THE Scottish Football Association’s search for their third performance director in under two years has started with the position vacated by Brian McClair back in July currently being advertised.
The governing body is looking for an individual who can “ensure all aspects of strategy combine to support players and teams enabling them to achieve their potential”.
The fifth floor of Hampden is sure, as was the case on the two previous occasions a performance director was sought in 2011 and 2014, to be inundated with applications from hopeful candidates from around the globe.
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But what’s the point in having a performance director if his recommendations aren’t embraced? Why bring a replacement if the course of action he determines to be the best isn’t going to be implemented? Isn’t it madness to ask for an expert opinion just to ignore it?
McClair, who stood down this summer after just 17 months in the role, grew frustrated at the stubborn resistance to change which he encountered and expressed sadness he “couldn’t make a significant difference” in his parting shot.
The former Celtic, Manchester United and Scotland player, with the help of his former team mate Gordon Strachan, identified what he felt were the flaws in the existing system and decided what alterations needed to be made in order to improve the quality of player being produced.
It was, given the sharp drop in standard of our national game, given the failure of Scotland to qualify for the finals of a major tournament in 18 years, given the embarrassing displays of our leading clubs in Europe in recent seasons, impossible to disagree that drastic action was required. Or so you would have believed.
His suggestion that more young players at Premiership clubs be loaned out to Championship clubs to gain invaluable first team experience received a cool reception. As did his proposal that the number of academies be dramatically reduced from 31 to eight and regionalised.
It remains to be seen which of McClair’s findings are accepted. But already it looks decidedly like it will be a watered-down compromise which fails to properly address the key issues.
It has been suggested that somebody with greater diplomatic and interpersonal skills be brought in. But Kofi Annan could take over and still be ineffectual. Our clubs have to put the greater good of the game in this country ahead of self-interest if we are ever to halt an alarming decline.
AND ANOTHER THING
Inverness Caledonian Thistle have only played in three games in the Ladbrokes Premiership, but already the position of their manager Richie Foran appears to be under serious threat.
The heavy 5-1 defeat the Highlanders suffered against Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday came after disappointing losses to Partick Thistle and Ross County. Many more results like those and it is hard to see Foran surviving.
But what did the Caledonian Thistle board expect? How many players have made the transition from dressing room to dugout successfully over the years. You could count them on the fingers of one hand.
Alex Neil certainly did so seamlessly. But the New Douglas Park club was in the Championship not the Premiership when he took over. It is asking an awful lot, probably far too much, of someone with no management experience to keep a club in the top flight.
Yes, Foran has many qualities and strengths. In time, he may develop into a fine coach. But wouldn’t it have been far more sensible to make him an assistant under an experienced managerial mentor before he took charge and allow him to learn his trade?
Inverness’s unwillingness to invest adequately in a replacement for John Hughes may cost them dear.
ONE LAST THING
No sooner had Irvine Meadow’s decision to acquire a temporary licence to sell alcoholic drinks at their Meadow Park ground been applauded on these pages last week and the Ayrshire club announced they had thought better of it.
The change of heart, however, failed to prevent their annual Marymass derby match with Irvine Victoria on Friday evening descending into chaos.
Unrest flared after Kevin Adam netted a penalty for Vics to make the score 3-3. A Meadow fan allegedly ran onto the park and spat in his face.
A mass pitch invasion promptly followed and referee Callum Scott had to take both teams up the tunnel. Police in riot trucks arrived to restore order. The game only resumed following a delay of about 20 minutes after Meadow and Vics officials had appealed for calm.
Such shameful scenes will do nothing to strengthen the arguments for the lifting of the booze ban within Scottish stadiums. But what difference would selling alcohol at the game have made? The problem lies with those who drink to excess in the hours leading up to kick-off.
Police and stewards barring potential troublemakers in an inebriated state before they enter the ground or ejecting them from the terraces and stands is the key.
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