Yesterday Derek McInnes had a common sense message for Scottish football. The Aberdeen boss broke free from the null and void defensive line peddled for weeks in the Scottish mainstream media and aimed a stinging volley directly at UEFA.
McInnes accused them of strong arm tactics to protect the big five football leagues, while leaving smaller clubs in lesser nations like Scotland desperate for a closure, as reported yesterday on The Celtic Star.
Today Livingston manager Gary Holt has followed up on the rebound and struck his own shot at the goal of UEFA and the SPFL. He didn’t miss his target.
Holt had called for those with large salaries to make the big decisions they are paid to and look after the future of Scottish football.
The Livingston boss has asked for the Scottish footballing authorities to follow the lead of Belgium, where Club Brugge have been announced as league Champions and their current football season concluded early.
There are clear concerns in Scottish football that the current tactic of kicking the can a little further down the road, is having such an impact on Scottish football that some clubs will simply not survive.
UEFA of course have pressure from big European Leagues desperate to conclude the football season and in turn fulfil their fixtures. They will then receive the TV revenue they are due. Yet UEFA’s position to bow to this pressure leaves the 50 other football nations they represent at risk of being exposed and left to wither on the vine by UEFA’s self-serving position.
Holt, talking to Daily Record pointed to the fact Belgium put their head above European football’s political parapet this week and declared league positions as final, awarding the title to Brugge, who were 15 points clear. Holt struggles to see any difference when it comes to Celtic’s 13 point advantage in the Scottish Premiership and wants the SPFL to follow suit and award 9-in-a-row to Celtic:
“My message is to get it done, take the initiative and get it dealt with as we need to put these issues to bed and start sorting other things out. No matter what’s decided, it’s going to be brutal for some people,” Holt stated.
“But people are being paid very well to show leadership and make these huge calls, however painful they are.
“We need to bring an end to all of the calls for change and the talk of ‘next season, next season, next season’.
“We need to forget next season, forget what’s ahead of us, focus purely on the present and make a clear and concise decision on the current situation.
“We need to plot a path forward and it’s refreshing to see the Belgian league management board coming out decisively and announcing Brugge as the Champions.
“Scotland’s football bosses should follow suit – if it means Celtic are named Champions and Hearts are relegated then so be it.
“I will congratulate Celtic as they’ve been the Premiership’s outstanding team and I will feel sorry for Hearts as it would be a terrible way to be relegated. But there are no easy decisions here.”
Holt of course is correct. While Celtic fans would much prefer to play the season out and celebrate 9-in-a-row by traditional means, it is becoming crystal clear that such an outcome is unlikely. Scottish football needs strong leadership, to kowtow to UEFA is of no use to our game.
UEFA have shown a disregard for the smaller nations they claim to represent. Their current stance is borne of pressure from the big five leagues, the smaller countries are a secondary consideration at present. As UEFA act in an excessively subservient manner to the powerful leagues they risk the future of smaller members. As such these leagues like Scotland need to realise this and protect their own positions.
When two Scottish Premier League managers break ranks and ask for strong leadership from Neil Doncaster and the SPFL it’s not simply looking after their own clubs position, it’s because they have a genuine fear for the whole of Scottish football’s ability to ride this out.
It may be tough, there will be dissent from clubs, there may even be litigation ahead – if the threats of Hearts and ‘the’ Rangers are to be believed – but with responsibility comes a duty to make big decisions.
It’s time for Scottish football to follow Belgium’s lead and declare this season over. Award 9-in-a-rown to Celtic and decide on relegation and European places as soon as possible.
Responsibility for Neil Doncaster and the SPFL is to Scottish football, consequences from UEFA threats is a can that can be kicked down the road. The very survival of Scottish football clubs is something that cannot.
Niall J
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