Somewhere in the Fitba multiverse, there is a competent SFA.
There just has to be.
In such a parallel organisation Mr Alexander McLeish EBT would not have hired as Scotland manager and no harm to him.
Indeed, it is actually a form of cruelty to appoint someone to a job that they are so clearly unable to, well, manage.
His post-match comments that “we started brightly” could have been lifted from the pages of the Eye.
Two goals down after ten minutes.
Started brightly?
Aye…
Dear reader, do not think I am being a smug Paddy on this one.
We have our own governance issues here in the Republic.
If you don’t believe me then just put “John Delaney” into Google.
See what I mean?
You might have noted dear reader that the word “loans” is the common thread between the current Scottish supremo and the top lad at the FAI.
In terms of full disclosure, my interest in the fortunes of the national team of Scotland is entirely parochial and selfish.
Frankly, I do not want players from my club Celtic suffering the type of experience that crushes their self-belief.
BBC Scotland journalist Tom English commented that the players in dark blue did not look as if they knew what they should be doing.
There then appears to have been an altercation between the Scotland team captain and one of the management team after the final whistle.
I cannot remember an instance when Calum McGregor in the Hoops was involved in such a fracas.
It is generally accepted that the Celtic midfielder is a joy to coach and his attitude is impeccable.
That in itself should point fingers at the dugout.
If the current management team is culpable for losing to the nation ranked 117th in the world then the blame should go all the way to the 6th floor at Hampden.
As Britain’s credibility on the world stage withers with every statement from Prime Minister Theresa May then one of their soccer teams being bested by Kazakhstan is not a good view.
If Brexit is, as I have styled it, a “slow-moving Suez Crisis” then the debacle in central Asia last night requires a palace coup without further delay.
Mr McLeish largely built his managerial reputation when he was in charge of EBT FC in the first decade of the millennium.
His Rangers side was on financial steroids when the other teams in the SPL were good corporate citizens.
McLeish had a covert advantage at that klub of an inflated football budget created by indemnifying side letters and a tax scheme that went all the way to the UK Supreme Court.
It is worth re-stating that the Rangers that he managed was found guilty post mortem.
The universe had a little dig today with the news that Birmingham City will be deducted nine points by the English Football League for breaching profitability and sustainability rules.
Mr McLeish managed the Midlands club from 2007-2011 after walking out on Scotland.
Please insert your own jokes here…
Of course, it is a given that international managers cannot sign players so their role is mainly that of a coach.
Moreover, they do not see their players day and daily.
Consequently, they have to be able to connect with their charges very quickly as they come in the door at the start of every international get together.
I do not think I am being unfair in saying that Mr McLeish is currently failing in that aspect of his job.
Which would lead the reasonable Scotland supporter to ask why he was appointed in the first place.
Readers of my book “Downfall: How Rangers FC self-destructed” will know that I make a case that the EBT decade was a signal failure of governance and oversight at the SFA.
Some of the main players have moved on, but it would appear that the same organisational culture might still be extant.
Given his comments last night Mr McLeish might fancy another go at club management.
I understand that Neasden FC is looking for someone.
However, you would need to be Sid and Doris to think that this Scotland manager is going to work out.
That much is clear from Kazakhstan to Donegal, but is it visible from the 6th floor at Hampden?
Somewhere in the Fitba multiverse, there is a Scottish Football Association that is fit for purpose.
There just has to be…
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The SFA has given the Scotland gig to someone who had become unemployable.
That unemployed person has a near £1m liability to HMRC as a result of his £1.7m EBT payment.
In TV interviews he clearly appears unwell and confirms this the moment he opens his mouth.
In what universe would a manager whose side had lost 2 goals in the first 8 minutes open his post match interview with a claim that his team has started brightly?
It was beyond parody.
I see that McCrae and Petrie have flown out to San Marino to join up with McLeish and his squad at their luxury hotel but didn’t fancy the long haul to the Kasacs.
Is Scottish football so bereft of talent that these two are allowed to play any part in the running of our national sport?
Worse still, they are not alone at Hampden.
Fleming is still in post despite overseeing a conveyor belt of fast track officials who weekly make decisions, or not, that beggar belief.
Decisions that are routinely rescinded on appeal.
Bryson is working towards his gold medal despite being credited with supplying the bullets to Farry’s gun that blocked the registration of Jorge Cadete and of course his unforgettable conclusion as to the registration of the dozens of EBT recipients.
‘Imperfect’ my erse.
If Petrie, McCrae, Fleming and Bryson are indicative of the talent employed at Hampden then it’s little wonder that the national team is a shambles and has been for decades.
Not content with that shambles they also gave us the new, souped up, national stadium which is not fit for purpose having recently been unfortunate enough to have a seat near to the front behind the goals from where it was impossible to ascertain what was going on at the other end of the park.
You know the game’s a bogey when the SFA is incapable of carrying out a simple cup draw without getting the 9’s and 6’s mixed up.
Regan’s gone but nothing’s changed. It’s still jobs for the boys.
Ogilvie(EBT) has a cosy number at UEFA as has Dallas despite being sacked by his previous employers.
I’m not sure what Maxwell brings to the table, if anything, but the pantomime continues regardless.
“…there is a Scottish Football Association that is fit for purpose.”
In the best traditions of the pantomime we see before us the only reply is –
Oh, no there isn’t!
Poor man must wish he could actually sign players. Better players than the opposition could afford. Maybe on tax avoidance schemes. Clearly it would be fair enough and should be allowed. After all it wouldn’t give him any sporting advantage.
Did they ask Ron Knee…..??? I think we should be told.
Phil , you are correct in highlighting the most important quality of an International Team coach – he must be able , in quick time , to bond with his players and get the best from them .
McLeish has demonstrably failed in this key aspect of management . He showed this early on with his treatment of Craig Gordon and Leigh griffiths in friendly games , when he alienated them by his actions . Replacing the incumbent Gordon with a man who was banned for life for his openly insulting behaviour towards Scotland and its fans and then by publicly abusing Griffiths for a performance in a match .
McLeish would have been a good fit as a coach in the era when all the only quality needed was a stentorious voice . Sadly we are in an age when some thought must be put into football coaching and good communication skills are paramount – neither is an area where McLeish has distinguished himself !
Will he resign ? I doubt it .
Will he be sacked ? Only if his tenure threatens the comfy sinecure of those in the SFA who appointed him .
The joke that is the SFA should NEVER have appointed a tax avoiding cheat like Eck (ebt) and their jobs for the masonic boys policy should be booted out the door along with everyone else in the dugout and the 6th floor at Hampden. HH
I’ve now requested the current and previous CEO of the SFA to confirm how many drugs tests have been carried out in the SPFL over the last three seaaons and how many were positive.
The lack of response from Regan and now Maxwell has me scratching my head.
Is it the case that the governing body has stopped drug testing and not told anyone?
Is Scottish football the only sport in the world without a drugs issue?
If so hoorah, but where’s the evidence?
If that were the case surely the SFA would be shouting the good news from the roof tops.
It’s all very strange and begs the question of how frequent are the drug tests and whats the issue in publishing the numbers and results?
I don’t have any issue with McLeish being a former manager of the now dead rangers, nor that his success there was aided and abetted with EBTs or even that he was a recipient of one himself. Wasn’t happy with the when or the way in which he walked out of the national set up all them years ago. My issue with McLeish is that he just isn’t up to the task.
n fact, I’m not sure he’s up to any task at all. He’s not long turned 60 so hardly ancient but when I hear him speak he sounds like someone in their dotage or someone suffering from a stroke. I can barely understand a word he says and what does come through doesn’t make any sense at all. There’s much more than a hint of desperation there. I actually feel for the man, he’s aged prematurely and I wonder if that’s the pressure of the job – which I’d have thought hardly like as we Scots haven’t got huge expectations – or is the fear of the taxman catching up with him?
He might feel he needs the nest-egg the position brings but for the sake of all concerned he needs to go – NOW!
McLeish is an accident waiting to happen. Yet another SFA balls up.
Perhaps Darryl, of I am the SFA claim, could put out a statement letting the Scottish football public know exactly what his paymasters have contributed to the sport.
No doubt any such statement would be of the very short variety.
In what other occupation would you appoint a leader who has HMRC chasing him for the hundreds of thousands of pounds due on his EBT tax scam?
No one in that position could be fully focused on the job in hand with that pressure in the background.
Presumably the fat end of his salary is going directly to HMRC though since Baz made the headlines by declaring himself bankrupt it’s all gone very quiet on what progress HMRC is making on the tax debts due by the too many to name recipients.
San Marino probably worth a wee flutter to grab a draw on Sunday?
I wonder what the criteria was for hiring him in the first place. Answers on a postcard please it’s free or txt your answer to 1690 all monies collected will go to (insert lies here)
Phil great piece, as you point out corruption is everywhere.
Hail, Hail.
Theresa May should invite Mcleish into her cabinet.
He has Scotland out of Europe in 90 minutes.