by Sheik Yir Erse » Fri Feb 25, 2011 1:59 am
If you can be @rsed reading this and commenting I'd appreciate it...........
Why don't we just try to make some changes! Some will work, some won't - but the current 'product' (and I hate that term) is Colin Nish!
* I would definitely go for summer football - It might actually increase any future TV deal, as people "Down South" may now have a reason to keep their Sky Subscription during the summer as there would actually be football to watch (a big problem for Sky). Problem here is the Old Firm - they earn a fortune from lucrative pre-season friendly tours/touranaments in London / US / Australia, etc.
* I'd make the *SCOTTISH* Cup for Scottish players only (don't know if that would work legally) but at least it might get the Old Firm bringing thru some Scottish players. I would leave the UEFA qualification for this reason.
* I'd make the League Cup regional based leagues - with the top teams of each league going to semi/quarter final. I might even be tempted to play those regional games as shorter format (45 mins) over a compressed period of time (similar to a pre-season friendly format) ie. team might play 2-3 games over the course of a weekend at one location Reduces cost on teams / fans and I'd happily go along and watch 2-3 games, one after another!
* In the winter shutdown I'd get the Scottish based members of the National Team together for 1-2 month training camp! How good would we be if the National Coach got to work with the players for that amount of time (remember Hiddink had the South Korea team for 6 months solid ..... and they got the semi-finals of the WC!
* Have a "Tennents 6's" league during the winter, at arenas all around the country - with a final before the season started.
* I would do away with Season Tickets to allow clubs the ability to vary prices. You may pay an upfront "membership fee" which entitles you to buy a ticket for each game (and gives the clubs guaranteed money) . But "protecting the season ticket holders" prevent clubs from making certain games a fiver!
* Anyone under the age of 14 gets in to ALL grounds for free.
* Either bring back the reserve league, or allow reserve teams to play in the lower leagues (no cups and no promotion to SPL allowed) Or allow large SPL teams to have agreements with "feeder teams" e.g. Ross County could have 6 Rangers reserves playing.
* Make footballers subject to normal employment legislation, i.e. their contract can be terminated for poor performance removing the financial burden on clubs. (Some form of protection/compensation for clubs who develop young players)
* Get down to a manageable number of clubs - ie. amalganate a whole number of teams. Look at the success of the team who actually had the balls to do it - Inverness Caley Thistle! What about a Renfrewshire team (Morton / St Mirren) one Tayside Team, one team from the Borders, etc. If Stenhousemuir want to play in front of 320 people per match, then let them! But let's not waste SFA/SFL resources on them (a bit elitist, I know!)
* One administration body - responsible for developing Scottish football. As opposed to the current 3 - which are all self- serving!
* Professional referees! Not sure I'd want to be operated on by someone who is an Accountant or Teacher during the day, that gets to perform operations at the weekend! So why do we accept this as the standard of officials of our national sport?
* Reduce the ridiculous burden of policing costs on clubs.
* Post-match video evidence for cheating AND heavy punishments for any offenders (feigning / diving / etc) Lets get back to the Scottish values that we appreciate!
* Allow injured players to be treated without the play having to stop.
* Designated standing & singing areas in stadiums.
* Friday night football.
Most of these might be keech, but some of them might be worth a try, and if they don't work then try something else. Lets just have the balls to at least TRY something different.
(PS. Apologies - this post is a result of sitting in a pub in Washington DC, bored out my face, drinking lots of freezing (tasteless) beer, with nothing but feckin Basketball on the telly. Football is the only sport worth supporting, and the Scots must be the most passionate supporters of it anywhere in the world)
Sheik Baby Sheik (_/_) (_\_) (_/_) (_\_) (_/_) (_\_)