Dirty battle between SFA and SPFL

The SFA put on a show yesterday, providing boxing and snooker promoter, Barry Hearn, with a stage to take aim at the SPFL.  I would urge caution when digesting Hearn’s words.  He took aim at some easy sounding targets, for example, the league not having a sponsor, but the league don’t have a sponsor by choice.

The alternative choice would be to sell the rights for a value considerably less than the old SPL’s rights.  The league took the view that they would rather maintain their asking price, and go to market when the league is in a more competitive position.  This may, or may not, be a wise decision, we don’t know, and neither does Barry Hearn.

He also talked about making money by selling fights between low-quality but committed boxers at £150 per ticket.  Good for him.  This kind of sport, and his auditorium-filled darts, may well have a bright future, but it’s not the direction Scottish football should be heading.

The backdrop to all of this is what’s going on at Hampden.  There is a power-struggle between the SFA and the SPFL.  The latter are more likely to deliver radical change, the former want to maintain control, privilege and the bowling committee-type structure which has lasted for over a century.

Can you imagine how inadequate the SFA would appear if the SPFL held a similar forum, with an invited guest there to poke fun at the SFA president’s EBT and “heavily conflicted” past?  If the Association are trying to clip the league’s wings I suspect they will fail.  It’s more likely the SPFL will redouble their efforts to bring structural reform to our game.

This has become a dirty battle.

Some great fun at Celtic Park last night, it was like the old days, you know, when John Greig was manager at Ibrox.

Remember, Joe Miller, tonight, at Waterstones, Stirling, from 5pm. Signing copies of Caesar and the Assassin, bring your camera.

The 2015 CQN Annual is through design and ready to ship next week. You can pre-order yours now.

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