was no more academic than a football phone-in. Yet did they deny such incidents took place?

In evey Old Firm messageboard there are tales of fans being on the receiving end of abuse from he Police calling them Fenian scum, Huns, Taigs or Dirty Orange Bastards etc. Who is lying?

If such claims are true then the organisation that is tasked with helping stop sectaranism in our game is actually fuelling the fire. And if so then Scotland has no hope in hell of ridding itself of Sectarianism or Bigotry. Much to the delight of the newspaper barons, who will be able to sell more newspapers on the back of Old Firm fans’ misbehaviour.

Football Banning Orders Back in September 2006, the Scottish Executive introduced Football Banning Orders that gave courts the power to ban supporters from all games for up to 10 years.

While it was a great step forward in combatting hooliganism and fan misbehaviour the bans are not worth the paper they are printed on down in England, and yet banning orders in England are upheld in Scotland also.

The executive stated that, “football abuse, bigotry and hooliganism is a disgraceful stain on our national sport and our country’s reputation at home and abroad” and yet money that was going towards organisations such as Kick Out Bigotry was stopped and funds transferred to more important campaigns and initiatives. However it was subsequently announced that the Scottish Executive created its very own anti-sectarianism organisation tasked with ridding the country of it. Sadly though it seems that despite all the glitz and the glamour of the press conference and the photo shoot, that this campaign is another in a long line of initiatives that have fallen flat on their faces.

So what can be done to solve the sectarianism and bigotry problem in Scottish football? Well, first of all the media must come on board and report incidents in a fair and proper manner rather than the usual tit-fortat mentality that the fans are equally professional at. They must also

continually promote the messages from clubs, fans groups and organisations who are trying to rid our game of such scum. Give them free column space.

The clubs must unite under a single banner to deal with their fans and forget about this self-policing policy which is clearly not working at all.

The clubs must come down harder on their fans if it is clear they are breaching sectarian, bigotry, racism guidelines etc. And if needs be, close down the stand where the incidents take place and then weed out the troublemakers one by one, no matter how long it takes or how much it costs them.

The governing bodies and the Scottish executive must get rid of all the red tape, all the bureacracy and actually punish the clubs and/or fans for their misbehaviour. For too long the SFA, SFL and the SPL have been lacklustre in their punishment of the clubs and until UEFA took action against Rangers for their fans singing sectarian songs at a UEFA Cup match in 2007 against Osasuna, they were non-existent in their actions and words also. Whether they are gutless or thinking that the Old Firm would just come up with an initiative that would hammer Scottish football where it hurts - in its wallet - they must take action otherwise it will gradually get out of control and it won’t be long before the violence returns to our stadiums.

Obsession is rife in Scotland Non-Old Firm fans hate the Old Firm equally, Celtic fans hate Rangers fans and likewise Rangers fans hate Celtic fans. But they all can’t help but be obsessed with them because the media is throwing it into their faces.

Paranoia, bias, perceived corruption and favouritism are allegedly rife in Scottish football towards one side of the Old Firm or the other, or if you talk to some fans to both of them.

Whether or not this is true, the fact is we all love controversy, we love a good article that condemns rival fans for their behaviour and then feel hatred and anger when something is written about your own fans.

The obsession with the Old Firm cannot be blamed on the media solely - as much as we would love to do so. It lies with everyone, from the media, to the clubs, to the Old Firm fans, to non-Old Firm fans to the Police, to the governing bodies of Scotland and even to the Executive.

Because everyone just loves to jump on the Old Firm bandwagon and they know that with the Old Firm comes publicity and in turn increases sales and revenue. www.scotzine.com 11

Youth Football Introduction In a new series, the 12th Man will be looking at Youth Football in Scotland. Not only will we be looking at the likes of Rangers’ Murray Park and Celtic’s Lennoxtown training facilities, but we will also be looking at Hibs and Hearts, as well as the Toryglen training facility run by Glasgow City Council and a local community side.

On top of all that we will feature academies abroad, that have nurtured such talents as Marco van Basten, Johan Cruyff, Ruud Gullit, Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, the Neville brothers, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, as well as Cristiano Ronaldo.

So from Issue Eight, we will take a closer look at the brand new facility at Toryglen and see how that is shaping up, and what it is doing not only for the community but also for youth football in Scotland.

We will also follow a local youth side and see how the coaches at grassroots level structure the game to help the youngsters progress in the game and what they see as positives and negatives of the game in Scotland.

This series will feature over the course of the season, giving you the ins and outs of youth football in Scotland. From the SFA intiatives to the club sides down to the local community sides.

If you are a member of a local community side wanting to get your voice out there and to show Scotland and the world of Football what you are doing at grassroots level, please get in touch with us for more information on what we will be looking for and what we could do for your club.

Email us at mail@scotzine.com for more information.

12 www.scotzine.com

Text | Bert Bell | www.thirdlanarkac.co.uk

! s Third Lanark w o L e h t Hi Hi’s and The

It was the Cup Final at Hampden in April. Thirds were playing Rangers. The sides who lined up before a crowd of 88,859 were: Thirds – Muir, Carabine, Hamilton, Blair, Denmark, McInnes, Howe, Gallacher, Hay, Kennedy, Kinnaird.

Rangers – Dawson, Gray, Cheyne, Meiklejohn, Simpson, Brown, Fiddes, Venters, Smith, McPhail, Turnbull.

A combination of magnificent goalkeeping by Dawson, and desperate defending took the Cup to Ibrox, and left yours truly with my favourite football expression – ‘we wuz robbed’.

O

n Friday evening 28th April, 1967, at around 9.15pm. My Dad and I walked out of Boghead Park, Dumbarton, having watched the Sons thrash Third Lanark 5-1, on the final League game of that season.

Local Dumbarton lad Drew Busby had scored Thirds’ solitary counter, and unwittingly entered Scottish Football’s History Books, becoming scorer of Thirds’ last ever goal.

But few in attendance at this match would ever have guessed that only a couple of months later the appointed liquidators would march into Cathkin to finally close the Park gates for good, following their full investigation into every aspect of Third Lanark Athletic Club.

The following season I was gifted my first season ticket – 5/- or 25p. For that pricely sum I could attend, every home league & cup match in addition to every home reserve game!

That season ended with me totally hooked as a Thirds fan. Over the years until their demise I attended over 800 of their games home & away.

HISTORY OF THIRD LANARK Third Lanark was born in 1872. A group of soldiers of the 3rd Lanark Rifle Volunteers attended the first Scotland v England, international match at Hamilton Crescent, which ended 0-0. They instantly took a fancy to football and on return to barracks they gained permission to form their own team.

So sadly the cries of “Hi Hi Hi!” frequently heard around so many Scottish Football grounds over an at times glorious 95 years of existence would be heard no more.

That evening, the fans, who had so faithfully supported the club throughout a most trying campaign, were left bewitched, very bothered and completely bewildered.

Most accepting that although football is certainly NOT the be all and end of all life - the everyday involvement in being very much part of a community club, and enjoying the many friendships forged over the years, in a happy, relatively safe environment, cannot be a bad thing - and of course there was no real alternative to fill a Saturday.

In addition every real Football fan knows that it is not only the match day that’s involved. We all lap up the previews, the reviews, and press snippets in between. Indeed it is a way of life for tens of thousands. Please remember that and continue to support your team at whatever level of the game. I promise you would miss it, if it were taken from you.

Come August 1967, former Thirds fans had no option but to test out pastures new in an attempt to plug the gap – but around 85-90% of former Cathkinites fairly quickly found that there was no adequate football alternative, and were simply lost to the game. I do feel that possibly Pollok Juniors benefited most from Thirds exit, but to a limited extent.

Remember too it was absolutely final for Thirds – straight into liquidation – no ‘administration’ loophole for escape.

Even now it seems so wrong – particularly when the relatively paltry sum of £40,000 was their total debt.

THE BEGINNING OF A LOVE AFFAIR Let me take you back to 1936, when as a very young boy, I attended my first ever Thirds match with an Uncle.

The club had three nicknames: the Redcoats, the Warriors and the Hi Hi’s. The latter came about by accident, when during a match in the late 1890’s a defender belted the ball so high out of the ground that the crowd started screaming High High High and that nickname stuck ever since.

Thirds played in three grounds – Victoria Park from 1872 to 1875, first Cathkin 1875 to 1904 and New Cathkin 1904 to 1967. The latter was actually the first Hampden Park, before Queens Park moved to their present site in Mount Florida.

For the great majority of their life Thirds wore scarlet jerseys, white shorts, white stockings with three top scarlet bands. With their alternative strip being white jerseys and black shorts.

In 1904 they changed their name from Third Lanark RV for the only time – and became Third Lanark AC. Thirds won every possible domestic honour – admittedly perhaps only once or twice: · · · · ·

Division One Champions [1] Division Two Champions [2] Scottish Cup [2] Glasgow Cup [4] Glasgow Charity Cup [6]

Their last Major Cup Final appearance took place at www.scotzine.com 13

full team of stars in under three seasons. Their most successful side of 1961 had gone with the exception of four players.

During this time there were constant Board squabbles and player unrest. Restrictions were placed on training facilities, while hot water and floodlights were frequently unavailable.

Frequent assurances given to players by the board did not materialise and all of this not surprisingly resulted in ultimate disaster and the liquidators were called in to examine the affairs of Third Lanark.

Hampden in October 1959. Opponents Hearts deservedly won the Cup on a narrow 2-1 scoreline. Thirds’ diminutive goalkeeper Jocky Robertson, 5’5” stamped his name with pride all over the 90 minutes, with a magnificent display.

They lined up against Celtic in the Glasgow Cup Final of April 1963 when, captained by former Ranger Sammy Baird, they beat Celtic 2-1 to lift their last ever trophy.

Another fairly proud record is seen from their operating in the Scottish First Division – the equivalent of today’s SPL – for all but 12 seasons.

We cannot forget their involvement in Europe in Season 1961-62 when they lost out 2-1 in both legs to Rouen of France in the Franco British Friendship Cup. In December 1954 there appeared on Cathkin’s horizon one Bill Hiddleston – who although enjoying a very short period of months in his Director role, before being sent packing, returned to haunt and eventually end the sheer existence of Thirds in the 1960s.

A FLAVOUR OF THIRD LANARK To encapsulate 95 years of history of Third Lanark, is a particularly challenging task, but I will provide a wee flavour of their involvement in Scottish Football.

There were so many characters in the Scarlet it is always difficult to highlight everyone’s favourite but the following selection are amongst the best known.

From the early 1900s – Jimmy Brownlie, Jimmy Raeside, Hugh Wilson, Tommy Sloan and Willie Wardrope.

THE FALL OF THIRD LANARK Season 1964-65 proved to be the beginning of the end for Thirds. Bill Hiddleston had returned in 1962 and gained full control of Thirds. Manager George Young, along with club trainer and three directors immediately resigned in protest. Player unrest increased and led to a general clearout of players – Hilley had been sold to Newcastle United, with Harley and Gray joining Manchester City.

A despairing final season of 1966-67 ended tragically for the club. Years of haggling, board room squabbles and political intrigue led to the inevitable. Liquidation.

The signs were clear enough in 1964. By this time Thirds, under the guidance of Hiddleston, had sold more than a 14 www.scotzine.com

Their full report pointed the finger at Mr Hiddleston. Its damning indictment included the following statement, “It seemed clear that Mr Hiddleston for whatever reason had made his mind up to secure control of the company and in this he eventually succeeded. The general picture to emerge then is that the Club came to be run by him with the tragic acquiescence of other Directors, as an inefficient, unscrupulous one man business, with no regard for the provision of the Company Act, the articles of Association of the Company or in the interest of shareholders…. Clearly excluded from any of this involvement were all the persons who had ceased to hold office on or before 20th May 1965.”

Former Cathkin legend Dave Hilley, in the course of speaking at the launch of my book, “Still Seeing Red” in August 1996, said, “To me Third Lanark was simply a wonderful football club, which although not winning too many trophies, provided their tens of thousands of fans over the years with many happy memories and barrow loads of honest effort and entertainment.”

For the record the last ever Third Lanark side was: Russell, Connel, Heaney, McLaughlin, Little, McEwan, Rundell, Craig, Busby, May, Kinnaird.

Consequently it is even more surprising that some 42 years after their demise, Third Lanark lives on in the minds of many. I am still involved in fielding around 20-25 emails per week, trying to provide answers to queries on all aspects of the club.

Gone they may well be, but not forgotten.

For those interested in the history of Third Lanark and in statistics also, you will find comprehensive details and photos of the club through the ages on my website along with other fascinating items. Do feel free to contact me with comments or queries.

For more information and history of Third Lanark, visit Bert’s website at www.thirdlanarkac.co.uk.

Webwatch

Poetry Corner What I Did On My Holidays

I’m sitting in the North Stand at Dens Watching the Dee take on the Jags Freezing cold In a half-empty stadium Ninety-two minutes of keech First Division football at its best Then a greasy pie at half time And coffee to keep the hands warm When the goal goes in in the last minute (A scuffed effort from ten yards squirms under the keeper) I’m dancing in the aisles ‘mon Dundee!

It’s not that I support them But I got carried away with the moment Football does that to you

E

ach issue we take a look at a website or forum on the net related to Scottish football. This month, we feature our very own football forum at Scotzine.com.

Although very much in its infancy, we have tried to structure it to the needs of our members. Emphasis is placed on Scottish football and such leagues as the SPL, SFL and the Cup competitions.

However, despite our main site and fanzine being dedicated solely to Scottish football, the forum allows members to discuss everything to do with football. Not only in the UK, but on the continent and across the world. Also issues such as politics, religion and anything of general interest.

One section that has been added is the WAGs/Fitba Hotties giving the members the chance to post, comment and generally drool over those lassies who hang on the arms of footballers nowadays.

Another aspect of the site that we feel is a great addition is the Old Firm section. We know that feelings run high between both sets of fans, as well as non-Old Firm fans towards the Glasgow clubs, so we have split the sections up and away from the normal SPL section. These sections can only be accessed and read by Old Firm fans and no one else.

Lisbon67 is the dedicated section only open to Celtic fans and cannot be viewed or accessed by non-Celtic fans.

Likewise Rangers fans have Copland Road where they can discuss all things Rangers away from the prying eyes of Celtic fans and anyone else. One section that may descend into anarchy and chaos is the Old Firm Rivalry section, where we give both sides of the Old Firm a free reign - no rules as such and free from punishment. It is a free for all for the fans to boast, to gloat, to insult and to generally noise up one another. Again this section can only be used by those fans with allegiances to Celtic and Rangers.

We have also instaleld a Classifieds section where our members can buy, sell or trade football related items and memorabilia. Posting an ad up here is free. We also run a predictor league and lotto competitions where you can win prizes.

Generally we rate the sites we focus on out of 10. However given that it is our very own forum, we shall leave the rating up to our readers. We hope that you will sign up and contribute to our forum.

© Seb Gevers | footballpoets.org

Hampden Park, Bagpipes, Drums and Legends At Hampden Park as the bagpipes play, The drums did beat this late afternoon On a dull September day.

The atmosphere was exciting, Like soldiers armed and ready for fighting.

I looked down on the pitch so green, Where heroes and legends have been.

Dalglish, Docherty and Law, England and proud Bobby Moore.

Greig and Shankly have rolled up their sleeves, Jock Stein, Alf Ramsey, Pele and Greaves.

The floodlights have shone in the Glasgow sky, The Scots have been led by the brave Dave Mackay.

Puskus and Best have excited, Jimmy Johnstone the crowd he’s ignited.

Keegan and Souness have battled, Styles and Bremner have tackled.

Matthews and Finney have elegantly graced, Billy Liddell Bert Williams has faced.

Archie Gemmill whose goal brought back pride, To the boys who wore blue by his side.

Looking down on the turf I can still see them all, Maradona, McGrain and wee Alan Ball.

Celtic and Rangers many times have played on, Like the legends and heroes long gone.

John Thomson, Gordon Banks and the Charlton brothers, Billy Wright, Jim Baxter and so many others, That played the passionate game, We wait the new era of another great name.

As the Tartan Army sang loud I stood with my son and felt proud, The Flower of Scotland did play All around on this September day.. © Robbie Kennedy Bennett 2009 | footballpoets.org If you want to see your works published here, please send your poems to fanzine@scotzine.com titled - Poetry Corner Submission. We will credit the work to you, if it is your own original work.

To register go to: www.scotzine.com/forum

www.scotzine.com 15

Text | Mike Smith

Csaba Laszloming o C d n o c e The S

T

he “difficult second season” is a relatively recent addition to the list of football clichés. It’s become used to describe the challenge of those clubs, particularly those promoted to the English FA Premiership, who do reasonably well in their first season upstairs i.e. avoid going straight back down again but face arguably an even bigger challenge in their second season as they’re no longer an unknown quantity. Reading were the prime example a couple of seasons back and I suspect Hull City will be tagged with the same cliché in the season ahead. In Scotland it’s inevitable Hearts ebullient manager Csaba Laszlo will be labelled accordingly.

were bad they were bad - a 3-0 hammering at Tannadice at the end of September, quickly followed by defeats against Falkirk and Kilmarnock,.

But when Hearts played well they could match anyone, particularly in the final quarter of the season when the team showed much self-belief.

This was evident in the penultimate game of the season when Dundee United came to Tynecastle looking for the win that would catapult Craig Levein’s side over Hearts to snatch third place in the SPL. But, inspired

by Bruno Aguair, Hearts put the Arabs to the sword and gained revenge for that September hammering on Tayside by reversing the 3-0 scoreline and clinching European football for this coming season.

This time last year, there were those who rounded on Hearts and owner Vladimir Romanov when the appointment of the Romanian born former manager of Ferencvaros was announced. It was a surprising appointment, there were those who believed Shabba, as he has become known among a largely admiring Hearts support, would be little more than a puppet who would nod and bow to Romanov’s every whim. The accusation was that Hearts were unable to attract a top class manager because of their owner’s perceived interference. However, Laszlo’s first season at Tynecastle has silenced most of the critics. A third place finish and participation in this season’s Europa League was an outstanding return given the shambolic season Hearts had endured the previous season when they couldn’t even make it to the top six of the SPL. Embarrassingly, the Gorgie team couldn’t even finish top of the bottom six and were indelibly marked in the history books as losing to Gretna in the border team’s last ever league game. Laszlo faced a real challenge but Hearts went to a lot of trouble to prise the former assistant to Lothar Matthaus at Borussia Monchengladbach from his role as Head Coach of Uganda.

Moreover, Hearts success on the field has meant less controversy and, it seems, less input - some might call it interference - from owner Vladimir Romanov. Laszlo insists he has the final say on team selection and there was little evidence last season to suggest any different. Indeed rumour had it that Romanov was less than pleased that Laszlo didn’t field a team of youngsters in Hearts final game of the season at Celtic Park, having already secured third place in the SPL. But ‘Shabba’ apparently told Romanov he had to field his strongest possible team out of respect for Rangers as the SPL title was still up for grabs on that final day. Laszlo was fully justified as Hearts frustrated the outgoing champions with a goalless draw.

Laszlo arrived at Tynecastle in July 2008 with Hearts at a low ebb.

Morale was low and the departure of players such as Andrius Velicka, Ibrahim Tall and Michal Pospisil led many Hearts fans to believe that, with mounting debt, those players would be replaced by second rate Lithuanians. Laszlo’s remit was to ensure Hearts at least made the top six come the SPL split. With little money, the Romanian had to be astute both in securing what new faces he could and getting the team to adapt to his tactics designed to get the best out of every player. Ugandan midfielder David Obua arrived as did goalkeeper Marian Kello, midfield player Adrian Mrowiec and Danish striker Mike Tullberg, on loan from Italian side Reggina. It wasn’t quite a rebuilding job and the critics were soon sharpening their pencils, accusing Hearts of lacking ambition.

However, in their opening league game against Motherwell at Tynecastle in August, Hearts - with much the same squad who toiled a few months earlier - looked a different side. Romanov had tried to lure Motherwell’s manager Mark McGhee to the Tynecastle hot seat only for the former Aberdeen and Celtic player to decline the offer. Many saw Csaba Laszlo as second and perhaps even third choice but in that first game Hearts played with more verve and style than they had shown in the previous 12 months. Importantly, the team were once more scoring goals - a thrilling 3-2 win over The Steelmen brought optimism once more to Gorgie Road.

What Laszlo instilled was discipline and organisation. He made a group of players who didn’t have the gumption to beat a team who were about to go bust in the final game of the previous awful season difficult to beat - a fact that even Celtic and Rangers discovered. Hearts drew on both their visits to Celtic Park last season as well as drawing against Gordon Strachan’s side at Tynecastle. Rangers were beaten in Gorgie in November while in March Hearts came back from two goals down at Ibrox to secure a precious point in a 2-2 draw. As well as making the team more organised, Laszlo instilled a self-belief in the Hearts team that meant they feared no one.

However, it wasn’t all plain sailing. Defeat at the hands of First Division Airdrie United in the Co-operative Insurance Cup at Tynecastle - before the Edinburgh Festival had ran its course - was a bitter pill, although not as difficult to digest as the Scottish Cup defeat to Falkirk, also at Tynecastle, six months later. Hearts were awful in both games and the Falkirk defeat was particularly difficult to take given The Bairns went all the way to the final. Who was to say that, at their best, Hearts wouldn’t have made it three Scottish Cup triumphs in 11 years?

It seemed to this writer that Hearts blew hot and cold. When Hearts

16 www.scotzine.com

Some point to Laszlo’s Eastern European background as the key to his - so far - successful relationship with Romanov. Laszlo understands the Russian’s ideology, knows how to deal with his demands and knows where Vlad is coming from. It’s difficult not to argue with the assertion that Laszlo’s recent visit to Romanov in Lithuania to discuss signing targets for the coming season saw both men draw a shortlist of who they wanted - and both had to justify to the other their choices. Laszlo is happy with this so long as it benefits the team. Previous Hearts managers such as George Burley and Graham Rix didn’t understand Romanov’s way of working, insisting that as team managers they did things their way. Laszlo knows the culture of Eastern Europe and knows how Romanov works.

One year on and having guided Hearts to the title of ‘best of the rest’ and a place in the final qualifying round of this season’s Europa League, Laszlo knows he faces an even bigger challenge. Key players such as captain Robbie Neilson, Kristos Karapidis and - most crucially in my view - midfield maestro Bruno Aguair have gone. Laszlo has spent much of the summer trying to draft replacements and he has used Hearts pre-season tour of Germany to try new players such as striker David Witeneen, winger Jesus Suso and defenders Ismael Bouzid and Dawid Kucharski. Continued speculation about Andrew Driver’s future - with Burnley and Dutch team Twente Enschede, managed by former England coach Steve McClaren, rumoured to be prepared to bid £3m for the England Under-21 internationalist - won’t help Hearts pre-season preparations.

However, Csaba Laszlo has proved in the past year that he knows how to get the best out of the players he has. He accepts that players will move on. The secret to success is replacing good players with even better ones. Unlike 12 months ago, most Hearts supporters are looking forward to the new season. With a new found respect, Hearts will be feared once more. With European football returning to Tynecastle there is much to anticipate. Last season Laszlo proved the doubters wrong.

Never short of a word or 10, the man who once had a spat with then Hearts manager John Robertson when Ferencvaros played Hearts in a UEFA Cup tie, is certainly entertainment value. The challenge he now faces is ensuring Hearts at least match last season’s third place, with a decent cup run or two to make up for the disappointment of last season’s performances in the knock-out competitions.

Few would bet against Scotland’s manager of the year pulling it off.

PREMIER LEAGUE I

f anyone needed a practical example of the influence television broadcasters hold over football leagues and clubs, it was to be found in Scotland. The collapse of Setanta left a financial void that had to be filled before clubs could begin their preparations for the new season in earnest. The £65 million deal agreed with Sky and ESPN is worth substantially less than the SPL had previously enjoyed with Setanta, although the fact that is actually in place means clubs can breathe a little easier.

Before any possible strengthening of respective playing squads, there was a flurry of managerial change, five of the twelve SPL clubs recruiting new bosses to lead them in to the new campaign.

Undoubtedly the highest profile appointment was Tony Mowbray’s return to Celtic Park. The former Hibs boss may curry more favour with the fans than his predecessor (being an ex-captain helps) but Mowbray will surely know himself that Gordon Strachan’s act will be a tough one to follow. Marc-Antoine Fortune has been procured from Nancy, the powerful striker having previously played under Mowbray at The Hawthorns. He will be reunited with former Nancy team-mate Landry Nguemo, the powerful midfielder joining on-loan from the French side. Coventry left back Danny Fox completes Mowbray’s recruitment drive to date.

The other boys in green and white also have a former-skipper in the dugout. After ending Mixu Paatelainen’s indifferent reign, John Hughes was Rod Petrie’s choice to replace the Finn at Easter Road. Like Mowbray along the M8, Hughes has an affinity to his new employers, and the big “Leither” will hope to endear himself further by improving on last season’s sixth placed finish. To do so, he is sticking to what he knows, brining in former Bairn’s Patrick Cregg and Kevin McBride to help bolster his midfield, and Plymouth goalkeeper Graham Stack has agreed terms at the time of writing.

Fans will hope arrival, as well as the departure of goalkeeping coach Gordon Marshall will end the club’s recent association with calamitous goalkeeping. At the other end of the pitch, Colin Nish and Derek Riordan will be expected to step up their efforts to fill the Steven Fletchershaped gap after the striker’s £3m

move to Burnley.

Hughes’ arrival at Easter Road prompted Falkirk to come up with a threepronged solution to life after Yogi. Eddie May has been promoted to the top job to be assisted by yet another former centre-back-turnedcoach, Steven Pressley. Alex Smith will be on hand in a Director of Football Role, adding an element of experience to the trio. They were unable to guide the Bairns past the first hurdle in Europe, Vaduz of Liechtenstein progressing after extra-time. Last season’s final-day escape from relegation won’t want to be relived this time around. Brian McLean has arrived on a free from Motherwell, as well as forward Danijel Marceta from Partizan Belgrade.

However, any success may well depend on May managing to hold on to prize assets Darren Barr and Scott Arfield, who have both been attracting interest. Last season’s final-day hero Michael Higdon has left for St. Mirren.

The theme of ex-players returning as managers was continued in the north-east with Mark McGhee’s appointment at Aberdeen, although only after the former Motherwell boss knew he wasn’t getting the Celtic gig.

He will however be at Parkhead on the opening day in the away dugout.

McGhee got a second successive crack at Europe when the Dons travelled to the Czech Republic to take on Sigma Olomouc in the Europa League’s 2nd qualifying round but they were knocked out convincingly. Fans will be hoping to take last season’s battle with Hearts and Dundee Utd for third place a stage further, although Aberdeen will have to strengthen to do so - Benin defender Reda Johnson is the focus of McGhee’s attentions.

Motherwell were focused on replacing Mark McGhee, and they have done so with Jim Gannon. The former Stockport boss guided the Steelmen through their opening European tie with Llanelli after a first-leg scare, and inspired his team to an 8-2 drubbing of Flamurtari. His reward was a trip to the Ghencea Stadium to face Steaua Bucharest, where they eventually succumbed to the might of the former European Cup winners. Used to working on a tight budget in England, Gannon has worked quickly to bring in the

Text | Ross Pilcher

necessary replacements for Stephen Hughes, David Clarkson and the like.

Goalkeeper John Ruddy has arrived from Everton along with midfielders Giles Coke, Chris Humphrey and Steve Jennings. After a summer of dramatic change, the Lanarkshire side may struggle to keep pace with the European contenders, and an improved Hibs side may mean another bottom six finish for the men in amber and claret.

The lack of activity at Ibrox provides a stark contrast to the upheaval taking place elsewhere.

Optimists would say as league champions, there isn’t the need for serious strengthening. The cynics would suggest that Walter Smith can’t afford it. A guaranteed place in the Champions League group stages should ease the Govan club’s well publicised lack of funds, yet on the other hand it is doubtful whether the current squad is strong enough to compete at such a demanding level.

As yet, no new faces have arrived and a very familiar one has departed.

Barry Ferguson’s fall from grace, domestically and internationally, culminated in a £1.5 million switch to Birmingham, teaming up with former club and international boss Alex McLeish. Allan McGregor seems to have survived March’s “boozegate” affair, although his number one status will have to be earned. The evergreen David Weir continues for another season, this time as skipper. The Gers’ title chances may hinge on the Old Firm’s collective performance in Europe. Competing on four fronts cost them in 2008, and whilst Celtic’s elimination at the qualifying stage of the Champions League would be financially beneficial, having their rivals involved in a European campaign as well could even things out on league duty.

Back on the east coast, Csaba Laszlo’s debut SPL season was impressive, guiding Hearts to an unexpected third place finish whilst providing the country’s sports writers with more quotes than they knew what to do with. The Hungarian’s preseason has been about replacing the departing high-earners at Tynecastle.

The creative Bruno Aguiar decided to follow Christos Karipidis to Cyprus, whilst the departure of the long serving Robbie Neilson to Leicester leaves the Jambos looking to appoint their third captain since last August.

Michael Stewart, the elder statesman of the squad at 28 is the favourite www.scotzine.com 17

to be given the armband. Joining him in midfield will be the combative Ian Black, who joins from relegated Inverness. The centre of defence has been in need of reinforcements since Christophe Berra left in January. The replacements for him and Karipidis come in the form of Pole Dawid Kucharski and Algerian Ismael Bouzid. The lack of goals from strikers in maroon last term prompted the capture of Austrian David Witteveen from Red Bull Salzburg, with Spanish winger Suso Santana arriving to provide the ammunition.

Whilst a repeat of last season’s “best of the rest” finish would represent another good season, Hearts will be looking to cut the gap between 2nd and 3rd if possible. To do so, last year’s total of 11 red cards must be drastically reduced.

The closest challengers to the Gorgie Boys are likely to (again) be Craig Levein’s Dundee United. A 3-0 defeat at Tynecastle on the penultimate SPL weekend ended the Arab’s third place hopes in May, but the chance for revenge will come in the opening fixture this term on Tayside, to be televised on ESPN. Added spice could be provided by the appearance of Andy Webster in tangerine, the injury-plagued defender signing on loan from Rangers. One-time Everton prodigy Danny Cadamarteri has joined, along with Argentinian striker Damien Casalinuovo. Goalkeeper Dusan Pernis and winger Jennison MyrieWilliams are Levein’s other signings.

With not much between the two sides, a greater level of consistency on United’s part could see them pip Hearts to third.

At the other end of the table, St. Mirren’s dip in form after the move to their new home saw them come perilously close to relegation. Gus MacPherson has moved quickly to improve their survivial chances, poaching Michael Higdon from last season’s fellow strugglers Falkirk and Lee Mair from Aberdeen. Scotland cap Paul Gallacher arrives from Dunfermline, and the retention of Craig Dargo and Andy Dorman offers the Buddies hope going forward. In comparison to their rivals from last season, the Paisley club look well prepared to achieve SPL survival once again.

Down in Ayrshire, Kilmarnock, possibly more so than other SPL clubs, will be rueing the collapse of Setanta.

The reduction of already crucial revenue means it is likely that Jim Jefferies budget will be 18 www.scotzine.com

slashed further. With just lower league signings to date, Kevin Kyle will be relied upon to provide similar performances to the ones that kept Killie up at the end of last season. If he starts as he left off, he may not be around in January to repeat the trick.

Holding on to players is a problem last year’s new boys Hamilton have faced over the summer months. The inevitable departure of teenage James McCarthy manifested itself in a transfer to Wigan, although the £3million fee will go a long way to helping Billy Reid invest in replacements, as will the funds received for Brian Easton’s move to Burnley, the left-sided defender joining Owen Coyle’s Scottish-lead assault on the Premiership. Reid has opted for an experienced head at the back, offering Marvin Andrews a return to the SPL from Raith Rovers.

Midfielder James MacArthur remains at New Douglas Park for now, and providing Reid invests what cash he has wisely, Accies could be a good bet to extend their stay in the top flight.

Favourites to go down will undoubtedly be St. Johnstone. The Perth club comfortably wrapped up the first division title to end their seven-year exile from the top table of Scottish Football. Derek McInnes’ unsuccessful application for the vacancy left at West Brom by Tony Mowbray was good news for the Saints, although the difficulty they may face is attracting the required quality on the playing side to stay in the divison. To date, former Gretna striker Kenny Deuchar is the only import. With reduced television revenue across the league, coupled with the notoriously small attendances mustered at McDairmid Park, they will likely find themselves scrapping it out with fellow paupers Kilmarnock in a bid to make sure this SPL season is not a solitary one.

PREDICTIONS SPL

1

Celtic

2

Rangers

3

Dundee Utd

4

Hearts

5

Hibernian

6

Aberdeen

7 8

Kilmarnock

9

St.Johnstone

10

Hamilton

11

St. Mirren

12

Falkirk

Motherwell

Division One Champions: Dundee Relegated: Airdrie United

Division Two Champions: Peterhead Relegated: Clyde

Division Three Champions: Queen’s Park

Scottish Cup Champions: Celtic Runners-up: Hearts

League Cup Champions: Rangers Runners-up: Dundee Utd

Text | James Atkinson

KEY PLAYERS IN THE SPL Hughes will build his team around.

If it works, Hibs could be looking to take 3rd from Hearts.

Key man: Paul Sheerin. Craft and invention in Perth.

Key man: Aiden McGeady.

Looked like he was on the verge of leaving the club in January, the girl-faced Irishman is an unquestioned talent. If Mowbray can get him back to his best, Celtic will be too strong for everyone else.

Key man: Morgaro Gomis. That

Levein signed the Senegalese midfielder from Cowdenbeath shows the global reach of the game these days. That Roy Keane has offered £800,000 for him shows yet again Levein’s eye for a player. With money tight, though, can they hold on to him?

Key man: Andy Dorman.

Struggled last term, but if he returns to his best then he will make the Buddies tick.

Key man: Kevin Thomson.

Talented but fragile, the oft-injured midfielder has a vital role to play this season. With Ferguson gone, Rangers need someone to anchor the midfield and control games.

It’s telling, though, that Thomson has barely played for Scotland, despite his talent - he needs a solid, uninterrupted season to make his mark.

Key man: Stephen Craigan.

With all the youthful enthusiasm ahead of him, the Well skipper could do with a nice, consistent, mistake-free season to show leadership to the young charges and keep the goals against tally respectable.

Key man: Andy Driver. If Hearts

continue to play with a fence post upfront, then the winger’s attacking threat will be even more vital. An injury during the summer probably rules out his transfer this summer, a boost for the team if not the bank balance back in Vilnius. He could well go in January, though.

Key man: Zander Diamond.

Without a prolific striker, Aberdeen need to be tight at the back.

Diamond’s progress has been erratic but he’s shown signs of maturing into a consistent centrehalf.

Key man: Tomas Cerny. To balance out all that youthful inconsistently, an experienced pro between the sticks. A good keeper makes the difference, you know.

Key man: Danijel Marceta. The striker has been signed on loan from FK Partizan’s academy, which sounds like plenty enough pedigree for the SPL. If he’s another Anthony Stokes, then Falkirk may well be laughing in the face of relegation threats.

Remember to go to Scotzine.com to keep up to date with all the goings on in the SPL and beyond.

Key man: Merouane Zemmama.

Hibs will still rely on prodigal son Derek Riordan to score the goals, but it’s the little Morrocan who

Key man: Mehdi Taouil. The Morocco midfielder has tricks and talent, and is just plain good. He should be the difference between Kilmarnock and the teams below them. www.scotzine.com 19

The Season’s Big Questions Can anyone break the Old Firm’s stranglehold?

In a nutshell. No. Celtic and Rangers have enough quality in their squads to fend off the challenges of the likes of Hearts and Dundee United.

The best that non-Old FIrm fans can hope for is for the Glasgow giants to be split, with Hearts and possibly Dundee United best able to do so.

Can Rangers win the title without strengthening their side?

It’s all ifs and buts at the moment, but the advantage that Rangers have over most other clubs in the league is familiarity. While other clubs have to gel new signings into their sides, Rangers do not need to mess with their side. But they have had to cut the size of their squad and this could be a major factor in the title race.

If they hit a patch of injuries to the first team squad, they would certainly struggle badly, but Walter Smith is no rookie and he will always pull something out of the bag.

Rangers will be challengers, but I cannot see them holding onto the crown, as rivals Celtic have been revitalised under new managerTony Mowbray.

Will another club go into financial difficulty?

It wouldn’t be a surprise if any of a number of clubs got into difficulty.

Clyde and Stirling Albion are under serious threat of going into administration. But there could be one or two clubs in the SPL that could be under serious trouble. The demise of Setanta has hammered many clubs in the league, especially Motherwell and Kilmarnock. Transfer budgets have been slashed or shelved altogether as the coffers begin to empty quicker than money coming in.

I would expect at least one more club going into administration. Sadly.

Who will be relegated from the SPL? It will be a three way battle between Motherwell, Falkirk and St. Mirren to fight the drop, in my opinion.

Kilmarnock will be in and around the drop zone, but should have enough to be safe. Hamilton will also be at the wrong end of the table and the sale of James McCarthy and Brian Easton could cost the Accies dearly.

20 www.scotzine.com

St. Johnstone will be another side in the bottom six of the league, but Derek McInnes has done a great job and should secure SPL safety.

Who will be promoted into the SPL? It looks as though Dundee are trying to buy their way into Scotland’s top division. They have invested heavily in the playing squad, bringing in Gary Harkins from Partick Thistle for £150,000, Leigh Griffiths from Livingston for a mere £125,000, Brian Kerr on a free from Inverness Caley. Chris Casement was brought to Dens Park from Ipswich Town, Richie Hart joined from Ross County, Sean Higgins from County also and Pat Clarke from Clyde.

Despite being held by Raith Rovers in the second week of the season, they should stroll to the title.

Will Scotland qualify for the World Cup in South Africa?

Not on your nelly. The 4-0 defeat to Norway in Oslo has effectively signalled the end of the campaign for George Burley’s men. Although it is mathematically possible for Scotland to reach second place, the failure to improve upon their points tally will be their downfall, even if Scotland manage to get six points out of six against Macedonia and Holland.

In all honesty, I doubt Scotland will manage to get a solitary point from their remaining two games, and that should also signal the end of Burley’s tenureship in charge of the national side.

Who will be the next Scotland manager?

Well given the Scottish Football Association’s recent goings on, surrounding Boozegate and the appointment of Gordon Smith as the puppet Chief Executive of the stuffed shirts at Hampden, the man appointed will be an SFA YES man.... so that rules out the likes of Craig Levein, Gordon Strachan and Graeme Souness.

The nuts and bolts of the situation is this - the SFA will try to employ another puppet so they can tbe told what to do, what to say and how to go about things according to the age auld ‘secret handshake’ mentality that is still evident within the cobwebbed underbelly of the governing body.

A total overhaul of the Scottish game is needed. From grass roots level

KEY DATES Scottish Cup

1st Round: September 26th 2nd Round: October 24th 3rd Round: November 28th 4th Round: January 9th 5th Round: February 6th Quarter Final: March 13th Semi Final: April 10th/11th Final: May 15th

League Cup

1st Round: August 1st 2nd Round: August 25th/26th 3rd Round: September 22nd/23rd Quarter Final: October 27th/28th Semi Final: February 2nd/3rd Final: March 21st

Champions League

Group Stage - September 15th/16th, September 29th/30th, October 20t/21st, November 3rd/4th, November 24th/25th, December 8th/9th Last 16 - 1st Leg: February 16th/24th; 2nd Leg: March 9th/17th Quarter Final - 1st Leg: March 30th/31st; 2nd Leg: April 6th/7th Semi Final - 1st Leg: April 20th/21st; 2nd Leg: April 27th/28th Final - May 22nd

Europa League

Play-off Round - 1st Leg: August 20th; 2nd Leg: August 27th Group Stage - September 17th, October 1st, October 22nd, November 5th, December 2nd/3rd, December 16th/17th Last 32 - 1st Leg: February 18th; 2nd Leg: February 25th Last 16 - 1st Leg: March 11th; 2nd Leg: March 18th Quarter Final - 1st Leg: Apri 1st; 2nd Leg: April 8th Semi Final - 1st Leg: April 22nd; 2nd Leg: April 29th Final: May 12th

to the National side, as well as in the corridors of the SFA. Sadly we all know that the last thing to be culled would be the men in suits, the accountants and the ‘jobs for the boys’ bigwigs in the organisation.

The only man that can go into the Scotland job and actually overhaul from top to toe has to be Gordon Strachan.

Will the SFA appoint Strachan? Not a chance. He is not a YES man, he is not a weak character and he is probably too expensive for them. While the SFA executives pay themselves huge fortunes in wages, they tighten their belts when it comes to appointing a manager to take us forward. To hire the best you have to pay the best. England pay Premier League wages to Fabio Capello, while the SFA pay George Burley wages that are on par with an English League One side. Is that Scotland’s level? It’s time to act and Henry bloody McLeish isn’t the man to lead such actions - where is he anyway?

Text | Euan Wallace

Division One Ayr United Ayr should be the weakest side in the league and if not for Livingston’s implosion would probably be favourites for the drop. Don’t write them off though, the Honest Men have good players in Bryan Prunty and Ryan Stevenson, and have signed experienced defender Kevin James from St. Johnstone. They suffered an embarrassing defeat to Albion Rovers in the opening round of the Challenge Cup and fans will be hoping that wasn’t an omen for the season ahead.

Brian Reid’s main ambition will be to stay up, but at the very most Ayr can look to 8th or 9th in the table.

Dundee Just behind Real Madrid and Manchester City in the spending stakes this Summer, the Dark Blues are the SFL’s most talked about team. Widely tipped to win the title, Dundee have brought in sought after players like Leigh Griffiths and Gary Harkins and they start the season with the strongest squad in the league. It might not be as clear cut as it seems though.

The team shouldn’t be so strong as to dominate the division but by all accounts Dundee should win the title, unless the foxes at Dens Park do something about it.

Dunfermline Athletic Pars fans will no doubt have to wait at least another season before they can challenge for the title and will be hoping that Caley don’t jump the queue for ex-SPL clubs seeking promotion. Jim McIntyre has lost three iconic long-serving players: Greg Shields, Scott Thomson and Scott Wilson but has brought in some young players from other clubs to replace them. Young winger Joe Cardle from Airdrie looks like an exciting prospect for the club, along with former Kilmarnock and Queen of the South midfielder Willie Gibson. They look a stronger side than last season and can maybe establish themselves as a force in the division.

Greenock Morton Morton enjoyed their best campaign since 1999 last season but they haven’t brought many players in, Neil MacFarlane from Queen of the South

is the only notable addition to the squad. Young striker Brian Graham performed well on loan at East Stirlingshire last season and will be hoping to make appearances for the first team this year. Davie Irons has a good squad at Cappielow and the Ton won’t be in contention for the drop this season, but they will find it tough to build on their good performance last year. Another mid-table finish is most likely.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle Tradition dictates that the ex-SPL boys will be meandering around the First Division for about six or seven years. No relegated team has come straight back up since Dunfermline in 1999. The exodus of players that followed the drop was predictable, but Terry Butcher has signed decent replacements. Winning the league is not out of the question, after all one team needs to break tradition eventually. However it seems likely that this season Caley will have to take a backseat to Dundee and wait patiently on their turn to win promotion

Livingston Livingston were relegated to the Third Division after breachng SFL insolvency rules. However, they have lodged an appeal with the SFA after the SFL appeal was rejected by the member clubs.

If that appeal is rejected then Livi will play Third Division football this season and it would result in a fire sale of players.

Partick Thistle After two seasons of mediocrity, the Jags performed well last season and finished in second place, though they were 10 points adrift of St. Johnstone and never looked like catching the Saints. It doesn’t look like it will be easy to repeat that success this year. Inverness and Dunfermline will be looking to compete with Partick in the top half of the table, and midfielders Gary Harkins and Marc Twaddle have left the club. Ian McCall is still there though, despite interest from SPL clubs during the summer, and veteran Jim Hamilton will surely score a few goals this season. Expect another top-half finish, but maybe not as near the top this year.

Queen of the South The Doonhamers will be used to a bit of stability after the past two seasons and have consolidated their position in the league.

They will miss Stephen Dobbie, the prolific striker has moved on to Swansea City, but the club has brought in Rocco Quinn and Willie McLaren, who could turn out to be good signings for the side. Former St. Johnstone striker Derek Holmes will be expected to fill the void left

by Dobbie. A weaker team than they were in recent seasons, Queens will have to try hard to improve on previous years, they could finish in the bottom half this season.

Ross County The Staggies will want to push into the top half of the league this season.

Last season’s 8th place was perhaps an unfair reflection given that four other teams finished on the same points. It is a very tight league and a good run could be enough to lift the Dingwall side into the top half.

Former Celtic and Dundee United goalkeeper Michael McGovern has joined County, along with Paul Di Giacomo from Airdrie, but they have also lost a lot of players, most notably Sean Higgins. County are likely to have a mixed season, finishing somewhere in mid-table.

Raith Rovers John McGlynn’s side return to the First Division after a four year absence and will be hoping for a longer stay than the two seasons they managed last time, winning only three games in their second season.

Marvin Andrews has left to play for Hamilton but the replacements that the Rovers have signed should give them a decent chance of survival this year. The first big Fife derby for 10 years will be eagerly anticipated by both sets of supporters and it’s a safe bet that Rovers will win at least one of the encounters. They should stay up too.

www.scotzine.com 21

Text | Euan Wallace

Division TWO Airdrie United

Brechin City

Few teams have benefited as much from the demise of others as Airdrie have. Last year, Gretna’s bankruptcy saved the Diamonds from third tier football. Now it could be Livingston’s turn to spare them. The SFA plans to promote Airdrie instantly if the Lions go out of business. If that doesn’t’ happen then Airdrie should still be strong enough to win the league. They have brought in three players from Clyde: Scott Gemmill, Alan Trouten and Ricky Waddell and these players should boost an already well equipped squad. They should get to the First Division one way or another.

Former Dundee and Hibs boss Jim Duffy took over at Glebe Park in January and guided the team to a third place finish, only to fall to Ayr United in the playoffs. Given the pre-season to recover, and having some stability, should put the Hedgemen in a strong position for this season. Former Stranraer and Clyde striker Ian Harty has signed for the club, and if he can regain his goal scoring form he could be a great signing for Brechin. City should finish in a similar position this year and could even challenge for the title.

Airdrie are currently playing First Division football, since Livingston were relegated to the Third. But if the Almondvale club’s appeal is upheld by the SFA then they will drop back into the Second Division.

Whatever happens to Clyde this season depends on their financial future, which is still very uncertain.

The club predict lean times ahead and despite huge cuts in spending are still making losses. The whole squad was released at the end of last season and manager John Brown has had to completely rebuild the team. To make matters worse, the board have confessed that the team budget is the smallest in the division by some distance. It looks like a bleak future for the Bully Wee. Teams rarely succeed with such tight finances, avoiding the drop and avoiding administration would be a huge achievement.

Alloa Athletic Last season they finished comfortably clear of the relegation playoff spot and this season will be expected to do the same.

They are not as strong as some of the other teams in the league and it will be difficult to make much progress on last season’s 8th position. They have signed striker Brian Carrigan from Linlithgow Rose to boost their attack and expect big things from teenage sensation Greig Spence, who became the club’s youngest ever goal scorer on his debut against Queen’s Park last season and is showing some promise for the Wasps.

Arbroath Playing at one of the coldest football grounds in Scotland, the Red Lichties stayed clear of relegation last year and can look to more of the same this season, consolidating their place in the division. Jamie Redman, a new signing from Edinburgh University looks a capable midfielder and scored a goal on his competitive debut for the club. Other additions include Steven Hislop from Raith Rovers and Steven Doris, released by St. Johnstone.

These are not signings that will transform the team but it will put them in a slightly stronger position than last year.

22 www.scotzine.com

Clyde

Dumbarton The Sons are reportedly considering a move away from their picturesque ground by Dumbarton Rock. So make the trip while you still can. The tragic death of captain Gordon Lennon in June has cast a shadow over the club’s successes last season, when they won a very competitive league to gain promotion to the Second Division.

This season will be unpredictable, they are good enough to push for a playoff spot but could as easily finish in the bottom half. By that reckoning they should finish mid-table and most fans would happily settle for that.

East Fife Stevie Crawford’s first full season in charge of the Fifers comes at a time when there are questions over the future of Bayview.

The abandoned Methil power station, a dramatic backdrop to the stadium, is due to be demolished

next year and the site is thought to be of interest to developers. Don’t expect that to be too much of a distraction for the club. They have brought in a few new defenders. including experienced former Dunfermline captain Scott Thomson. but their midfield has been stripped down. To finish either side of fifth place would make for an acceptable season.

Peterhead Peterhead will hope that it’s third time lucky if they make the playoffs this season. After two failed attempts the club will be looking to progress to the First Division if they get their chance again. They have signed ex-Celtic and Aberdeen youth Ryan Strachan and the defender could prove to be a good acquisition for the Blue Toon.

They are a solid side in this division and despite not bringing in many new signings they should be strong enough to compete in the top half of the table again, but can expect to have to fight for those playoff places.

Stenhousemuir Stenhousemuir are the only team in the division that can boast a fan club in Norway, but there isn’t much sign of foreign flair from the Warriors. They have held onto last season’s top scorers Scott Dalziel and Kevin Motion but the club will find it difficult in the Second Division. They were surprise playoff winners, beating Queen’s Park and Cowdenbeath to win promotion so they are capable of pulling off a shock, but they should spend this season trying to avoid relegation.

Stirling Albion Steady performances on the pitch but some troubled times off it.

Stirling Council are owed £50,000 by the club and the local authority has made moves to repossess Forthbank Stadium. A campaign to make the Binos the first in the UK to be completely controlled by their fans faltered when chairman Peter McKenzie rejected a £300,000 offer to buy the club. The council will find out this month if they have the authority to repossess the ground. So it is possible that Stirling could be homeless. Oh, and the football? Finishing near the top in spite of financial perils would make for a good season, but the team will have to ignore the threat of eviction and concentrate on the football.

Text | Euan Wallace

Division THREE Albion Rovers Coatbridge’s finest managed a spot of giant killing in the Alba Challenge Cup when they beat Ayr United 2-0 last month. Still, last time the Wee Rovers were a force in the league Mark Yardley was plying his trade at Cliftonhill. Most likely fans can expect to finish in the bottom half yet again, but they will avoid the ignominy of the wooden spoon. They should be pleased with the news that last season’s Player’s Player of the Year Ciaran Donnelly has signed a new contract and maybe Rovers will have a decent run in the Challenge Cup after their first round success.

Annan Athletic That difficult second season. The league’s newest club burst onto the scene last season by thrashing Cowdenbeath 4-1 but had a mixed season and spent most of it around mid-table. Despite this, they came tantalisingly close to the playoffs. In April they were in fourth place with a favourable goal difference, only to collapse and pick up just one point in their last three games. There is no reason why they can’t get it right this season. They have at least shown that they can hold their own against the rest of the league. Holding on to fourth place this season would be good progress

Berwick Rangers England’s only Scottish team haven’t had much to shout about of late.

Newly relegated from the Second Division last season, they ended up in ninth place. It would be hard to see anything other than more of the same this year. They have added a few new players including a couple from last season’s promotion winners Stenhousemuir and Oliver Russell, an ex-Hibs player who captained the side to their SFA Youth Cup victory last season. These should be good additions to the squad but they will struggle to escape from the lower reaches of the league table.

Cowdenbeath The Blue Brazil are probably wondering what they are still doing in the Third Division. In February they were top of the table, eight points clear, with two games in hand. They made the playoffs in the end, but missed out on

promotion. They should be pushing for the title again this year, but losing prolific goal-scorer John Gemmell to Montrose will weaken their attack.

They should be a strong enough side to compete in the top half of the table.

Though it might not even matter: If Livingston go out of business, the BBC report that Cowdenbeath could get instant promotion to the Second Division.

At the time of going to print, Cowdenbeath had been promoted to the Second Division, after Livingston were relegated to the Third. However their place is still not secure as Livi are currently appealing to the SFA against their relegation.

East Stirlingshire So much for form, so much for tradition, so much for running jokes: To the surprise of casual observers everywhere, The Shire made the playoffs last season under Jim McInally’s management. A huge improvement on performances in recent and not so recent years.

The question is, can lightning strike twice? Do fans dare to dream about promotion? There might be too much stiff competition in the league for the team to repeat their successes and they will miss last season’s onloan striker Brian Graham, who was the Third Division’s answer to Diego Maradona. They should steer well clear of the bottom though, to do that two years running is good for this club.

Elgin City Elgin City let in 79 goals last season.

That’s more than the totals for Dumbarton and Cowdenbeath combined.

No surprises then, that they would finish adrift at the bottom of the table. The club have signed strikers Craig Gunn from Ross County and Craig Frizzel from Stranraer, but to they will have to be in fantastic form if City are to improve on their position from last season. Expect a few high scoring games if Elgin can’t strengthen their defence, and if they can’t strengthen their defence, expect to see them at the bottom again this season.

Forfar Athletic For a club that has spent many of their recent years in the lower divisions, Forfar seem to be surprisingly well

connected. Two new arrivals from East Fife, Chris Templeman and Kevin Fotheringham, could turn out to be very good signings for the club.

As former Brechin players both are crossing the not so infamous Angus divide to play for Forfar. The Loons finished mid-table last season and can probably look for more of the same.

They have signed a few new players and should be a stronger team than last year, but at best can push for a playoff place.

Montrose Some of the in-fighting at Montrose last season would make Vladimir Romanov blush. The club went through three managers before Steven Tweed took control as playermanager after Christmas. Tweed’s side had a good run of form in the final months of the season and finished in a respectable fifth place. The Gable Endies have signed a lot of young players and with the manager heavily endorsing the club’s youth policy, fans will be excited to watch a young Montrose side. One that is capable of building on their solid performance last season.

Queen’s Park For most teams in the division, playing Queen’s Park is their only chance to play at Hampden. The Spiders lost to Stenhousemuir in the playoffs last season and at best can anticipate the playoffs again this season and hope for a different outcome. They have managed to hold on to most of the team from last season, and have added some players from junior teams, so in theory they should be strong enough to compete in the top half of the table but will probably fall short of a title challenge.

Stranraer Elgin’s players and fans must have been delighted when Stranraer got relegated, but at least they only have to make the 500 mile round trip twice a season. Serious financial troubles from last season seem to be under control now and the club have managed to bring in a few new players. Incredibly the club have played in a different division each season for the past eight years, so it would seem a good bet that they will be in the running for promotion.

Expect a strong challenge for the title or a playoff place. www.scotzine.com 23

Text | Euan Wallace

highland league Brora Rangers

Forres Mechanics

Lossiemouth

The Cattachs had a poor season last year, finishing second from bottom with a terrible 9 points from 28 games. With the addition of some new teams to the league they could fare better this season but they will still be near the bottom of the table .

The Can Cans finished 9th last season and will be anticipating a similar position this year. They have signed former Inverness Caley player David Chambers and will be hoping that the fast winger will add to their attacking options. Mechanics will struggle to improve on last season though, another mid-table finish.

No great things predicted for the Coasters this season. The Moray side have signed some new players but are expected to struggle to make an impact in the division. They finished 12th last year and with the expansion of the league to 18 teams they could lose out to one of the incoming teams. Lossiemouth will finish near the bottom.

After a poor start last season, the Jags sacked the management team of Kevin and Doug Will and brought in Gregg Carrol. Under Carrol the team enjoyed a very good run of results and finished 6th, with some stability this year they could do even better. This season marks 100 years since they entered the Highland League, one of a few teams celebrating anniversaries this season.

Fort William

Nairn County

Consistently the worst team in the league.

Last season they managed just one point from 28 games. They have odds of 5001 to win the league, a safer bet would be that they finish bottom again. Their ground Claggan Park sits at the foothills of Ben Nevis, so at least they can boast one of the more attractive grounds in Scotland.

The Wee County had an average season, finishing 10th, but they have signed players over the summer and will expect to do better this year. They also won the North of Scotland Cup last season and will look to repeat that success. They should be able to push for a place in the top half of the table and improve on last year.

Clachnacuddin

The Broch will celebrate their centenary year in 2010 so they will be hoping for some success on the pitch to match the celebrations. The best the team can hope for is a top half finish and they are not likely to be among the title contenders. Long serving defender Derek Milne left Fraserburgh to join Deveronvale in July, after 15 years at the club.

Buckie Thistle

Historically the Lilywhites are one of the most successful teams in the league, but the bulk of their title wins came in the early 20th century, and they finished firmly in the bottom half last season at 11th place.

There won’t be much change this season either, they’ll end up around the same spot as last year.

Cove Rangers

Fraserburgh

Huntly

Rothes A team that finished 13th last season, just above Brora and Fort William, the Speysiders are likely to have similar expectations for this year. They’ve signed Franny More from New Elgin, and the striker who had previously played with Forres, Deveronvale and Buckie Thistle will want to help Rothes make progress, but it will be tough. Rothes will be near the bottom again.

The only team from Aberdeen to have won something in recent years, Rangers will be seeking their third consecutive title. They finished 9 points clear last season and only lost two games, so they should be a strong contender again this season. Though they will face tough competition from other teams in the division.

A team that had a lot of Highland League success in the 1990s, Huntly are more likely to finish around midtable than as title contender.

They have signed Myles Brownhill, a former Banks o’ Dee and Forfar Athletic striker which will strengthen their squad, but they are not expected to make much progress on last year’s 8th place.

Deveronvale

Inverurie Loco Works

Turriff United

Last season’s runners up are expected to make a strong challenge for the league title.

Management team Scott Anderson and Stuart Glennie have signed Derek Milne from Fraserburgh and Gordon Carstairs from Banks o’ Dee and hope to bring some young players into the first team over the season. Vale will finish near the top again.

The best named team in the league are also the bookie’s favourites for the title. They finished 3rd last season and also won the SFA Challenge Cup. The Locos are usually among the contenders for the title but have never won yet. This could be the season that they win their first Highland League title, but if not they won’t be far off it.

The third team making their Highland League debut this season. United will be good enough to steer clear of the low end of the table but will find it hard to finish much higher than mid-table. This would be a solid start from the Aberdeenshire side.

Formartine United

Keith

One of three new additions to the league this year. The former junior side will want to make an impression in their first Highland League season. They are capable of a solid performance and will be somewhere in mid-table, though probably nearer the bottom than the top.

Like Fraserburgh, 2010 will mark Keith’s centenary year.

Unlike Fraserburgh, Keith have a reasonable chance of winning the league. They finished 4th last season and will be again amongst the teams competing for the title, but they will find it hard to outstrip teams like Cove Rangers and Inverurie Locos. If they can, then they will have two reasons to celebrate in 2010.

24 www.scotzine.com

Strathspey Thistle Another new addition to the league this year, Strathspey Thistle are also the youngest team in the division. Formed in 1993, the Grantown-on-Spey team aren’t expected to do well this season, finishing just ahead of Fort William at the bottom.

However nobody can be sure how a new team is going to perform.

Wick Academy Last year the Scorries enjoyed a good season, finishing 5th in the league. They have managed some stability over the close season and have held onto key players. So they are in a good position to repeat their performance from last season. The teams at the top are well established favourites and it will be tough for Academy to split them. They will finish around 5th or 6th again.

Text | Andy Muirhead

SCOTTISH JUNIORS West P

ollok have been a dominant force in the Super League, however money is all important in football and Irvine Meadow are now the team to beat.

Season 2009-10 is when we at Scotzine.com and The 12th Man hope to put the site on a firmer foot hold in Scottish Football.

The Ayrshire club have a budget that will put many senior clubs to shame and unsurprisingly they lifted four trophies and the League title last season, and for Season 2009-10 their dominance will continue, they will certainly be difficult to beat.

With over 550,000 unique hits already since January last year, and in our third year of existence, we believe that the site and fanzine can only get better as the season rolls on. However we cannot do it without the fans to help us. As Jock Stein famously said:

Pollok have been given a boost with Rab Sneddon returning for a second term, as they look to regain their title. Sneddon previously won the title three times out of four for the Newlandsfield side, but lacking the funds that Irvine have, they look more runners-up than champions.

And in our case that is so true. Without our fan contributors, without you the fans reading our site and fanzine we would not be here. While we know that we are not everyone’s cup of tea for a variety of reasons, we do feel that we are in a unique situation to give the Scottish football fan everything he or she wants in a website and fanzine.

Auchinleck Talbot is another contender for the title. With Tommy Sloan’s side being together for the past few seasons, familiarity could breed success, but do they honestly have the strength in depth to sustain a challenge for the title? Third place is the best theycan hope for.

However we do have limited numbers within our first team squad, and therefore we would like to announce that we are looking for new recruits for the upcoming season. If you have an avid interest of the Scottish game, love to give your own opinion on any aspect of it and can string a few sentences together then we want you. No matter what club you support, whether it is the Old Firm, Hearts or Hibs, Aberdeen, Stranraer or Annan Athletic we want you.

The Challenge from Beith last season was surprising, but with a strike partnership of Kenny McLean and Andy Reid they can pop up to win games. Fourth place for Beith. Arthurlie, Kilbirnie and Rob Roy will battle in the middle of the table. Their inly chance of silverware will come in cup competitions.

Our goal is to have a contributor from every club from the SPL down to Division Three on board, working tirelessly to give the footballing public in Scotland, the news, the features and the information they deserve and that for so long has been missing, as many media outlets decide to emphasis more on the Old Firm, the SPL, Scotland or English Football.

Largs are in their first season in the Super League and they will target survival and that will be a successful season. However they will be battling with Vale of Clyde in a relegation dogfight, and with John Crooks having a number of good players at his disposal at Vale, they might just survive, although last season their disciplinary record was a problem.

“Football without fans is nothing....”

Anyone interested can contact us at mail@scotzine.com with the subject title of Contributing to Scotzine. And if possible, please send some of your own sample work with your enquiry.

East D

avie Baikie has taken over at Linlithgow Rose and has brought in seven players as he targets the title for his first season in charge. He has been successful with every club he has been at, and he hopes to continue this form. Last season, Bonnyrigg won the title which was a fairytale for Allan Miller in his first season in charge.

Miller assembled a totally new squad when he arrived, just before the start of the season and to lift the title was amazing.

Bonnyrigg have a strong defence and with the signing of former Buddies striker Martin Cameron, they should be confident of retaining their title. But as we all know football is a funny auld game.

Remember to return to Scotzine.com for the new season, as we continue to provide top class podcasting with the folk at The Terrace Radio podcast. You can sign onto our fan forum and discuss the latest news in the Scottish game or just get something off your chest. Or just comment on the main site where we will continue our features such as Legends of Scotland, Q&A and also bring new the latest news, transfer latest and our own opinionated ramblings. Thank you again for your support. www.scotzine.com 25

For & Against....

Summer Football has been a topic that has split the nation ever since it was first thought up. Should Scotland play in the summer or should we stick to the traditional period of football in this country? Two of our contributors tackle the subject head on....

FOR

T

here have been calls for summer football to be introduced in Scotland for years now, but I still believe that it would be a backwards step for the Scottish professional game. My stance on this matter isn’t simply negative however. I believe that summer football could well be the saviour of the amateur and junior game in this country and should be seriously considered. What I am suggesting is a 12 month football calendar: Junior and amateur football from February to October and the senior game remaining in its current August to May set-up.

The first and most obvious reason for changing the amateur and junior season to the summer is the weather.

As an amateur player myself, I have experienced the disappointment of postponed matches week after week, and on the rare occurrence of a winter match going ahead, struggling to play football on a pitch short of grass, but rich with mud. Summer football would solve this problem instantly.

Another advantage would be the financial savings made to teams in training costs. Every year, hundreds of teams cease to exist due to financing difficulties. The cost of hiring floodlit facilities to train in the winter is becoming extortionate. If the season was to run in the summer however, teams would be able to train anywhere they choose, taking advantage of the extended daylight hours.

I believe that the chance to play in better weather and with reduced financial burdens would see the amateur and junior game flourish in this country, with more and more people participating, which can only be good for Scottish football as a whole.

However, I do not believe that the professional game should be switched to a summer schedule, and I’ll tell you why. Firstly, the potential of all year round football in this country, with amateur and juniors in the summer and the seniors in the winter, is just far too tempting to ignore. Crowd levels would almost 26 www.scotzine.com

certainly increase, with people being able to watch their local junior team in the summer and then their chosen professional side in the winter, without the two having to compete for fans as they currently do. Secondly, winter would seem so much more cold and dark if there was no football to illuminate our Saturday afternoons.

Can anyone seriously contemplate months and months of winter weekends with nothing to do but Christmas shopping?!

Whereas the vast majority of amateur and junior teams are ill equipped to deal with the winter weather, most senior teams have facilities in place that allow them to cope with cold and wet conditions to ensure that match postponements are a rarity.

With my proposed schedule, everyone is a winner. Except perhaps from the disgruntled partners, forced to go shopping alone every Saturday.

Oh well, swings and roundabouts!

Do you agree with Glen McMahon’s stance on Summer Football or do you disagree? Let your voice be heard on the matter. Email us at letters@scotzine.com.

AGAINST

W

hat is the attraction of Summer football? Other than playing a game on a sunny day - not much else. I am a football traditionalist.

Football should be played between the months of July/August to May and with the summer months left for holidays, football tournaments and making it up to the missus for all those weekends, you didn’t spend with her.

The main reason used by many in debates over Summer Football is the weather. It is true that our winters are becoming increasingly worse, whether it is rain or frost, but will playing in the summer actually give us uninterrupted football? Of course it won’t. Scotland is not bathed in sun throughout the summer, and in the past few weeks we have had plenty of rain fall to make a mockery of a summer football league. We are lucky to have decent summer weather for two or three weeks during the period of May to August.

But certain issues will always clash with summer football in Scotland. The school holidays when families up and down the country go on holiday. It maybe true that attendances would rise somewhat, but when you get down to the nitty gritty, the missus will always win when it comes down to football versus a holiday. Summer football in Scotland would also clash with major championships, such as the Euros and the World Cup. While us Scots have not worried about missing our holidays with the national side not qualifying for a major championship since France 98, what will happen to the clubs whose players are away on international duty for a month? Will they postpone the league until the tournament is over with or will they just continue playing with clubs facing missing a number of key players for that period? Either way it would make a mockery of the league either way.

And what of those clubs who qualify for Europe - what happens to them if they progess through the later stages of the competitions and then the season ends? It’s all well and good having players match fit for the European competitions to kick off, but what about the latter stages?

No competitive football on a weekly basis would curb any progress a Scottish club may or may not have in Europe.

What is required is the re-introduction of the Winter Break. A period between December and January, when our winter is extremely bad, giving clubs a breather in the middle of the season also. It would extend the league season by a few weeks.

Those jumping on the Summer Football bandwagon state that it would be better for Scottish clubs in Europe. But it would only help a maximum of five clubs.

Do we really want to sit at a football match in the blazing sun, with an ice lolly or should we stick to the ice cold days with a bovril in one hand and a pie in the other. I know which one I would choose and it’s not the lolly.

Do you agree with Andy Muirhead’s stance on Summer Football or do you disagree? Let your voice be heard on the matter. Email us at letters@scotzine.com.

MyScot FC

F

ounded in 2008, My Scot FC embarked upon a programme of contacting most senior clubs outside Scotland’s SPL and a number of clubs in the Non-League, Junior Leagues and the Amateur scene.

Contact from senior clubs was next to zero, with contact from other areas also being minimal. Coverage was gained in the Daily Record newspaper and this led to a number of contacts. Third Lanark were a very intriguing option, whilst the only other two serious contenders were Maryhill Football Club and Newmains United Community Football Club. The Third Lanark option became complicated, Maryhill didn’t look like a viable option for gaining enough members and Newmains United became the choice selected by the first My Scot FC vote. Unfortunately, the advertising budget just wasn’t there in order to initially attract a large number of members.

Since this vote, My Scot FC have grown slowly and Newmains United have looked to get the groundwork in place for making a proper push during season 09/10.

Newmains United themselves are a club reborn, having taken season 07/08 and now being under totally new management.

Newmains United play in the Central League Division Two of the Scottish Juniors Western Region, this league being the fourth tier of that setup. The Junior setup itself is a grouping of senior level leagues, with a number of players across all the leagues having played for top Scottish sides and also teams in Ireland. There is currently no entry from this setup to the Scottish Football League, though Newmains could ultimately qualify for the Scottish FA Cup and make steps to prepare for any pyramid system.

During 08/09 My Scot FC had over 300 registered members, whilst only around 28 of those paid the yearly £35 subscription fee. Payment was more of an option than actually being demanded as My Scot FC looked to show what could be offered to members. The current membership comes from numerous countries, Austria, Spain, Germany, Italy, Finland, Australia and USA being just a few.

For season 09/10, My Scot FC members will run the club itself and will have a say on every aspect of the club apart from tactics and starting squads. The cost of a season ticket, enabling access to member areas of the site, for season 09/10 is £20. The club are also

Text | Kenny Morrison | www.myscotfc.com

looking to open up to more online involvement with the possibility of an online match programme and discussion evenings involving members of the club. It should be noted that My Scot FC is run on a voluntary basis and will continue to be run in this manner.

Alongside the work with Newmains, My Scot FC have committed to the development of football in both the North Lanarkshire area and Scotland as a whole, whilst the endorsement of, then Motherwell FC Manager, Mark McGhee was gained. It is also hoped that the club, with My Scot FC, can work towards the SFA Community mark by offering coaching and teams at various age levels and for both sexes. With that in mind, My Scot FC invite all local and national clubs to consider becoming involved. There is already a chance of working with Abercorn AFC, a recently created amateur side from the Paisley area.

My Scot FC can also offer members the chance to become coaches, have a trial with Newmains or even the chance to join the Newmains Committee. Members from around the globe can also assist by helping us develop links with clubs in their area. There is also the possibility to join the current project work or, for more local members, get involved with the My Scot FC Committee or even become part of the My Scot FC media team who run the Newmains United website and My Scot FC TV. This is a project limited only by the ambition of those involved. It’s also the perfect platform for anyone looking to develop a career at any level Scottish football or the contributing media streams.

Newmains United Newmains United Community Football Club are a team from the Junior ranks and were, until 2006, known as Coltness United. Coltness United were formed in 1934 and, aside from a few league and cup wins in the 1950’s, weren’t what you would call a successful side. The club took a season out in 07/08 and finished 08/09 2nd bottom of the Central www.scotzine.com 27

League Division Two, the fourth tier of the Western section of the Junior leagues.

Milestones June 08

During initial discussions a budget drawn from a potential membership level of 500 was discussed, as a starting point, and their Assistant Manager, Thomas Devine, had the following to say: “Newmains, at the moment, are very much a blank canvas, the club’s plans for the season were very much to get it up and running again and stabilise the club and as such were looking at a player budget of as liitle as possible, mainly signing the best amateur players in the area, mixed with a small number of experienced junior players. Although operating to these constraints, we are very hopeful of a respectable finishing position in the league. So I think an investment near the figures previously quoted by yourself would see the club strive this year, in what is in my opinion, a weaker league than in many of the previous years.

With that sort of budget the club should be able compete well in the cup competitions as well, although inevitably we would still fall short of many of the top junior clubs at that early stage in terms of squads etc.”

At the time of the quote above My Scot FC were working towards providing a contribution of around £10,000 to the overall Newmains budget. This sort of contribution is still the goal, with the 09/10 price of £20 meaning 500 members would be required to provide this purely via season ticket fees.

My Scot FC is created.

July 08 Members vote to work with Newmains United the local Community.

August 08

Offer the fans a chance to come onboard and make a difference.

Kit and trackside sponsorship taken up with Newmains United.

Develop initiatives and promote the club worldwide.

Began sponsoring Annan Athletic’s Stevie Archibald.

Member payments first accepted.

Develop links with other appropriate clubs or groups.

The Future: The club and My Scot FC have a business plan, with the main focus being on steady progress. The more ambitious aspects of the project are to develop the Victoria Park ground.

More immediate is a wish to take the club through the leagues and also to develop a manageable structure involving as many worldwide football supporters as possible. A membership base of around 1,000 would assist with really pushing everything forward, whilst there is also the hope that commercial streams of finance will be identified.

It’s hoped that recent coverage on BBC Reporting Scotland will help, whilst the BBC are going to cover the club online over season 09/10.

This could also open up opportunities for the media we can deliver to our members, with My Scot FC TV already providing match highlights and interviews.

You can visit My Scot FC at: http://www.myscotfc.com

Through season 08/09, our contribution was so appreciated that Newmains United offered My Scot FC the chance to run the club. This offer was taken up and accepted in March 09, thus allowing EVERY My Scot FC member the chance to become directly involved.

General Aims: To run Newmains United Community Football Club.

Gain lease of the ground.

Develop the club’s overall structure.

Develop the profile of the club within 28 www.scotzine.com

Club website designed and voted through.

Two members receive a trial.

September 08 My Scot FC endorsed by Mark McGhee.

October 08 First Committee elected.

My Scot FC TV begins airing match highlights.

November 08 Contribution to travel costs for SJFA Scottish Cup match.

Members vote to contribute £300 to club equipment costs.

December 08 My Scot FC visit local businesses.

Switch to season ticket format.

February 09

Newmains United’s official website can be viewed at:

Members sanction and finance signing of James Brophy from East Kilbride Thistle.

http://www.newmains.myscotfc. com

March 09 Members vote to run Newmains United in 09/10.

June 09 BBC Involvement begins.

09/10 Committee voted in.

My Scot FC begin funding Newmains training venue.

July 09 Coverage on BBC Reporting Scotland.

www.scotzine.com 29

Text | Andy Muirhead

Homeless World Cup Milan 2009 T

he Homeless World Cup is a world-class international football tournament that uses football to energise homeless people to change their own lives. It has triggered and supports grass roots football programmes in over 60 nations engaging 30,000 players who are homeless all year round. Over 70% change their lives coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into jobs, homes, education, becoming football coaches, players and social entrepreneurs.

At the 7th Homeless World Cup in Milan 6-13 September, Arena Civic, Sempione Park 48 nations will participate. The inaugural Homeless World Cup kicked off in Graz, Austria with 18 nations taking part. Since then it has gained great momentum in Gothenburg, Sweden (2004), Edinburgh, Scotland (2005), Cape Town, South Africa (2006) and Copenhagen, Denmark (2007) and Melbourne (2008).

Founded by world-leading social entrepreneur Mel Young, the Homeless World Cup is supported by UEFA, Nike, The Vodafone Foundation, Global Ambassador Eric Cantona and international footballers Didier Drogba and Rio Ferdinand.

Nations Participating: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mexico, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, USA, Wales

MILAN 2009 At a press conference on the 27th July, hosted at la sala dell’Orologio di Palazzo Marino the City of Milan, Ministry of Defence and Red Cross Italy announced their collaboration to support the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup, which takes place from 6-13 September 2009 at the Areana Civica, Sempione Park.

Letizia Moratti, Mayor of Milano, said, “We are thrilled that this September Milano is able to host the Homeless World Cup, in which 480 homeless people from 48 different countries worldwide will participate, an event that is not only a sports event, but which represents a stage in their journey of social reintegration which has so far yielded extraordinary results.”

Minister of Defence, Ignazio La Russa, said, “I want to second what Mayor Moratti said in giving a hand to an initiative which unites athletic activity with a more serious commitment, tied to the recovery of those who find themselves homeless. I want to praise the generals present here for having demonstrated once again that the Armed Forces are second to none, not only in defending peace and liberty, but also in supporting events such as this.”

Mel Young, President, Homeless World Cup, said, “It is wonderful to be here in Milan in this beautiful City.

Thank you Milan, for your bid to host and make the 7th 30 www.scotzine.com

Homeless World Cup a phenomenal success.

“There are one billion people homeless in our world today. This is not sustainable and it is incumbent on all of us to do something. If we all do one thing, however small, we can create great change. The coming together of the City of Milan, Ministry of Defence and Red Cross demonstrates this very change in action. Thank you.

“We would love to invite Milan to really get behind this global football tournament changing the world.

To the people of the city come and watch, come and volunteer. We’d like to invite partners and sponsors, football clubs and players media to get behind the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup and show the world Milan’s contribution to the power of football to change lives.”

Mel Young, President Homeless World Cup, extended an invitation to Letizia Moratti, Mayor of Milan to become an ambassador of the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup, presenting a Quaich, a traditional cup from Scotland, to honor her position as ambassador of this unique global event changing lives. He added, “The Homeless World Cup and players from 48 nations are honoured that Mrs Moratti, the head of the City of Milan, will be an ambassador of this unique tournament generating a profound impact around the world.”

The 48 nations will represent all five continents of the globe, including Argentina to Brazil, England to Germany, Australia to Cambodia, Hong Kong to India, Ghana to Malawi. Italy, two times Homeless World Cup champions will be aiming to regain their championship glory in front of their home crowd.

The Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup is supported nationally by the Ministry of Youth, City of Milan, Province of Milan, The Lombardy Region, FIGC-Italian Football Federation, Cariplo Foundation, Inter Milan, Gazzetta dello Sport and it is one of the main events of the Milan European Capital of Sport 2009. International support comes from Nike, UEFA, Vodafone Foundation, United Nations, Global Ambassador Eric Cantona, Rio Ferdinand and Didier Drogba.

There are one billion homeless people in the world, including 50,000 homeless people in Italy. Over 70% of players at the Homeless World cup experience a significant life change; coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into homes, jobs, education, training, repairing relationships, becoming coaches or players with semi-pro teams and social entrepreneurs. Since 2003 the Homeless World Cup has engaged over 100,000 players and has triggered football programmes in over 70 nations.

Scotland won the competition in Copenhagen, Denmark back in 2007. Since the tournament’s inception in 2003, Scotland have been placed fourth in the competition three times and winners once. With only six tournaments having taken place to date, it is a record that all Scotland football fans should be proud of and the impending tournament in Milan should give us Scots, something to cheer about after the dismal performance of the National side in the World Cup qualifiers for South Africa.

Visit www.homelessworldcup.org for more info.

Text | Andy Muirhead

Q & A with.... e k u D d Davi David leading Team Scotland through the streets of Melbourne....

AM: What is the Homeless World Cup in your own words – what does it stand for and what do the players involved get out of participating in it?

DD: The Homeless World Cup provides players with opportunity. An opportunity to play football, an opportunity to make new friends, an opportunity to build self esteem and confidence, to represent their country and make positive change in their lives. The players gain a lot of happiness and pride and most find new motivation in life.

AM: You stated in an interview previously that the Homeless World Cup and football in general, has helped turn your own life around – in what way?

DD: Due to unforeseen circumstances I became homeless. Before I got involved with HWC, I had no motivation and thought the world was against me. I alienated myself from family and friends and began drinking excessively. Getting back involved in Football and with HWC gave me new motivation and determination to succeed. After playing for my country, I was soon back on track with a new flat and new career beckoning.

AM: Did you get support and advice from anyone when you were undertaking your coaching qualifications and HNC in Community Development?

And for any budding coaches what advice would you give them?

DD: I was lucky enough to work alongside and be mentored by Ex-Glasgow Rangers Captain Ally Dawson.

Currently a Rangers Youth Coach, Ally gave me the right tips and encouragement from the start. Any advice for coaches would be to focus, work hard, plan ahead and be a good listener and encourager as this will help identify the strengths and weakness of players, allowing you to get the best from them.

AM: Scotland has been very successful in the HWC in recent years, and winning it in Denmark 2007 how did that victory make you feel? Especially since you were the Scotland Head Coach?

DD: Obviously it was a great personal achievement having being a player then assistant coach the previous two years. Copenhagen was the first event that I full control of team selection and training etc. Having been involved for three years prior I knew what the HWC was all about and how ball retention and team cohesion (as with any game) was key. So we focused on this part of our game and focused a lot on team-building. We will never have the best individual players but with big hearts, the will to win and a strong bond between players, this helped carry us to success. The guys worked really hard from day one and they deserved their day of glory.

AM: The HWC has helped shape the lives of many of its participants even after the tournament has ended.

After the 2005 World Cup, HWC state that 77% of those who took part changed their lives for the better www.scotzine.com 31

– obtaining jobs, entering education or training, getting off drugs & alcohol, finding new homes and renewing relationships with their families. How does a game of football do all this? And it can’t be always be a ‘fairy-tale’ ending for everyone who takes part can it?

DD: Football is a great way to unite people and bring people from very different background together as equals. When players become involved they experience an increase in self-belief and confidence they then use this in other parts of their live. Obviously not everyone will receive the maximum impact as the figures show, but the amount of people who do see positive change is impressive and if we all do our bit to help then hopefully we create a solution.

AM: Travelling to destinations such as South Africa, Australia and Denmark takes a lot of money, especially with a football team – how do you raise funds and who has been the biggest donators in the past?

DD: In recent years, we have received most of the funds thanks to the Scottish Government. We also gain revenue through shirt sponsorship and small donations.

Team Scotland 2007 - Homeless World Cup Champions AM: Who will be your main opponents?

DD: Well the most obvious is the Auld Enemy as they always bring a strong team ‘to win it!’ although we have only met once since HWC started – (When we won on penalties in the QF after drawing 7-7 in regular time). Italy (Hosts), Brazil, Portugal, Poland and current top seeds Russia always challenge for honours but there has been a real surge from African teams in recent years so don’t be surprised if it was an African win in Milan.

AM: Within Team Scotland, you will have men and women who have gone through a lot in their lives, from drug & alcohol abuse to being homeless and other issues. What does Team Scotland do for them before, during and after tournaments?

AM: Given your success in winning the Homeless World Cup with Scotland – could you give any pointers to George Burley and the Scottish National side and what would they be?

DD: Mmmm. I’m sure George doesn’t need any pointers from me although like us he will have to rely on passion rather than panache. I think we all just have to hope that we can keep key players fit for the qualifiers.

AM: Have you ever thought of taking what you have learned into professional football? Coaching at club level?

DD: When you first start doing your coaching badges, you think yeah this is for me, next Jose Mourihno and all that haha. I had a spell with the Falkirk FC development centre which was great but I much prefer this just now, but you never know maybe I could bring Third Lanark up to the SPL. AM: Despite coming a credible 4th in Melbourne last year – for the third time in the HWC history – can Scotland once again lift the HWC trophy in Milan this September?

DD: That question…… Well, we have as good a chance as any but it’s like anything, you focus on your first match and try get a win under your belt, then take it from there.

To qualify from the group stage would be great and is always our main aim (on the football side). Lady Luck will always play her part.

32 www.scotzine.com

DD: The Scottish HWC squad is selected, coached and mentored by Street Soccer (Scotland). SSS is a social enterprise which uses football to develop positive change and outcomes for a range of socially disadvantaged adults and young people. We work closely with the group of players and provide personal development plans to suit each player; these might include Housing support, Volunteering, Life and Emotion Management, Training and Education and Confidence Building.

AM: You are seen as one of the many ‘success’ stories with the Homeless World Cup – but without the HWC and football where do you think you would have been now?

DD: To be honest I don’t know where I would be or what I would be doing. What I do know is that being involved again in Football and especially the HWC opened the door of opportunity and I grabbed this opportunity with both hands (or feet maybe) and focused myself on doing the right things and moving on with my life.

AM: There have been a lot of positives taken from the HWC and what football has done for those participating, but have there been any negatives?

DD: Not that I have seen. The only negative is that more people should support the HWC dream which is to end homelessness and poverty. Whether that be volunteering with homeless projects or donating to HWCF, or even to give the unfortunate guy on the street the respect he deserves. We all have to pitch in for the sake of society.

AM: And if you had a platform in front of the whole nation to state your opinions – What would you say to all of us?

DD: Get into the Homeless World Cup, I do.

Everyone at Scotzine.com and The 12th Man wishes Team Scotland every success in Milan, and hope that they can bring back the World Cup. Good luck guys!

Text | Colin D. Young

company Ukio Bankas Investicine Grupe (UBIG). Ukio Bankas (UB) itself, in which Mr Romanov holds a mere 33% stake, has recently had its own credit rating downgraded to ‘junk’ status by both Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s. Ultimately, this downgrading results in higher borrowing costs for the bank. Without the specific details of the agreement between UBIG and UB, it may be reasonable to suggest that this increased cost of borrowing may be passed on from the bank to the borrower, i.e., Hearts.

Playing football at the edge of a cliff G

eoff Hurst recently stated that ‘Fans are the lifeblood of football’, as he tried to support the raising of funds to save Queens Park Rangers. Is this where football is heading? The very people who have been short changed by the incompetent financial management of football clubs, who have run up incredible levels of debt, are now being asked to bail them out. Why should we worry when Ronaldo, football’s most expensive ever transfer, himself has signed up to help save Stirling Albion?

As fans, we should be asking some very difficult questions of the beautiful game north of the border and those in charge of it. The business model adopted by the SPL clubs over the past decade has brought the game to the brink of financial ruin.

We’ve seen household name clubs like Motherwell and Dundee enter administration; Celtic come within minutes of closure, and poor Gretna collapse under the weight of its own success. It’s the fans, ultimately, who will pay for this as the beautiful game in Scotland continues to decay.

The level of insolvency, or potential insolvency, within the SPL is frightening, but who or what is causing this? 25% of SPL clubs would be at risk of closure were their creditors to call in their debts.

Motherwell are operating under a company voluntary arrangement following their much publicised problems. Hearts, by contrast, are seemingly playing catch-up with the rest of the SPL who over-spent their way to disaster in the hey-day of the 1990s. Their payment of exorbitant wages to arguably sub-standard players, often those from clubs with associations with their owner, has pushed them into a situation whereby they couldn’t even, late in 2008, afford to pay employee’s wages on time. In late July 2009, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs lodged a petition at the Court of Session over unpaid taxes that could yet see the club placed in administration.

Hearts are 82% owned by Vladimir Romanov, and have debt of about £30M (2007/2008) to their parent

This would see increased cash leaving Scottish football in the form of interest payments, and potentially result in Hearts having to default on their loans. With merely 33% of a stake in UB, does Romanov wield sufficient power to guarantee that UB would not call in the Hearts debt? Recent comments by an advisor to the UB board (Limas Kontrimas) suggest that UB are not even discussing that as an option.

Yet, as Lithuania and other Baltic states endure the worst recession in Europe, it presents Hearts fans with a concerning conundrum.

a time when the average Scot has credit card debt of circa £7K, but could offer the club the stability required for long term success. Are fans as loyal as to indebt themselves further to see the club survive in the longer term?

But who are the other major creditors in the SPL? Banks.

Lloyds Bank in the majority of cases and, more precisely, Halifax Bank of Scotland plc. The former sponsors of the league are one of its biggest financiers. Not content with generating increased revenue for themselves through the term of their sponsorship by successfully tempting fans to bank with them, they are continuing to milk the dying SPL cow. Dundee United carry a net debt of £5.7M in their last accounts, £5.5M of which is owed to HBOS. The other half of the New Firm, Aberdeen, has net debt of £9.4M owed to banks, including HBOS. With the banking sector in disarray, club directors must be worried that the level of risk in football proves too much for the new owners of HBOS, and that these debts are called in. It was reported in March 2009, for example, that Rangers FC were in negotiation with their banking partners following the banks’ express desire to reduce the clubs debt levels. Refinancing any loans in the current climate, without strong business plans to support this, would be extremely difficult for most clubs.

Hearts stadium is their biggest asset, and could ultimately prove their saviour as happened with St. Mirren after the sale of their beloved Love Street to Tesco. However, Romanov’s approach for the club initially focussed on redevelopment of Tynecastle rather than sale.

So: debts are high, and the banking sector is unsteady, but what about club revenues? The collapse of the Setanta TV deal has dealt a major blow to Scottish football - one which some clubs may struggle to survive without inducing fans to part with more of their own money.

The club has tried and failed to buy success on the pitch to generate additional revenue, maintaining the highest wages-to-turnover ratio in the SPL, and ultimately indebting itself further. Hearts fans must be a frustrated group, seeing their side thrown around like a theatre puppet on the strings of a poor man’s oligarch, while achieving neither financial stability nor footballing success.

There are numerous examples, but in general the majority of clubs face a near 30% reduction in their television revenues now that ESPN and Sky have teamed up to generate a stronger position from which to negotiate down the price of Scottish football.

However, with major English clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool recognising that new stadia are the best way forward, it seems perhaps naïve of Hearts fans not to consider the option, especially since they have a relatively small ground with high utilisation (82% full in Season 07/08, 97% in Season 06/07).

What would this mean for the fans?

An out-of-town stadium could mean increased transportation costs at

It’s easy to look to some clubs, like Kilmarnock, where the fall in TV revenue may equate to the level of debt interest paid annually, but even the Old Firm are suffering. Their subscriber-only channels, Rangers and Celtic TV, have also gone down along with Setanta, losing them proportionately more revenue than other clubs.

How do clubs recover from this?

It’s unlikely that any alternative source of funding to this level can be gained from corporate sponsorship, especially at a time when most www.scotzine.com 33

companies are reducing their spending on corporate hospitality.

It falls, as always, to the fans to bail their beloved clubs out. Price increases could be necessary at some clubs, from ticket prices down to the price of a hot pie and Bovril.

Fans would again be asked to dig deeper into pockets that are already threadbare to help keep their passion alive. However, how long can fans keep this up?

The perfect example of this is Kilmarnock FC, who not only suffer from the reduction of Setanta revenue, but also face the closure of the most important employer in the town. It’s not impossible for a club like Kilmarnock to survive under these circumstances, but it must place unenviable restrictions on the management and directors of the club. Indeed, fans favourites have not been offered renewed contracts, and even coaching contracts have been withdrawn from some older players.

This is the world we live in, but fans carry the disappointment of not being able to see their heroes each week.

However, this is just at the bottom end of the spectrum of Scottish football. We’ve seen in recent seasons that failure to gain entry into the echelons of European football can be devastating for club finances. Aberdeen’s recent venture into the European arena contributed significantly to an amazing 71% increase in the club’s annual turnover.

Rangers achieved an equally stunning 54% increase in revenue by reaching the UEFA cup final. Celtic’s progression into the last 16 of the Champions league has buoyed their revenue by more than £10M for the past few seasons.

Rangers and Celtic in particular have a huge reliance upon the funds from European football. Their squads, both in terms of number and quality, have to be able to withstand the routine action of the SPL and also step up to the quality of the European arena.

This comes at a cost, and a very steep one.

Rangers and Celtic, financially, cannot compete with the wages offered by even the Championship teams in England. Those English teams do not even have a remote chance of playing at the top level in Europe, yet can attract mercenary players with a rich carrot. Rangers and Celtic, meanwhile, have to shop for bargains in Europe’s dustbin or invest in youth development.

Rangers effectively announced to the football world that they were a selling club in the last transfer window. It looked to fans as if ‘For Sale’ signs were attached to every player’s back, 34 www.scotzine.com

but nobody called. Prized goalscoring asset Kris Boyd didn’t want to leave, but it seemed to the fans that Rangers were desperate to sell him.

Without Boyd’s goals the league title would not be sitting at Ibrox now, but financial pressures drive business decisions and the club’s directors have tough choices to make.

Although Celtic’s finances are stronger, they were perilously close to dropping out of Europe’s elite competition before the real football starts. Defeat at home to Dinamo Moscow placed increased pressure on the team to deliver an away win, something not regularly seen by the Hoops in European football. A win was delivered, but entry to the top tier of football still sits a further qualifying round away, and against the might of Arsenal. The safety net of the new Europa league is still there, but Celtic’s directors must be concerned, having spent millions on new players this summer to drive the club forward.

Fans themselves must struggle to finance the European nights. More and more fans find themselves unemployed, meaning that tickets for European nights, especially away games, cannot always be afforded. As desperate as fans must be to attend these games, it is often cheaper to watch the match at home on TV. As more games are played in a successful European campaign, fans must again try hard to find the money from somewhere if they are to enjoy the fabulous highs of European football.

Without the benefits of European football each year, what can clubs do to survive? The sale of their home has been discussed already, and fans must accept that history often does have its price in this credit restricted world. Clubs like Hibernian can proudly state that they operate with virtually no debt, but at what price?

Fans have watched as their favourite players are sold off to the Old Firm, often cheaply, only to see them return in later years to haunt their club.

There is one question that needs to be asked at the highest levels of football: what is the purpose of a football club? It’s this author’s assertion that the purpose of a football club is to provide entertainment for its fans. First and foremost, that should be the main reason. The club making vast profits should only be a secondary consideration. No football club is worth anything without fans, and treating them as secondary to profit considerations is disrespectful.

If clubs maintain good relationships with their supporter base and employ sensible business models, there should be fewer problems. Some

clubs knew that the Setanta business model was, at best, risky, but greed on the part of the other, smaller, clubs drove acceptance of the Setanta deal. Those club directors must now be rueing their decisions as they stare into a financial abyss.

Sometimes you reap what you sow.

It is not impossible for clubs to turn this dire situation around, but it will take time and significant change.

Already, younger players are beginning to make the breakthroughs into the first team at many clubs, signifying a change in the chequebook-happy approach of years gone by. Fans are drawn to the concept of the ‘local boy come good’, and are encouraged and uplifted by these young players getting their chance.

Youth development has always been viewed as the way forward, especially in the smaller leagues, but the Bosman decision and the resultant wage-greed frenzy, has dragged Scottish football to its knees.

Fans are hurting right now. Rising unemployment, low credit availability, and a poorer product in the SPL are all causing pain. The possibility of rising ticket prices sends shudders down the spine of the avid football fan that now faces a choice between putting food on the table for his family and going to support the club he has followed for decades. Fewer fans can afford to travel to away games, potentially giving the opposing side a psychological boost. Those fans that may once have travelled now have to endure the disappointment of not being able to encourage their team to raise their performance.

It’s a tough time to be a football fan in Scotland right now, but fans can take some reassurance from the fact that the clubs have faced worse before and survived.

Indeed fans have faced worse before, and survived. They will do so again.

Legends of Scotland

Text | Andy Muirhead

Sir Alex Ferguson

S

ir Alex Ferguson is the most successful manager in British football history, and is arguably the greatest Scottish manager of all time.

During his 22 years at Manchester United he has won more than 30 trophies and his thirst for success shows no let up.

During his playing career, Ferguson had spells with Queen’s Park, St. Johnstone, Dunfermline, Rangers, Falkirk and Ayr United. While Sir Alexs’ playing career was far short of legendary, he was to make a name for himself as a manager, achieving legendary status in the process.

After spending some time away from the game, Ferguson moved into coching, taking the reigns of East Stirlingshire. He followed that up with stints at St. Mirren and Aberdeen, before moving to Old Trafford after Ron Atkinson was sacked as manager of Manchester United.

No one could envisage Ferguson staying with Manchester United for 22 years let alone the amount of silverware he has won with the Old Trafford side.

After ending his playing career, he took the reigns at East Stirling.

He was only in the job for four months, before he made the move to Paisley to manage St. Mirren. He brought success to Love Street, with promotion to the top division in 1997.

He increased attendances at the club during his stint at the Buddies also. But despite resurrecting St. Mirren, he was sacked after a dispute over bonus payments to his players, although another story claims that Chairman at the time, Willie Todd sacked Ferguson for a breach of contract, after he found out that he was going to become manager of Aberdeen, and that it was destabilising the club, because he wanted to leave.

Sir Alex moved to Aberdeen, a club who had not won a Scottish championship for over 20 years and during his time at Pittodrie, Ferguson won three League titles, four Scottish Cups, one League cup and the European Cup Winners Cup, beating the mighty Real Madrid in 1983.

Three years later he was coaxed to Manchester United, a team full of dispirited underachievers who had failed to break Liverpool’s domination. Ferguson immediately set about the task of beating relegation and without delving into the transfer market, he guided United to an 11th placed finish that season.

The following season, Manchester United came second but once again Liverpool lifted the title.

He started playing football at senior level with Queen’s Park, before moing on to play for St. Johnstone, Dunfermline and his boyhood heroes Rangers. He left Ibrox to join Falkirk and Ayr United. In his 14 year playing career as a striker, he was never once called up for Scotland at national level and was more a hard working player than a gifted one.

In 1992/93, inspired by the £1 million signing of Eric Cantona from Leeds United, the Red Devils ended the long wait to lift the League championship, as they pipped Aston Villa in the final weeks of the season, and ended the domination of Liverpool as the force in English football.

The double followed the next season, he won the double again - and with kids - in 1995/96 and he added another league title in 1997.

Liverpool’s dominance was well and truly over.

Greatest Achievement Sir Alex’s greatest moment came in season 1998/99. No side before or since has achieved the treble of Premiership title, FA Cup and European Cup. But on an unforgettable night in Barcelona, Ferguson made one last throw of the dice bringing on substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer late on as United were losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich. That decision was stuff of legends and immortalised Alex Ferguson as a football god. The pair scored late injury time goals to win the Champions League and complete a historic treble.

Following that success he was knighted and it was even suggested that he would retire from the game.

But the impending retirement neve materialised and he continued to win silverware at Old Trafford. Another title was secured in 1999/2000 and he made it three in a row in 2000/01.

His eighth Premiership title was delivered in 2002/03, and he won his fourth FA Cup the following season against Millwall in Cardiff.

Beginnings Ferguson’s trophy-laden time at Old Trafford is a million miles away from his working class upbringings in Govan, where he became an apprentice toolmaker in the shipyards. Despite his success, he has never forgotten his roots and the values he learned on the Clydeside.

United won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in Rotterdam, beatng Barcelona 2-1 thanks to a brace from mark Hughes. In 1991/92, the League cup was added to the Old Traffrd trophy room, but the league title remained elusive.

Flood Gates Open

Rebuilding

In Season 1989/90, Manchester United finally won some silverware under Ferguson. In an FA Cup final replay against Crystal Palace, Lee Martin scored the only goal of the game to open the flood gates of success at Old Trafford.

The Reds were now in a period of rebuilding, with the first batch of players put together from season 1995/96 breaking up, Ferguson dived into the transfer market to secure the signatures of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, which sparked a new era of success.

The following season, Manchester

www.scotzine.com 35

Ferguson won the Carling Cup in 2005/06 and his ninth Premier League title in 2006/07. The Reds claimed more glory in 2007/08, when they successfully defended their Premier League title and secured a second Champions League trophy for Sir Alex Ferguson. That was followed up with winning the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan in December 2008, and they then claimed the Carling Cup in March 2009, beating Spurs on penalties in the final.

And on the 16th May 2009, United achieved what was seen as an impossible mission back in 1986, as Ferguson equalled Liverpool’s record of 18 league championships. United beat Liverpool to the 2008/09 title, as Ferguson secured his 11th title in 17 seasons at Old Trafford.

Sir Fuwious Ferguson has a fierce competitive spirit and a temperament to match.

The ‘Ferguson hairdryer’ is infamous, when he blasts players in a face to face tongue lashing. Despite this he has the ability to measure the qualities of players he has brought though. Knowing when to blood them and knowing when the sell them.

One recurring theme of Ferguson’s reign at Manchester United has been his view that no player is bigger than the club. He has consistently taken a ‘my way or the highway’ approach in his dealings with players and this management tactic has often seen te departures of many notable players. Over the years players such as Gordon Strachan, Paul McGrath, Paul Ince, Jaap Stam, Dwight Yorke, David Beckham, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Gabriel Heinze have left the club after varying degrees of conflict with Ferguson. It is also suggested that one of the most inspirational players in the club’s history, Roy Keane was a victim of Ferguson’s wrath following damning criticism of his team mates on the club’s television channel, MUTV. This disciplinary line that he takes with such highly paid, highprofile players has been mentioned as a reason for the ongoing success of Manchester United.

Servant to the Club He has been at Old Trafford now for around 24 years and his the second longest serving manager in the club’s history after Sir Matt Busby, and he is the longest serving manager in the Premier League.

During Ferguson’s tenureship, United have won more honours than they did in all the years combined prior to his appointment.

36 www.scotzine.com

Scotland Ferguson briefly managed Scotland in a temporary capacity after the death of Scottish football legend and mentor, Jock Stein.

Ferguson was part of the coaching staff with the Scotland national side during the qualifiers for the 1986 World Cup. However on the 10th September 1985, manager Jock Stein collapsed and died after watching his side qualify for a play-off place to face Australia.

With Scotland in mourning, Ferguson agreed to take charge of the national side against the Aussies and secured qualificaton to the World Cup. It was a poor tournament for Scotland, losing the opening game against Denmark 1-0 followed by a 2-1 defeat to West Germany. A goalless draw against Uruguay in the final group game meant that Scotland would, once again, fall at the first hurdle. It was maybe too early for Ferguson to take the reigns of the national side,but at a time of crisis, he had the guts to step forward and take charge. In all he managed ten Scotland games and had a record of three wins, four draws and three defeats. During his time as Scotland manager he remained in charge of Aberdeen, but rejected the chance to manage Scotland on a permanent basis, and instead accepted a job offer from Manchester United. He was succeeded as Scotland manager

by Andy Roxburgh.

Will he return?

With his continued success as manager of Manchester United, and his best years behind him in terms of age, would he ever envisage managing Scotland once again?

Given the lack of success for the national side and the failure to qualify for a major championship since France 1998, even one year under the stewardship of Sir Alex Ferguson, could set in motion a revival of fortune for Scotland. Although with the failures extending from the board room at the SFA down to the playing staff on the field of play, it is a tough ask for any man to solve, and the only personality and ego to do so would be Sir Alex Ferguson.

Would you want Sir Alex Ferguson to manage Scotland in the near future?

Send your comments to letters@ scotzine.com.

According to United legend, Bobby Charlton, Ferguson has surpassed that other United legend and fellow Scot, Sir Matt Busby.

“You can be absolutely certain that one day there will be a permanent reminder at Old Trafford of what Alex has done for this club - in fact he should get six statues.”

“I think he is the greatest manager of all time - and not just because of what he has done at United. When he came here he said he wanted to knock Liverpool off their perch. We have now equalled their record of 18 championships.... it’s that ambition that keeps Alex going. But he did exactly the same to Rangers and Celtic when he was in Scotland with Aberdeen. ”

Honours (Managerial): St. Mirren (1974-1978)

Scottish First Division: 1976-77

Aberdeen (1978-1986)

Scottish Premier Division: 1979-80, 198384, 1984-85 Scottish Cup: 1981-82, 1982-83, 198384, 1985-86 Scottish League Cup: 1985-86 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup: 1982-83 UEFA Super Cup: 1983

Manchester United (1986-present)

Premier League: 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 FA Cup: 1989-90, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1998-99, 2003-04 League Cup: 1991-92, 2005-06, 2008-09 FA Charity/Community Shield: 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008 UEFA Champions League: 1998-99, 2007-08 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup: 1990-91 UEFA Super Cup: 1991 Intercontinental Cup: 1999 FIFA Club World Cup: 2008

1997 - A Trip to Ibrox A

fter going through all the emotions of a Cup semi final which Killie finally won, A phone call 5 mins after full time booked our tickets for the final. Brother in laws come in handy at times, especially if they are die hard Klillie fans.

Friday night and it was the eve of the Cup Final. My older son and I were ready for the off. Car fuelled, water checked and the most important items put on board the scarfs and post for the back window which said, ‘We are the Killie! and Ibrox here we come!’

The road trip kicked off at 10pm, making our way along the M25 for 20 miles and then onto the M11, hitting a traffic jam that took us an hour to clear, with a few choice words said during this spell.

The A1/M1was remarkably clear so good progress was made on the road up.We even got a few toots and a thumbs up from other drivers.

A few quick coffee breaks and changing of drivers get us along the A1 to Scotch Corner in good time. Half way along the A66 it decides to rain and before we know it, we are in the middle of a storm at the hilly part!

Light rain made way for heavy raIn accompanied by strong winds, which made it difficult to keep the car on the road. And just when we thought that it was all over we were then hit with hail stones, which slowed our progress further; at one stage we were going 10 miles per hour. Torrential rain for nearly an hour, causing us to crawl along the route at 20mph. It was a good thing that our speed was slow, given that we were constantly blinded by spray from traffic going the other way. At one time we were driving for a good 30 seconds blind while our wipers tried to clear the water.

In 40 years of driving I do not remember ever being so scared of having a crash.

However nothing was going to stop us so we ploughed on until it cleared and the final run up the A74 went like clockwork.

We finally made it into Killie and had a breakfast at my sisters. We had a quick walk around the town centre to soak up the atmosphere,which was fantastic. Killie fans really made the town come alive with the decorated shops and houses, flags and scarves everywhere and people with their faces painted in Killie colours. Even the Howard Arms was painted in blue and white strips.

We joined the exodus out of Killie making our way to Glasgow, passing a pub with a large banner which said. Good luck to the Killie, and many of the bridges we passed under had people on them cheering us as we passed. At one stage of the trip to Ibrox we could see for over a mile and what we saw was a long line of cars and buses and hundreds of flags and scarves blowing in the wind.The last time I saw such a sight was on the way to Hearts ground when we won the league in 1965.

Now we knew this was not an ordinary

Saturday afternoon. No this was Cup Final day and the Killie were on the way to play in it.

When my son and I finally got into Ibrox we made our way up the stairs and out of the tunnel onto the terracing. What will always remain with us was the wall off sound that hit our ears from the fans already in the ground. Awesome. It was not only Killie fans but also the Falkirk fans who were singing and cheering for all their worth, and the sight off all the flags and scarves was truly a spectacular sight. I remember looking at my son and saying to him that we might have had a long and difficult trip but hey, wasn’t it worth it even for this moment?

We had made it, we were in Ibrox!

Masses of flags and scarves, painted faces, singing and cheering from both ends of the ground, were greeted by a crecendo of noise when the teams came out onto the field with Ray Montgomerie leading Killie out.

When the game started, the first half was not a classic. Although we were the better side, Andy Gray and 6ft 7ins Kevin James were causing us some problems in defence.

Text | Robert Beaton

all had a massive spring to our step.

We made our way back along the A77, no convoy in front of us as we were among the first on the road. Passing the pub the drinkers were still there, cheering us as we passed but the banner now read well done Killie for winning the cup!

A couple of pints to celebrate, we dropped our passengers off and headed for the centre of town. It was a unbelievable sight that greeted us as thousands of people (papers on Sunday said 30,000 were in John Finney street alone) waited for the open topped bus.

It took nearly 30 minutes to get up John Finney street where, escorted by police struggling to clear a way for the bus, the team finally reached where we were.

The noise was incredible what with the cheering and singing going on.

I don’t think I have ever seen as many flags in one place, and that atmosphere was fantastic.The team did us proud and the turnout of fans was a fitting tribute for a terrific performance and a truly wonderful day.

In the 20th min Paul Wright became a hero when his half hit shot went over the line to put us 1-0 up. Absolute bedlam ensued, we were out off our seats roaring our heads off and hugging everyone in sight, a high we kept till half time.

We left our lodgings in Largs early on the Sunday morning for the long trip home.

Breakfast in Saltcoats, then through Kilmarnock down to Stonehouse. Passing through Killie there was plenty of signs of the previous nights celebrations. Empty bottles (many of them champagne) and cans scattered everywhere, some flags and the odd scarf, and litter everywhere.

A pie (a killie one) and a bovril was the order of the day before the second half kicked off. The old addage of one goal not being enough became clear the nearer full time came. Nerves took over every time Falkirk attacked as they were dangerous, although Jim Mcintyre should have scored but instead he missed a half decent chance, which was greeted with a huge groan.

We passed three cleaning lorries and quite a few workers tidying up. In one doorway we spotted two fans in Killie colours sleeping in a shop front, both of them each clutching a champagne bottle.

Several people looked like they were suffering, and a small group we passed on the outskirts of the town were still celebrating and gave us a great cheer when we tooted them.

Five minutes to go and the Falkirk end erupts as they score and we go silent as we see our dream start to fade.

On the way through the towns we got quite a few cheers because we still had our banner in the back window which now said - Kilmarnock FC Cup winners, and a Killie scarf blowing from the front.

But then it seems as if all hell broke out as the referee has chalked the goal off for offside. How the roles are reversed for now we cheer like mad and the Falkirk end is in despair.

The next few minutess, along with a couple for injury time, passed with us singing our hearts out and Killie finishing the stronger team.

The full time whistle was the signal for a huge celebration from the team and all of us supporters. We cheered the team, then we cheered when they lifted the cup and cheered when they took a lap of the field holding up the cup. Emotions were so high that some people were even shedding tears.

Not many Killie fans left Ibrox with full vocal chords as most of us had almost lost our voices. As we left to go home we

We followed a car with Killie fans all the way down the A74 and A66 to Scotch corner where, with a tooting of horns and waving of hands they went north and we went south onto the A1.

We were congratulated at every service station we stopped at, as I wore my colours all the way home.

At one stop we had two Celtic fans come across to our table and shake our hands.

For one day at least everyone knew who the Killie were.

Looking back I am still full of pride, and every cup campaign the feeling is always the same - Is this going to be our year again?

I`m ready and waiting. www.scotzine.com 37

Transfer Ins & Out: SPL, Division One, Two & Three Scottish Premier League

*All transfers as of 24th August 2009

ABERDEEN Ins: Stuart Nelson, goalkeeper (Norwich City); Jerel Ifil, defender (Swindon Town) Outs: Scott Severin, midfielder (Watford); Jamie Smith, midfielder; Lee Mair defender (St Mirren); Jon Bateman, goalkeeper (Aberdeen, loan) CELTIC Ins: Lukasz Zaluska, goalkeeper (Dundee Utd); Marc-Antoine Fortune, forward (Nancy, £3.8m); Landry N’Guemo, midfielder (Nancy, loan); Daniel Fox, defender (Coventry City, undisclosed); Josh Thompson, defender (Stockport County, undisclosed) Outs: Shunsuke Nakamura, midfielder (Espanyol); Bobo Balde, defender; Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, forward; Paul Hartley, midfielder (Bristol City); Scott Cuthbert, defender (Swindon Town, £100,000); Cillian Sheridan, forward (Plymouth Argyle); Kevin Cawley, forward (Ayr United); Ryan Strachan, defender (Peterhead); Ryan Marshall, goalkeeper (Stranraer); Cillian Sheridan, forward (Plymouth, loan) DUNDEE UNITED Ins: Danny Cadamarteri, forward (Huddersfield Town); Jennison Myrie-Williams, forward (Bristol City); Steve Banks, goalkeeper/coach (Hearts); Andy Webster, defender (Rangers, loan); Damian Casalinuovo, forward (Platense, undisclosed); Nicky Weaver, goalkeeper (Charlton Athletic) Outs: Lukasz Zaluska, goalkeeper (Celtic); Sean Fleming, midfielder (Montrose); Gordon Pope, defender (Montrose); Fraser Milligan, defender (Montrose); Michael McGovern, goalkeeper (Ross County); Danny Grainger, defender (St Johnstone, undisclosed) FALKIRK Ins: Josh Wagenaar, goalkeeper (Yeovil Town); Brian McLean, defender (Motherwell); Ryan Flynn, midfielder (Liverpool, loan); Marc Twaddle, defender (Partick Thistle, undisclosed); Alex MacDonald, midfielder (Burnley, loan); Danijel Marceta striker (Partizan Belgrade, loan); Vitor Lima, midfielder (Ethnikos Piraeus) Outs: Michael Higdon, forward (St Mirren); Kevin McBride, midfield (Hibernian);

38 www.scotzine.com

Steve Lovell, striker; Patrick Cregg, midfielder (Hibernian); Dani Mallo, goalkeeper; Paul McLean, defender (Brechin City); Jay Lang, midfielder (Clyde); Mark Staunton, defender (East Fife) HAMILTON ACADEMICAL Ins: Marvin Andrews, defender (Raith Rovers); Izzy Iriekpen, defender (Bristol City); James Wesolowski, midfielder (Leicester City, loan); David Louhoungou, midfielder (Stade Rennais); Marco Paixao, forward (Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa); Flavio Paixao, forward (Benidorm); John Paul Kissock, midfielder (Everton); Luis Rubiales, defender (Alicante); Kevin Welsh, defender (Harestanes); Kyle Wilkie, midfielder (Stockport) Outs: Chris Swailes, defender (Gateshead); Kenny Deuchar, forward (St Johnstone); Rocco Quinn, midfielder (Queen of the South); Derek Asamoah, forward, Stephen Ettien, forward; Brian Easton, defender (Burnley, £350,000), James McCarthy, midfielder (Wigan Athletic, £1.2m); Joel Thomas, forward (Colchester United, £125,000); Marc Corcoran, forward (Partick Thistle) HEARTS Ins: Ian Black, midfielder (Inverness Caledonian Thistle); Jesus Manuel Santana Abreu, forward (Tenerife); Dawid Kucharski, defender (Lech Poznan); Ismael Bouzid, defender (Ankaragucu); David Witteveen, forward (Red Bull Salzburg) Outs: Robbie Neilson, defender (Leicester City); Christos Karapidis, defender (Omonia Nicosia); Bruno Aguiar, midfielder (Omonia Nicosia); Steve Banks, goalkeeper (Dundee United); Jonathon Fisher, midfielder (Clyde); Denis McLaughlin, forward (Dumbarton, loan) HIBERNIAN Ins: Patrick Cregg, midfielder (Falkirk); Daniel Galbraith, forward (Manchester United); Kevin McBride, midfielder (Falkirk); Graham Stack, goalkeeper (Plymouth Argyle); Anthony Stokes, forward (Sunderland, undisclosed) Outs: Grzegorz Szamotulski, goalkeeper; Denes Rosa, midfielder; Fabian Yantorno, midfielder (Chester); Damon Gray, forward (Berwick Rangers); Andrew McNeil, goalkeeper; Steven Fletcher, forward (Burnley £3m); Alan O’Brien, forward (Swindon Town); Rob Jones, defender (Scunthorpe, undisclosed); Ally Park, defender (Clyde); Oliver Russell, midfielder (Berwick Rangers); Ross Chisholm, midfielder (Shamrock Rovers); Ross Campbell, forward; Jordan Cropley, midfielder KILMARNOCK Ins: Graeme Owens, midfielder (Middlesbrough); Mark Burchill, striker (Rotherham)

Outs: Allan Johnston, forward, David Lilley defender (Queen of the South), Willie Gibson, midfielder (Dunfermline Athletic, undisclosed), Grant Murray defender (Raith Rovers); Scott Anson, forward (Annan Athletic) MOTHERWELL Ins: Michael Fraser, goalkeeper (Inverness Caledonian Thistle); Steve Jennings, midfielder (Tranmere Rovers); Chris Humphrey, forward (Shrewsbury Town); Giles Coke, midfielder (Northampton Town); John Ruddy, goalkeeper (Everton, loan); Tom Hateley, midfielder (Reading) Outs: Stephen Hughes, midfielder (Norwich City), Graeme Smith, goalkeeper (Brighton); Bob Malcolm, midfielder (Brisbane Roar); Brian McLean, defender (Falkirk); Steven Coutts, goalkeeper (Montrose); David Clarkson, forward (Bristol City, undisclosed); Paul Quinn, defender (Cardiff City, undisclosed); Steven Coutts, goalkeeper (Montrose) RANGERS Ins: None Outs: Christian Dailly, defender; Brahim Hemdani, midfielder; Dean Furman, midfielder (Oldham Athletic); Graeme Smith, goalkeeper (St Johnstone); Andy Webster, defender (Dundee United, loan); Barry Ferguson, midfielder (Birmingham City, £1.2m); Charlie Adam, midfielder (Blackpool £500,000); Alan Gow, forward (Plymouth, undisclosed) ST. JOHNSTONE Ins: Kenny Deuchar, forward (Hamilton Academical); Dave MacKay, defender (Livingston); Murray Davidson, midfielder (Livingston); Graeme Smith, goalkeeper (Rangers); Danny Grainger, defender (Dundee United, undisclosed); Filipe Morais, midfielder (Inverness Caledonian Thistle) Outs: Steven Doris, midfielder (Arbroath); Kevin James, defender (Ayr United); Derek Holmes, forward (Queen of the South) ST MIRREN Ins: Lee Mair, defender (Aberdeen); Michael Higdon, striker (Falkirk); Paul Gallacher, goalkeeper (Dunfermline Athletic, undisclosed); Chris Innes, defender (Livingston) Outs: Jim Hamilton, forward (Partick Thistle); Ryan McCay, defender; Will Haining, defender; Marc McAusland, defender (Queen of the South), Gary Mason, midfielder; Franco Miranda, defender; Scott Gair, defender (Clyde); Sean Crighton, defender (Montrose)

Scottish Division One

AYR UNITED Ins: Kevin James, defender (St Johnstone); Craig Samson, goalkeeper (Hereford); Andy Aitken, defender (Queen of the South); Billy Gibson, defender (Clyde); Kevin Cawley, forward (Celtic) Outs: David O’Brien, midfielder (Stirling Albion); Conn Boyle, midfielder (Clyde); Allan Dempsie, defender (Elgin City); Scott Agnew, midfielder (Alloa Athletic, loan); Scott Walker, defender (Alloa Athletic); Murray Henderson, defender (Stranraer); David Mitchell, goalkeeper (Stranraer, loan); Alex Williams, forward (Dundalk); Fraser Stewart, goalkeeper DUNDEE Ins: Gary Harkins, midfielder (Partick Thistle, £150,000); Leigh Griffiths, forward (Livingston, £125,000); Brian Kerr, midfielder (Inverness Caledonian Thistle); Chris Casement, defender (Ipswich Town), Richie Hart, midfielder (Ross County); Sean Higgins, forward (Ross County); Pat Clarke, forward (Clyde) Outs: David O’Brien, midfielder (Ayr United); Ludovic Roy, goalkeeper (Queen of the South) DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC Ins: Willie Gibson, midfielder (Kilmarnock, undisclosed); Steven McDougall, midfielder (Airdrie United, undisclosed); Greg Fleming, goalkeeper (Oldham Athletic, loan); Andy Dowie, defender (Ross County); Chris Higgins, defender (Clyde); Neil McGregor, defender (Clyde) Outs: Paul Gallacher, goalkeeper (St Mirren, undisclosed); Scott Thomson, defender (East Fife); Greg Shields, defender (Carolina Railhawks); Scott Wilson, defender (Queensland Fury); Scott McBride, midfielder (Cowdenbeath); Callum Reidford, goalkeeper (Clyde); Kevin Harper, midfielder; Stuart Dearden, midfielder; Iain Williamson, midfielder INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE Ins: Lee Cox, midfielder (Leicester City); Robert Eagle, midfielder (Norwich City); Johnny Hayes, midfielder (Leicester City); defender

Daniel Stratford, defender (DC United) Outs: Ian Black, midfielder (Hearts); Michael Fraser, goalkeeper (Motherwell); Brian Kerr, midfielder (Dundee); Iain Vigurs, midfielder (Ross County); Garry Wood, forward (Ross County); Michael Finnis, defender (Clachnacuddin); Martin Jack, forward (Stranraer); Phil McGuire, defender; Filipe Morais, midfielder (St Johnstone); Struan Scott-Woodhouse, defender; Stuart Leslie, midfielder; Zander Sutherland, midfielder; Richie Byrne, defender; Pavels Mihadjuks, defender; Thierry Gathuessi, midfielder LIVINGSTON Ins: None Outs: Leigh Griffiths, forward (Dundee, £125,000); Gary Miller, defender (Ross County); Neil McCabe, midfielder (Cowdenbeath) MORTON Ins: Neil MacFarlane, midfielder (Queen of the South) Outs: Jamie Stevenson, midfielder (East Stirlingshire); Darren McGeough, midfielder (Stranraer); Chris Smith, defender; Kieran McAnespie, defender; Liam Kerrigan, midfielder; Lee Mitchell, midfielder; Troy McKerrell, midfielder; Jon Newby, forward

RAITH ROVERS Ins: Grant Murray, defender (Kilmarnock); Dougie Hill, defender (Alloa Athletic); Darren Smith, midfielder (Brechin City); Gregory Tade, midfielder (Clyde) Outs: Marvin Andrews, defender (Hamilton Academical); Steve Hislop, forward (Arbroath); Todd Lumsden, defender (Albion Rovers); Gareth Wardlaw, forward (Cowdenbeath); Chris Silvestro, defender; Andrew Cook, defender ROSS COUNTY Ins: Iain Vigurs, midfielder (Inverness Caledonian Thistle); Garry Wood, forward (Inverness Caledonian Thistle); Paul Di Giacomo, forward (Airdrie United); Gary Miller, defender (Livingston); Michael McGovern, goalkeeper (Dundee United); Stuart Kettlewell, midfielder (Clyde) Outs: Andy Dowie, defender (Dunfermline Athletic); Sean Higgins, forward (Dundee); Richie Hart, midfielder (Dundee); Matt Curtis, goalkeeper (Forfar Athletic); Craig Gunn, forward (Elgin City); Scott MacAngus, defender (Brora Rangers); Daniel Bell, goalkeeper (Brora Rangers); Mark McCulloch, midfielder; Dyron Daal, forward; Adam Strachan, midfielder

PARTICK THISTLE Ins: Jim Hamilton, forward (St Mirren); Bryan Hodge, midfielder (Blackburn Rovers); Patrick Boyle, defender (Dumbarton) Outs: Gary Harkins, midfielder (Dundee, £150,000); Marc Twaddle, defender (Falkirk, undisclosed); Scott Chaplain, midfielder (Dumbarton); Kevin McKinlay, midfielder (Dundalk) QUEEN OF THE SOUTH Ins: Rocco Quinn, midfielder (Hamilton Academical); Derek Holmes, forward (St Johnstone); Ludovic Roy, goalkeeper (Dundee); David Hutton, goalkeeper (Clyde); Marc McAusland, defender (St Mirren); Willie McLaren, midfielder (Clyde); Stephen McKenna, midfielder (Airdrie United) Outs: Stephen Dobbie, forward (Swansea City); Andy Aitken, defender (Ayr United); Neil MacFarlane, midfielder (Morton); Scott Robertson, midfielder (Stirling Albion); Sean O’Connor, forward (retired); Gary Arbuckle, forward; Bryn Halliwell, goalkeeper; Martyn Lancaster, defender (Ljunskile); Ryan McCann, midfielder; Michael McGowan, defender

www.scotzine.com 39

Scottish Division Two

AIRDRIE UNITED

CLYDE

Ins: Frankie Lagana, forward (Melbourne Knights); Ricky Waddell, midfielder (Clyde); Scott Gemmill, forward (Clyde); Alan Trouten, midfielder (Clyde); Paul Keegan, forward (Dumbarton) Outs: Steven McDougall, midfielder (Dunfermline Athletic, undisclosed); Paul Di Giacomo, forward (Ross County); Chris McMenamin, defender (Berwick Rangers); Stuart Noble, forward (Alloa Athletic); Stephen McGuire, forward (East Stirlingshire); Stephen McKenna, midfielder (Queen of the South)

Ins: Paul Stewart, midfielder (East Fife); Willie Sawyers, forward (Maryhill Juniors); Alan McFadden, forward (Maryhill Juniors); Ally Park, defender (Hibernian); Mark Casey, midfielder (Albion Rovers); Scott Gair, defender (St Mirren); Jay Lang, midfielder (Falkirk); Paul McLeod, forward (Dumbarton); Robert Halliday, defender; Jamie Doyle, midfielder (Glenafton); Jonathon Fisher, midfielder (Hearts); Conn Boyle, midfielder (Ayr United) Outs: Pat Clarke, forward (Dundee); Willie McLaren, midfielder (Queen of the South); Chris Higgins, defender (Dunfermline Athletic); Billy Gibson, defender (Ayr United); Gregory Tade, midfielder (Raith Rovers); David Hutton, goalkeeper (Queen of the South); Stuart Kettlewell, midfielder (Ross County); Alan Trouten, midfielder (Airdrie United); Ricky Waddell, midfielder (Airdrie United); Scott Gemmill, forward (Airdrie United); Mark Brown, defender (Alloa Athletic); Peter Cherrie, goalkeeper (Dundalk); Craig O’Reilly, forward (Stenhousemuir); Marc McCusker, forward (Albion Rovers); Roddy MacLennan, forward (Linlithgow Rose); Ruari MacLennan, midfielder; Robbie Winters, forward; Gary McSwegan, forward; Neil McGregor, defender (Dunfermline Athletic); Marvyn Wilson, midfielder; Stephen Connolly, midfielder; David McGowan, midfielder; Jordan Murch, midfielder; Sean Connolly, midfielder

ALLOA ATHLETIC Ins: Brian Carrigan, forward (Linlithgow Rose, undisclosed); Scott Walker, defender (Ayr United); Scott Agnew, midfielder (Ayr United, loan); Dougie Hill, defender (Raith Rovers); Mark Brown, defender (Clyde); David Crawford, goalkeeper (Queen’s Park); Stuart Noble, forward (Airdrie United) Outs: Pat Scullion, midfielder (Stenhousemuir); Michael White, goalkeeper (Dumbarton); Iain Campbell, defender (Forfar Athletic);Fraser Forrest, defender (Bo’ness United); Andy Ferguson, forward; Steven McKeown, midfielder; Kyle MacAulay, midfielder ARBROATH Ins: Steve Hislop, forward (Raith Rovers); Steven Doris, midfielder (St Johnstone); Keith Gibson, midfielder (Montrose); Jamie Redman, midfielder (Edinburgh University) Outs: Nicky Smith, midfielder (Forfar Athletic); Steven Weir, forward; John Fraser, midfielder BRECHIN CITY Ins: Ian Harty, forward (Albion Rovers); Chris McGroarty, defender (Stenhousemuir); Mark Docherty, midfielder (Stirling Albion); Sean McKenna, for (Camelon Juniors); Paul McLean, defender (Falkirk); David Scott, goalkeeper (Albion Rovers) Outs: Darren Smith, midfielder (Raith Rovers); Chris McCluskey, goalkeeper (Stenhousemuir)

40 www.scotzine.com

DUMBARTON Ins: Denis McLaughlin, forward (Hearts, loan); Scott Chaplain, midfielder (Partick Thistle); Roddy Hunter, forward (Montrose); Michael White, goalkeeper (Alloa Athletic); Ross O’Donoghue, midfielder (Elgin City), Chris Smith, defender (Morton); Chris Craig, forward (Rangers) Outs: Patrick Boyle, defender (Partick Thistle); David McFarlane, forward (Albion Rovers); Michael O’Byrne, defender (Albion Rovers); Mark Canning, midfielder (Albion Rovers); Paul Keegan, forward (Airdrie United); Paul McLeod, forward (Clyde); Michael Moore, forward (Stranraer); Gary Wilson, defender; Jonathan Yule, midfielder; Darren Gribben, forward (Bo’ness United) EAST FIFE Ins: Scott Thomson, defender (Dunfermline Athletic); Mark Staunton, defender (Falkirk); Darren Gourlay, defender (Peterborough United); John Ovenstone, defender (Stenhousemuir); Aaron Conway, midfielder (Carnoustie Juniors); Stewart Baillie, goalkeeper (Arniston

Rangers) Outs: Lee Makel, midfielder (Ostersund); Paul Stewart, midfielder (Clyde); Dougie Cameron, midfielder (Peterhead); Kevin Fotheringham, midfielder (Forfar Athletic); Chris Templeman, forward (Forfar Athletic); Greig McDonald, defender (Stirling Albion); Willie McCulloch, goalkeeper PETERHEAD Ins: Dougie Cameron, midfielder (East Fife); Ryan Strachan, defender (Celtic); Scott Michie, forward (Inverurie Locos); Jon Bateman, goalkeeper (Aberdeen, loan) Outs: Stuart McKay, midfielder (Formartine United); Martin Skinner, defender (Huntly); Andy Bagshaw, forward; Konrad Kozminski, forward; Michal Kula, goalkeeper STENHOUSEMUIR Ins: Pat Scullion, midfielder (Alloa Athletic); Stephen Thomson, defender (Montrose); Chris McCluskey, goalkeeper (Brechin City); Craig O’Reilly, forward (Clyde); Kevin Bradley, midfielder (Montrose) Outs: Alan Brazil, forward (Berwick Rangers); John Ovenstone, defender (East Fife); Chris McGroarty, defender (Brechin City); Paul Tyrrell, midfielder (Albion Rovers); David Kane, (Bonnyrigg Rose, loan); Andrew Shirra, midfielder (Bo’ness United); Kieron Renton, goalkeeper; Alan Morgan, midfielder STIRLING ALBION Ins: Greig McDonald, defender (East Fife); Andy Gibson, midfielder (Stranraer); Scott Robertson (Queen of the South); David O’Brien, midfielder (Ayr United) Outs: Mark Docherty, midfielder (Brechin City); Chris Hamilton, midfielder (Queen’s Park); Jonny Boyle, forward; Andy Lawrie, defender; David Lowing, defender; Robert Dunn, forward; Steven Waddell, forward

Scottish Division Three

ALBION ROVERS Ins: Todd Lumsden, defender (Raith Rovers); David McFarlane, forward (Dumbarton); Michael O’Byrne, defender (Dumbarton); Mark Canning, midfielder (Dumbarton); Paul Stewart, midfielder (Montrose); Mark McCusker, forward (Clyde); Paul Tyrrell, midfielder (Stenhousemuir); Chris Boyle, midfielder; Derek Gaston, goalkeeper (Ballieston Under21s) Outs: Ian Harty, forward (Brechin City); David Scott, goalkeeper (Brechin City); Mark Casey, midfielder (Clyde); Robert Walker, defender (Queen’s Park); Martin McGoldrick (Clydebank); Callan Adam, midfielder; Ross Harris, midfielder; Jamie Gilmartin, midfielder (Drumchapel Amateurs ANNAN ATHLETIC Ins: Scott Anson, forward (Kilmarnock); Bryan Gilfillan, midfielder (Sunshine Coast); Jack Steele, defender (Dalbeattie Star, undisclosed); Lewis Sloan, midfielder (Dalbeattie Star, undisclosed); David Cox, forward (Montrose); Jonny Jamieson, goalkeeper (Gretna 2008) Outs: Dougie Calder, goalkeeper (Bellshill Athletic, undisclosed); Darren Johnstone, forward (Crichton, undisclosed); Tom Short, defender; Stephen Archibald, forward; Jamie Dunbar, forward; Liam Cusack, midfielder; Lewis Walker, midfielder; Ryan Adamson, defender BERWICK RANGERS Ins: Alan Brazil, forward (Stenhousemuir); Chris McMenamin, defender (Airdrie United); Mark Peat, goalkeeper (East Stirlingshire); Oliver Russell, midfielder (Hibernian); Elliot Smith, defender (Forfar Athletic); Steven Notman, midfielder (Vale of Leithen); Paul Currie, midfielder (Musselburgh Athletic); Steven Radzynski, forward (Leith Athletic); Andy McLean, defender (Edinburgh City); Stevie Ellison, goalkeeper/coach Outs: Darren Gribben, forward (Dumbarton); Steven Bonar, midfielder (Pollok); John Dillon (Irvine Meadow); Tommy

Lennox, defender (Lanark United); Ryan McGurk, goalkeeper; Stuart Fraser, midfielder; Eddie Mearns, midfielder; Mark Lunn, goalkeeper; Chris Anderson, midfielder; Craig Anderson, forward

Ins: Alfie Littler, midfielder (Brisbane City); Scott McBride, midfielder (Dunfermline Athletic); Neil McCabe, midfielder (Livingston); Gareth Wardlaw, forward (Raith Rovers) Outs: John Gemmell, forward (Montrose, undisclosed); Graeme Brown, forward; Derek Fleming, defender (Bo’ness United); Sandy Hodge, defender; Gary Cennerazzo, defender; Callum Young, midfielder

(Carnoustie Panmure); James Collier, midfielder (Carnoustie Panmure); Alan Campbell, defender (Carnoustie Panmure); Stuart Hall, goalkeeper (Thornton Hibs) Outs: Roddy Hunter, forward (Dumbarton); Keith Gibson, midfielder (Arbroath); Stephen Thomson, defender (Stenhousemuir); Paul Stewart, midfielder (Albion Rovers); David Cox, forward (Annan Athletic); Tony Bullock, goalkeeper (Dundee); Kevin Bradley, midfielder (Stenhousemuir); Kyle Wright, defender (Stranraer); Greg Kelly, goalkeeper; Jamie Buchan, midfielder; David Worrell, defender; Stephen Black, midfielder; Jamie McKenzie, player-coach

EAST STIRLINGSHIRE

QUEEN’S PARK

Ins: Jamie Stevenson, midfielder (Morton); Stephen McGuire, forward (Airdrie United); Gavin Sorley, goalkeeper (Harthill Royal) Outs: Mark Peat, goalkeeper (Berwick Rangers); Sean Anderson, midfielder (Montrose); Gary Kelly, midfielder; Jamie Newman, goalkeeper; Stephen Oates, defender

Ins: Allan Dempsie, defender (Ayr United); Craig Gunn, forward (Ross County); Michael Dunn, defender (Rothes); Craig Frizzel (Stranraer) Outs: Ross O’Donoghue, midfielder (Dumbarton)

Ins: Frankie Carroll, forward; Fergus Tiernan, midfielder; Robert Walker, defender (Albion Rovers); Scott Black, goalkeeper (Auchinleck Talbot); Paul Burns, defender (Lanark Juniors); David Green, midfielder (Knightswood); Michael Daly, forward (Kilsyth Rangers); Chris Hamilton, midfielder (Stirling Albion); Martin McBride, midfielder (Stranraer) Outs: David Crawford, goalkeeper (Alloa Athletic); Damiano Agostini, defender (Stranraer); Ray Montgomerie, midfielder (Stranraer); Stuart McGrady, forward (Maybole); Steven Odunewu, forward

FORFAR ATHLETIC

STRANRAER

Ins: Stuart Malcolm, defender (Finn Harps); Kevin Fotheringham, midfielder (East Fife); Chris Templeman, forward (East Fife); Iain Campbell, defender (Alloa Athletic); David Mowat, defender (Herriot-Watt University); Nicky Smith, midfielder (Arbroath); Matt Curtis, goalkeeper (Ross County) Outs: Elliot Smith, defender (Berwick Rangers); Derek Lilley, forward; Barry Donachie, midfielder; Sandy Wood, goalkeeper; Mark Allison, defender; Sean Simpson, midfielder; Stephen Manson, forward; Sean Kilgannon, midfielder; Mark McGuigan, defender; Kevin McLeish, midfielder

Ins: Michael Moore, forward (Dumbarton); Damiano Agostini, defender (Queen’s Park); David Mitchell, goalkeeper (Ayr United, loan); Darren McMahon, midfielder (Lugar Boswell Thistle, loan); Ryan Marshall, goalkeeper (Celtic); Martin Jack, forward (Inverness Caledonian Thistle); Darren McGeough, midfielder (Morton); Ray Montgomerie, midfielder (Queen’s Park); Barry Donald, midfielder (Linlithgow Rose); Kyle Wright, defender (Montrose); Murray Henderson, defender (Ayr United) Outs: Andy Gibson, midfielder (Stirling Albion); Craig Frizzel (Elgin City); James McKinstry, defender; Martin McBride, midfielder (Queen’s Park);

COWDENBEATH

ELGIN CITY

MONTROSE Ins: John Gemmell, forward (Cowdenbeath, undisclosed); Steven Coutts, goalkeeper (Motherwell); Sean Fleming, midfielder (Dundee United); Gordon Pope, defender (Dundee United); Fraser Milligan, defender (Dundee United); Sean Crighton, defender (St Mirren); Sean Anderson, midfielder (East Stirlingshire); Jon Voigt, forward

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