There are certain jobs at certain times that you just know you would not like to be in. Surely at the end of a quite remarkable week in Scottish football, head of recruitment for referees must be one such position.
?
It's a fantastic job if you are working alongside Will Smith and you are keeping the earth alien free - not so appealing if you are an official in our domestic game, where analysis and accountability of their performances has reached excessive levels.
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Voicing your opinion as a footballer is not often encouraged. After all, if you do it in the direction of a referee, it can lead to a caution - and expressing your views to a manager can result in time on the sidelines.
However, in a week when the possible restructuring of the , and at a time when is still relatively fresh in the mind, I find it puzzling that, amidst all the investigation and explanation of our game and it's current shortcomings, those who play the game are not canvassed for their opinion.
I am quite sure that some would respond to this by questioning whether players are capable of having such insight - and furthermore whether or not they care enough about the future of the game in this country. My answer would be that there are many players possessing the necessary qualities to present their views on the game and almost all with a genuine passion for football that is strong enough to want to see the Scottish game return to headier days.
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There are many pearls of wisdom imparted upon children as they grow up, such as don't talk with your mouth full and sit up straight!
One further example, and one relevant to sport, is that practice makes perfect.
If we assume this to be correct then the top footballers of today must be those who have worked the hardest and not just those who have been blessed with the most natural talent.
This view is the one held in a book called Bounce, written by Matthew Syed, a former table tennis star who offers evidence and insight into why he believes this to be the case, not just in his own sport but across the board.
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If someone from outside Scotland is asked their opinion on our game then it usually guaranteed that the term physical will be included in their response.
It is a view which we have been happy to embrace in that we enjoy as a nation our players to be committed and our games to be packed full of passion.
Within the physicality of our domestic game however, there always been a further opinion that we play in a hard but fair manner and that tackles of premeditated cynicism and challenges made with intent to cause injury are very much few and far between.
However, and with a recklessness that can result in severe harm to opponents.
Such a charge has probably been given credence by a seemingly higher rate of serious injury in the sport but is it a fair accusation, and is it one that could be held against players in the Scottish game?
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As the , one of the biggest challenges that has faced the respective leaders of each team has been moulding individuals into an effective team where unity and spirit is present in abundance.
Golf is, of course, very different to football in that it is an individual sport except for the occasional Ryder Cup-style tournament.
However, are the challenges faced by and Corey Pavin so different to those that football managers encounter in fostering a positive atmosphere within the dressing room?
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I was released as a teenager from the Scottish Premier League, had the hardening experiences of junior and part-time football and came back to the top flight with four years at university thrown in! I'm Jack Ross, a defender with Dunfermline and I aim to give you an insight into the life and mind of a professional footballer.
