Continued from one other file: 26

alan ferguson sports business

Whenever a firm wants to plough money into the game 'Fingers' Ferguson is the man to broker the deal. When Carling decided to attack the Scottish market they recruited Ferguson's agency, The Sports Business, to spearhead the sponsorship of Celtic and Rangers. Negotiated the Safeway sponsorship of the Scotland teams. Known as a gentle giant in the cut-throat world of sports sponsorship, in the last 25 years he has brokered or managed most of the major contracts in Scotland. Friend and confidante to the biggest names in the game.

27

gerry mcnee journalist

The old Voice of Football deserves his place, if only for the fact that he's been hollering for long enough. Once called ''the conscience of Scottish football'', a rather over-egged term, though McNee does draw people to his opinions. In a contemporary world of rambling, inarticulate, often slightly wafty tabloid columnists, McNee remains envied for his sharp and witty analyses. Was a mite miffed when Martin O'Neill, upon arriving in Scotland and getting wind of McNee's bluster, asked privately: ''This Gerry McGhee fellow . . . who's he?''

28

michael o'rourke controller sEtanta sports

Once upon a time, this Irish satellite channel was as reliable as the workforce 24 hours after St Patrick's Day. O'Rourke has invested heavily in their image, and Scottish football, of late with an (pounds) 8m deal to show exclusive away coverage of the Old Firm at the exclusive time of 12.30pm. A studio set like a scene from Crossroads motel, the occasional gremlin in the system, and cameramen as attentive as Scotsport's, but never mind the quality, feel the money.

29

blair morgan FOOTBALL AGENT

Prides himself as the approachable agent you can trust. A lawyer by trade (he represents Alex McLeish and Duncan Ferguson) but during the boom period of the football agent business, he recruited the former Rangers midfielder, and former client, Trevor Steven as a partner. Based in Dunfermline, Morgan was also influential in a number of transfer deals during the Walter Smith era at Rangers. Morgan Associates brought Bobo Balde to Celtic and count Robert Douglas and Gavin Rae among their clients.

30

chris robinson hearts chief executive

Robinson has more acute influence today than at any time, especially as he will have the ultimate say in whether Hearts leave Tynecastle. While there is uproar among supporters at the plan, Robinson is pressing ahead. A vilified figure at Hearts, he has, none the less, presided over the arrival of the first major trophy in Gorgie for 38 years - the 1998 Scottish Cup. A man with a sometimes doleful, gloomy countenance, Robinson is liked by those who manage to get close to him. Sits on various SFA committees and helps shape our national game.

31

tommy burns scotland assistant manager

Not ranked so much for his services to Scotland but to his first love, Celtic. Player, manager, and now starmaker at Parkhead, Burns has consistently turned down offers of a return to club management to continue moulding teenagers into potential talismans for Martin O'Neill. His work is already bearing fruit, although Kenny McDowall and Danny McGrain must also take credit for the emergence of Shaun Maloney, Ross Wallace, Craig Beattie and John Kennedy. Must be envious of the facilities available to his counterpart at Rangers, George Adams.

32

george adams head of youth development, rangers

Behind Burns because, well, he has a (pounds) 14m state-of-the art facility behind him. Widely regarded as the peerless talent- spotter in Scottish football in

a career which started with recommendations to the Aberdeen manager when he was plain old Alex Ferguson.

Has enhanced his reputation during two decades on the road and is now rewarded for his efforts when before he had to complement his income with a video store. Worked for Celtic and discovered Shaun Maloney, was then lured to Motherwell with the promise of more responsibility before being invited to head up Rangers' youth development which had been in decay for decades. Chris Burke

represents the first blue shoot of recovery at Murray Park but the real benefits will not be felt for a few years yet.

33

paul cooney managing director radio clyde

Now, if it were for services to phone-ins, Jimmy Sandison would have been posthumously honoured. Cooney, irritably irrepressible and, quite frankly, a rabbit on the radio, has a deeper worth than hamming it up with DJ and Provan.

Cooney was responsible for rejuvenating the station and founding the Cash For Kids charity which has been healthily funded by players and punters alike, while

Saturday evenings somehow just wouldn't be the same without the Sandisonesque inquiry: ''Were you at the game today, caller?''

34

tony higgins SECRETARY, SCOTLAND PLAYERS' Union

A union man who has led his men well. Formerly a burly striker with Hibs who has a good sense of humour which is useful when dealing with the vagaries of Scottish football. Higgins has a sharp mind and has championed the rights of players in an even-handed way. Faces tough times ahead with players being thrown on the scrapheap as clubs tighten their belts. Higgins realises the future looks bleak and with Dundee and Motherwell in administration has had to deal with some of his members being sacked to help clubs balance their books.

35

peter donald secretary, sfl

The grand old man of Scottish foot-ball. Retained his integrity while others have fallen by the wayside. A staunch supporter of the CIS Insurance Cup which is disparaged every year by the Old Firm until one of them win it, and they release a video showcasing their success in the competition. A stoic performer who has been there, done it. One of the few respected administrators left in the game. Sadly for him, his role as head of the Scottish Football League has been diminished of late as the bigger clubs have got richer and left the poor ones behind.

36

tam cowan broadcaster/columnist/comedian

Cowan, a former fat comedian from the Lanarkshire styx, makes our list simply because his gutteral voice is unavoidable. His TV show Offside is often a farrago of burps, farts, and crudities, and football fans love it. Meanwhile, the Off The Ball radio show he co-hosts with Stuart Cosgrove has a cult following. As usual, the man is more formidable than the myth. Behind the scenes Cowan, a Motherwell diehard, is a highly intelligent, articulate, observant, slightly vulnerable character, whose take on the human scene would open most people's eyes.

37

sepp blatter fifa PRESIDENT

THE rotund, avuncular, smarmy Swiss lawyer makes the list for his egregious leadership of FIFA and his ability to poke his nose in everywhere, including Scotland. Blatter has had

his say on everything from rule changes to women's

kits and footballers wearing radio earpieces.

After rising through the ranks of UEFA, FIFA's 'House of Football' became his home.

He was almost out on his ear on charges of football tyranny prior to the last World Cup, but this survivor ended up turfing out those who had brought the allegations.

38

dominic keane livingston chairman

Where once Hearts were the wee Rangers, Livingston are the wee Cellic. An operation (formerly Meadowbank Thistle) funded by Keane, the travel company millionaire, and invested in by Willie Haughey and John McGuinness. All three have strong Celtic connections - indeed Keane and Haughey are former Parkhead board members - but West Lothian is where Keane hangs his hat. They rose from the first division to a UEFA cup place in their first SPL season. and their very existence is the realisation of Keane's dream.

39

david low FIXER

Depending on whether you have been salvaged or shafted by him, Low is either a white knight or a horseman of the apocalypse. Either way there is something of the night about him. Just ask the scions of the White and Kelly dynasties. In 1994 Low's cunning plans allowed Fergus McCann to blow away Celtic's ancien regime and successfully recapitalise the company. Whenever there have been innovative proposals involving the restructuring of deadwood in the Scottish game, Low is usually involved. Most recently transformed the Clydebank franchise into Airdrie United.

40

john viola football agent

The closest thing to Bill McMurdo in the current minefield in that he possesses the single largest collection of Scottish players. Rangers were not the only team Barry Ferguson ever wanted to play for and the decision to sign for Graeme Souness at Blackburn Rovers was arrived at with considerable input from Viola, who is a close friend as well as Mr 15%. Like McMurdo, also has a penchant for jewellery and is as gallus as he is loaded. Also represents Chris Sutton, Maurice Ross, and Robert Malcolm among plenty others.

41

jonathan watson comedian

Possibly the only Scottish football genius since the days of Johnstone and Baxter. In comedy terms, Watson has an ability to unerringly hit the target. If he was only there to make us laugh, Partick Thistle would make him redundant. Not only hastened the Rangers captain's departure to Blackburn (deeply ironic given Watson's affections for the Govan team), but he gives us an inkling of the hypocrisy, stupidity, and crassness at the heart of the whole ball game. Oh, and in Macca he has bequeathed the nation a gem.

42

dr william leach orthopaedic consultant

This reticent and thoughtful ortho-paedic consultant came to prominence when he carried out the tricky operation to mend Henrik Larsson's broken leg in 1999. Following this, he was dubbed 'The Henrik Larsson miracle doc' by the Daily Record, an epithet that has always embarrassed him. After gaining prestigious fellowships in the treatment of sports injuries in London and Australia, he took up his current post at Glasgow's Western Infirmary and is now a much sought-after lecturer in the science of modern sports injuries.

43

julia barnes safeway marketing controller

She was the woman who spearheaded a (pounds) 5.1m sponsorship deal of Scotland's national teams. The name of Safeway is now sponsoring Berti Vogts side, the Under-21s and the women's game which is growing all the time. The across the board sponsorship deal which was signed in February 2002 makes Barnes a big player in the game north of the border and runs until the middle of 2006. Her company helped the SFA break new ground with Safeway stores throughout Scotland now selling

tickets for all home games

featuring the national team.

44

MAGDALENA LARSSON THE MOST IMPORTANT WOMAN IN SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

The scene is a well-appointed home in Bothwell. Photographs of horses adorn the mantelpiece. A hero relaxes in a luxurious armchair.

Hero's wife: Haw, Henrik, whit's this ah'm reading in ma Record aboot us yins nobbin' aff to Barcelona or Newcastle in the summer?

If ye think ah'm spending the

summer in Geordieland, yiv got anither think coming. And if ah wanted to stay in Barcelona ahd've merrit Manuel by the way.

Henrik (for it is he): Firstly, my

poppet, my Swedish princess, my

Magdalena, we should continue this conversation in Swedish, not least because I told you The Steamie was not quite the best way to master the English

language. Secondly, football is my

business and I told you never to interfere in my business.

Magdalena (for it is she): Never interfere in yir business? Who do you think ye urr, Al soddin' Pacino in The Godfather? Naw, ye'll dae as yer tellt. Ahm happy here. The weans are happy here. Even the soddin' horse is happy here. Noo get on the blower tae Harry Potter and tell him yir staying put.

Henrik: If you insist, my dear.

Thus spake the most important woman in Scottish football.

45

gordon brown chancellor of the exchequer

This position may seem a bit high for a Raith Rovers supporter as, after all, he is only the Chancellor. But if leaks are to be believed, the graduate of the Starks Park terraces may be the next prime minister. If he takes up the top job, it could be more than intriguing for football. Blair merely plays lip service to football, but Brown has an innate understanding of the game, particularly at the less rarefied levels. This is a man who would choose to go to a football match, and not merely for a photo opportunity. He knows, too, the value of clubs in the community.

46

willie rae chief constable strathclyde police

The most senior police officer within Strathclyde and, thus, the driving force in the fight against sectarian violence surrounding the Old Firm.

The police have become increasingly involved in football matters since Duncan Ferguson was jailed for head-butting John McStay at Ibrox in 1994 and continue the thankless task of stamping out sectarianism through various initiatives.

Rae was previously chief constable of Dumfries and Galloway constabulary before returning to Strathclyde Police in 2001.

47

mario conti archbishop of glasgow

Conti's invitation to the Right Reverend Professor Iain Torrance,

Moderator of

the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, to preach at St Andrew's Cathedral last year was inspired.

The Archbishop and his priests can wield significant influence with the Celtic followers in their flock and encourage them to continue the progress that has been made in turning Parkhead into a sectarian-free zone.

Mutual understanding between the faiths and respect for their differences are not built on Derry's Walls, nor should they hide under a Broad Black Brimmer.

48

prof. iain torrance

We don't know

if Professor

Torrance, partakes of the beautiful game either, but he will know that thousands in his church will also swear legitimate allegiance to Rangers.

He has a tremendous opportunity to work with John McClelland, the Rangers chairman, in the latter's efforts to rid Ibrox of sectarianism.

For many, Rangers will always be a protestant standard-bearer, but that should not mean that catholics cannot flourish in their ranks. Nor must they feel intimidated when visiting the ground.

49

alastair johnston rangers director

The man who shares a pine tree with Tiger Woods has been invited to the board to help raise funds to help eradicate the club's (pounds) 65m debt.

Glasgow-born, but now based in Cleveland, Ohio, he is president and co-chief executive of International Management Group (IMG), the world's largest sports marketing company.

He was heavily involved in negotiations which led to Joe Lewis and Dave King investing a combined (pounds) 60m in Rangers, as well as donating a seven-figure sum himself to his boyhood heroes.

50

stewart milne aberdeen chairman

FORMER wig-wearer who is at the helm of Aberdeen. Gave (pounds) 2.5m personal guarantees to keep the club going, but hasn't been rewarded by many good performances on the park. He has earned grudging respect from the Pittodrie faithful for seeing the writing on the wall in terms of finances. Was ridiculed for cutting costs at Aberdeen three years ago, but that helped the club stay afloat. Aberdeen are set to leave Pittodrie for a new council-run facility which will cut their (pounds) 8m debt. Has a few bob of his own, but is canny with his money and won't splash cash.