Dermot Desmond puts on the greasepaint

Dermot Desmond held his hands up in an interview with club media, acknowledging mistakes that led to the collapse this season “without qualification”.  In reality, there is usually a myriad of reasons why any project fails but ownership of mistakes is the first step in putting things right.

He challenged “conjecture coming from some journalists, commentators and pundits that they foresaw the outcome of this season”.  In my preview ahead of the new season starting in August, I put our chances of winning the league at 70%, up from my estimate for the previous season of 50%.  I doubt anyone expected the abruptness of the collapse, but many of us are not totally surprised to be in second place.

The interview discusses managerial recruitment, “process is underway and is taking place privately” and acknowledges the high turnover in playing squad ahead this summer and a commitment to learn from mistakes made.

I get that Dermot Desmond is reluctant to take a higher profile role at the club, the hostility fired the board’s way, even during the quadruple treble era, was unrelenting.  Remoteness is not always a friend, though.  Dermot might feel the same frustrations and disappointments as the rest of us, but if he never shares these feelings, a sense of aloofness builds in the vacuum.

The board overwhelmingly present to the fans through the chief executive, with the chairman on his feet one day a year and signing the odd statement, and the major shareholder a largely unknown figure.  It is unbalanced; it does not serve the board and therefore the club well.

Dermot, in your statement you said, “football is not an exact science”, which is correct.  It is as much an art, theatre for the millions.  You need to put on the greasepaint more often.

Hearts, ha!  Knocked Newco Rangers out of the Scottish Cup last season, lost to Brora Rangers this season, who have played only one game since Hearts brave but futile attempt to stop our record fourth consecutive triumph.  Not that it made me worry about Falkirk…………..