Once a League with a respected reputation, with big hitters such as Celtic (1st British European Cup winners) Rangers (1st British Champions League Qualifiers) and even the Aberdeen’s and Dundee United’s where nothing to scoff about. A one time unknown, Sir Alex Ferguson won two European trophies with Aberdeen, beating Real Madrid to claim one. Dundee United even boast a 100% record against the mighty Barcelona in European competitions, with 4 wins out of 4.
It’s hard to take. A country which has boasted some of the greatest coaches football has seen, is now on the scrapheap fighting for qualification to any European group stage.
Yes, you could argue that Celtic had a great run in the Champions League, beating Barcelona on the way. But, with news of Celtic’s star players jumping ship (Victor Wanyama, Kris Commons and Gary Hooper are all leaving Glasgow’s east end this summer) and Rangers preparing for life in Scotland’s third tier and the possibility of Scotland’s 3rd biggest club, Hearts, facing possible liquidation, its difficult to see any blue sky in the horizon.
But there maybe some life in Scotland yet!
With Inverness, Ross County and St Johnstone all having successful seasons and with other teams arguably attracting a better caliber of players, is the standard of players in Scotland’s top division starting to even out?
Hopefully, as I dont see any interest being generated outside Scotland, so long as its an Old Firm team winning the titles.
But, it’s not the top division that’s caught my eye this year. It’s the news that Scotland have introduced the new Lowland League to run alongside the Highland League, with promotion to the football league through play-offs.
You may think ‘oh great, another bunch of diddy teams to take the mickey out of’, but that may not be the case.
The problem in Scotland, is that the game has got more stale than a wedding buffet after midnight.
With teams like East Stirlingshire consistently finishing bottom of the football league, with the lowest attendances, its only fair another team should take their place.
We’ve seen teams like Inverness and Ross County, who were voted in during the 90’s, now battling out for European spots. Then there was the Roy of the Rovers story of Gretna, who not so long ago steam-rolled through the Leagues and bagged a short lived European spot. It can only be a good thing, that these so called ‘diddy’ teams are given the opportunity to compete at a higher level and put there stamp onto Scottish football.
Maybe Spartans, Vale of Leithen or Edinburgh City wont turn heads like Annan or Peterhead, but just maybe we could see another Gretna (well, we will see another Gretna as phoenix club Gretna 2008 are in the fold).
And lets face it, everyone loves an underdog story.
What’s your take? What does the future hold for Scottish football?
ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.
The game was a bogey in Scotland once and for all because of the scandal caused by the “friends of Ex Rangers 1872” at the SFA & SFL, when they tried their level, and not so level, best to keep Rangers in the SPL and then SFL, even though that team and club liquidated in June 2012.The amount of cheating and sectarianism perpetrated by this club over decades without any condemnation from the powers that be continues to this day has made Scottish football a laughing stock.
Those other clubs you mentioned , the ones still afloat that is, have all played the game fair and square whilst paying their bills, taxes and NI contributions, Sevco and Hearts have not! In fact Spartans should’ve been awarded a place in the SFL last season as the demise of Rangers 1872 left a space open and with Spartans having 3 years accounts (which is the first criteria of a new club) and they were still alive! Can anyone think of the common denominator between the not fit for purpose SFA, Sevco and Hearts? yup the current president of the SFA Campbell “what school did you go to” Ogilvie who served on their boards over the last 20 years, and was amazingly part of the EBT scandal whilst at Deadco, you couldn’t make it up for god’s sake.
In any other walk of life there would be an independent investigation, but no, not in the most bigoted little country in the world, we create yet another organisation to oversee Scottish football, change the name but not the staff, move along nothing to see here.
Oh and these clowns awarded themselves a salary hike of c.£33000 for the privilege!
“Victor Wanyama, Kris Commons and Gary Hooper are all leaving Glasgow’s east end this summer”. While more than likely Hooper and Wanyama will leave, I’ve heard or seen nothing about Commons. Get a real job you tit.
Kris Commons is leaving us? Gary Hooper is an important player for Celtic in Europe and relevant in this discussion (Samaras is FAR more important)? With a predicted combined total in sales of just shy of 20m for Wanyama and Hooper Celtic will be in a weaker position? Celtic are on the up in Europe, last 16 in 3 out of the last 6 years. How are Man City doing?
simple hearts and hibs have to merge same with the dundee teams same with motherwell and hamilton ns so forth make these clubs bigger scotland should only have no more than say 20 teams
where did you get your information mr wilson we know wanyama is leaving commons has made no intention about leaving. hooper we all knpw wants to play in england but commons has not said anything .but you like the rest of the media not got a story make one up hope ms hague gets hold of you spreading lies about her partner
While I agree that Scottish football is in a bad way, the team’s who have been in financial trouble have rightly been found out. If I don’t pay my debts I don’t expect neighbours to bail me out.
I expect Wanyama to go as he is good enough to play at a higher level but don’t get the reference to Commons. His contract is not up and he will stay.
Once a League with a respected reputation, with big hitters such as Celtic (1st British European Cup winners) Rangers (1st British Champions League Qualifiers) and even the Aberdeen’s and Dundee United’s where nothing to scoff about. A one time unknown, Sir Alex Ferguson won two European trophies with Aberdeen, beating Real Madrid to claim one. Dundee United even boast a 100% record against the mighty Barcelona in European competitions, with 4 wins out of 4.
Kris Commons jumping ship? First I (or anyone else) has heard!
The game was a bogey in Scotland once and for all because of the scandal caused by the “friends of Ex Rangers 1872” at the SFA & SFL, when they tried their level, and not so level, best to keep Rangers in the SPL and then SFL, even though that team and club liquidated in June 2012.The amount of cheating and sectarianism perpetrated by this club over decades without any condemnation from the powers that be continues to this day has made Scottish football a laughing stock.
Those other clubs you mentioned , the ones still afloat that is, have all played the game fair and square whilst paying their bills, taxes and NI contributions, Sevco and Hearts have not! In fact Spartans should’ve been awarded a place in the SFL last season as the demise of Rangers 1872 left a space open and with Spartans having 3 years accounts (which is the first criteria of a new club) and they were still alive! Can anyone think of the common denominator between the not fit for purpose SFA, Sevco and Hearts? yup the current president of the SFA Campbell “what school did you go to” Ogilvie who served on their boards over the last 20 years, and was amazingly part of the EBT scandal whilst at Deadco, you couldn’t make it up for god’s sake.
In any other walk of life there would be an independent investigation, but no, not in the most bigoted little country in the world, we create yet another organisation to oversee Scottish football, change the name but not the staff, move along nothing to see here.
Oh and these clowns awarded themselves a salary hike of c.£33000 for the privilege!
Jas, perhaps you speak to a doc about your obsession with Scotland’s most successful club.
“Victor Wanyama, Kris Commons and Gary Hooper are all leaving Glasgow’s east end this summer”. While more than likely Hooper and Wanyama will leave, I’ve heard or seen nothing about Commons. Get a real job you tit.
Kris Commons is leaving us? Gary Hooper is an important player for Celtic in Europe and relevant in this discussion (Samaras is FAR more important)? With a predicted combined total in sales of just shy of 20m for Wanyama and Hooper Celtic will be in a weaker position? Celtic are on the up in Europe, last 16 in 3 out of the last 6 years. How are Man City doing?
simple hearts and hibs have to merge same with the dundee teams same with motherwell and hamilton ns so forth make these clubs bigger scotland should only have no more than say 20 teams
where did you get your information mr wilson we know wanyama is leaving commons has made no intention about leaving. hooper we all knpw wants to play in england but commons has not said anything .but you like the rest of the media not got a story make one up hope ms hague gets hold of you spreading lies about her partner
Chris Commons leaving… Since when?
While I agree that Scottish football is in a bad way, the team’s who have been in financial trouble have rightly been found out. If I don’t pay my debts I don’t expect neighbours to bail me out.
I expect Wanyama to go as he is good enough to play at a higher level but don’t get the reference to Commons. His contract is not up and he will stay.