SFA problem lies inside their Hampden offices

There is a point of no return in football, when sentiment has been disengaged so long, it cannot be recovered.  Dave King referred to this during his campaign to gain control of Newco, insisting that if the club failed to regularly become champions, young fans would not get the bug.  I know older Dundee fans who watched as their city switched during the 1980s and who have long given up hope of being a force again.  In the 50s, Hearts and Hibs were comparable to Celtic in size, now they feed on scraps.

The same is true at international level.  Some of us remember a time when results in the Home Internationals had an importance it is difficult to imagine now.  Under Jock Stein, Scotland were held by “11 dustbins” against Portugal, as the great man struggled to explain why his team only got a draw.  The national team succumbed to what was an embarrassing defeat in Kazakhstan this week, but no one cared and no one was really embarrassed.

The Scotland ‘thing’ is finished.  Those who like their foreign drinking trips will continue to sign up, but kids and the vast majority who watch club football each week have long given up.  The SFA have long lost their audience, and with true bunker mentality, they will never consider the problem lies inside their Hampden offices.

Fortunately, you and me have a league title to look forward to winning………