The future of our game?
Season ticket sales on average 10% down on last season over the whole of the SPL with only Celtic and Hibs showing any increase at all.
Player cuts and wage cuts across the board.
Several clubs either in or flirting with administration.
The national team in decline with no sign of improvement at all.
What the hell is going on????
The powers that be are still sitting on their hands and refusing to attempt to address any issues raised by Scottish football fans (or in business terms their customers!!).
This year the SPL will probably see the two Glasgow sides compete ,on their own, again for the league title. Hearts and maybe Dundee United will likely compete for 3rd and 4th while the rest will fight it out for the coveted (by who??) top six slots and relegation.
A number of sides, including Dundee, will struggle to fulfil under 21 fixtures as a result of player culls so maybe this will lead to more youngsters getting a game, but if Dens Park is anything to go by the pressures put on these stars of the future during top team appearances will be ridiculous.
So when you're sitting at Dens Park or Pittodrie or Easter Road next season and a young player makes a mistake try and give them a break. It's not their fault they are being lobbed in when they're patently not ready. These young players are supposed to be the future of our game. Unfortunately they are going to be the present because of circumstances way beyond their control.
So what can we do? Well many people are already voting with their feet. Football has become far too expensive and the product does not justify these hefty prices. Mismanagement at all levels is going to be paid for by the fans. The people who never made the mistakes in the first place will be the ones to suffer. Who says so? The people who got us in this mess in the first place!!!
If you didn't understand anything about football you'd wonder how they get away with this magic act. The reason is simple. Pure emotion. They tell you in the papers its up to YOU to save YOUR club and it's YOUR fault if it goes wrong. Well my answer is for them to walk away and let the fans organise the clubs from scratch and see how many people come back to our game. Take their debts with them. Take their egos too.
A restructuring of the game is vital. Not simply changing the number of teams in the top league or renaming the other leagues. A total change is needed. Starting with having just two senior leagues in Scotland, both with 18 teams. Two up two down with play off for the 3rd/4th top and bottom teams.
An expanded regionalism League Cup without the clubs who qualified for Europe.
Clubs should also be reorganised with fans representation at all levels including the higher echelons of the SFA and SPL. Self-satisfying beaurocrats must be removed from power. Immediately.
A Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon highlights package with one live game a month should be advertising our game not bleeding it of the fans.
Are these all the answers? No, most certainly not not they might be a starting point. Lets get our feelings known. After all it's our game.
Isn't it?