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Hi Jack,
What are your views on the proposed expansion of the SPL, and would these views be altered if the Pars gain automatic promotion this season, which looks very likely?

Jack,

The summer football discussion is an interesting one. It has been in place for several seasons now in Ireland (Republic). I think the general consensus is that is has improved teams' chances in Europe. Shamrock Rovers certainly did well this season, though Bohemians bombed.

I think some care is needed, though, in terms of assuming that you will end up playing on better pitches. I watched a few early season games in Ireland and was struck at just how poor the pitches were. Very bobbly generally, and other issues too. The ball just did not run at all in one case, leading to a game played almost exclusively with ball in air. I suspect the problem might be that playing to a broadly summer schedule would mean kicking off the season in early March, which in turn means preparing pitches in January-February. Hardly ideal in somewhere like northern Scotland.

Have you looked at the schedule in Denmark? They stick to a broadly "winter" season, but just don't play in winter! They start the season in mid-July, play to early December, then break until early-March. They play a 33 game schedule, so it would need a bit of adjusting to work in Scotland. A three month gap mid-season is probably excessive anyway.

Starting in mid-July might assist Scottish teams in the early European rounds from a fitness perspective. It would fit with that cycle. And cutting the mid season break to 4-6 weeks in January / February gets you out of playing when it's really cold. That timetable ought to allow a 36-38 game schedule to be accomodated though.

I'd say no to summer football. But yes to some kind of winter break. Give the players and the pitches jan - feb to recover from the first half of the season and then get going again.

But also combine leagues as this stupid 4 games a season against the same opposition is dire, mundane and if a country as small as Holland can have a structured 2 tier system then so could scotland. It may also break up the Old Firm dominance to combine teams and resources.

Jack, couldn't clubs introduce coaching courses etc as a compulsory and subsidiary part of being a pro footballer as part of their contracts - after training for instance? ;) Thus providing additional skill sets for when they retire?

The Summer football idea is an interesting one from the players' perspective - if only all jobs were so flexible, but the cultural void created by thousands of fans left to roam towns and cities are being starved of footie on cold Winter weekends hasn't been thought through...what would they all do? Plus on the flip side would they want to be stuck inside often delapidated stadium on the few Sunny hot days Scotland gets in Summer?

Better for Scottish clubs to improve general facilities all around and create a few Sapporo Dome type multi-use stadia..investment and job-creation?

Really interested to read that you're in favour of summer football. I think it would be a great move. However, as the change requires an element of bravery and forward thinking , I'm pretty sure that it will never happen!

In my opinion the pros significantly outweigh the cons. Generally warmer weather to watch games in, makes it more enjoyable to go along. Better surfaces should obviously encourage passing (that thing foreign teams do) and more skillful play generally.

Also, by not going head-to-head against the Premiership we might find that the SPL gets a higher profile, which could conceivably lead to increased TV money (the holy grail).

Hi Jack unlucky on the draw on Saturday but i agree with what you are saying players need an opinion too otherwise it is all "officials" making decisions

Hi Jack,
As ever, a worthwhile read and some good points to debate. A couple of points I would raise back, however.
Firstly, the old saying "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink" springs to mind. I am aware of numerour SFL clubs through parterships with the SPFA that host SFA Governing Body Awards for free. The players are made to be there, but 95% of them don't want to be, can't see the relevance and disrupt it for others. They live for the now, think they are hotshots, and gain nothing from it while costing the system plenty. A club should carefully hand pick players with coaching potential or interest- the volume approach is negative.
Same with regards to coaching. I actually find it a bit belittling of you that you presume that just because someone is a 1st team player that they should take an U15 side. Why? To fill their time? Can anyone just turn up and be a good coach? Under 15's (as is any age grade) is a critical time in a players development so to get a Billy big balls turning up, under prepared, made to be there, told it is part of his contract, checking his mobile phone, no interest and no will, I think helps no one. I have seen it and it drives me bonkers. Not everyone can or should coach. Being a player is not a qualification. Coaching is an art, a passion, a calling. Not something to be done on orders.
Summer football? Definitely. Except we would clash with World Cups etc. and FIFA are trying to phase this out.

Jack,

Glad to see you bringing up this topic again as I believe there are some unanswered questions from the last time I challenged you on it.
/blogs/jackross/2010/08/do_fans_influence_the_outcome.html

Getting the players perspective is long overdue in my opinion as it seems to me as if many clubs, coaches and fans think they are the sole arbiters of what is acceptable in playing terms.

In my opinion if players want to be taken more seriously instead of being taken for granted, they need to take matters into their own hands and start defining their own standards of professionalism.

The PFA is a Trade Union but what you need is a professional body. One that qualifies you as professional and sets the standard: in attitudes, knowledge, physical skills and in technical ability. One that earns everyone鈥檚 respect, on and off the park. One that is not blighted by legal conflict but capable of rising above all that.

Trade Unions, Committees and top down dictatorial management that is non representative, are all things that are of the old order. They may still have a role but a much diminished one.

Everywhere you care to look, industries, companies and organisations of all descriptions are being forced to pay more than just lip service to the rights of individuals as Hamilton FC found out with the Cormack case.

Part of being professional is about educating one鈥檚 self as well as putting something back so that others can do the same.

You say that 鈥渢here are many players possessing the necessary qualities to present their views on the game鈥�

I can鈥檛 recall those in power ever starting a revolution so stop waiting for them to start one. Get a few of these like minded colleagues of yours together and start your own revolution.

Really enjoying your blog and always keep an eye on for the pars results because of studying with a fan in Aberdeen and having visited east end on a few occasions. Great pastry thing at the snackbar. Saying that you ruined my treble at the weekend :)

I am from Ireland and have watched the rise and fall of our attempts at professionalism or in better terms spending money on players that never existed, but although the crowds aren鈥檛 great we must also consider pour national sports of the GAA are at similar times and they draw the crowds at a time when the football should be capitalizing.

I am completely in favor of Summer football for the Scottish league as it firstly means the games will be played in better conditions, but more importantly it will recreate Scottish football as a saleable product in terms of TV revenue, with no other league of worth or more importantly no other league with appeal to the British public playing it means the league may be worth considerably more to the Sky鈥檚 of the world.

Your suggestion of on the job training regarding coaching and management is great

I also have a suggestion, to imitate American sports on the basis of Scholarship courses with local universities, Scotland has an abundance of good universities and they could easily tie in with local clubs to provide that secondary option for players if the game doesn鈥檛 work out for them, but it may also be an attractive option for the more savvy footballer who understands about protecting his future by gaining real life qualifications whilst playing, I know one or two sportsmen who have now left their respective game and all were in the same position 30+ without a single minutes real work experience nor qualification. As we are aware not all will experience the vulgar wealth of Wayne Rooney et al. Plus certain courses could be done where the club provides a real time training place, accounting, marketing, business management, nutrition etc. It would alleviate the cost of players for the clubs involved and could be a beacon of light in a sport that has until now been so short term focused in its goals for the people involved.

However I did once read Dave Whelan the chairman of Wigan offers all players the opportunity to learn the business systems and workings of his JJB Empire, according to himself not one of the premier squad has taken up his offer to date.

Surely if Rangers continue in the prolific form they currently have, they might consider moving into the English Leagues? Cardiff, Swansea, and Wrexham (+ various other clubs) have benefited from the better football in the English leagues. After, so far, doing considerably well in the champions league, and with a perfect start in the scottish premier, surely they'd consider it?

Jack the main problem with football in Scotland is there not enough competion in all levels of the game the premier league in Scotland is to small and the lower league no that cannot progress as there stadiums are to small. This means that players have to go England to play in the lower leagues as that is them only way they will make an impact.

Scotland nation team has the same problem as the England team they are training the players to play in a tradional way that emphasis playing on on strength and tackling instead on pass and movement.

The answer to this would be more foreign coaches and a more inclusive league that allows for smaller stadiums and allows smaller team being promoted meaning a more competitive league .

Jack - you are a genius!
Honestly, I came to this blog expecting a 5 minute light read, yet what I find is one of the most revolutionary ideas for developing football in Britain that I've ever seen. One of the great problems recognised in Scottish and English football is the dearth of quality youth coming through, and the reason is said to be a dire shortage of coaches at that level. At a stroke, you've solved it. Well, not solved, but made a recommendation in the right direction.

There's no doubt that full-time players have a heck of a lot of dead time on their hands when they're not training, and it is hard to justify their salaries. I'm sure many who get a fat salary for doing very little would resent being asked to 'do something for nothing', but with many journeymen players at the end of a contract the option would be to sign up or be released. It's a great idea and it proves your point - the authorities SHOULD listen to the players since they have more practical ideas than the suits.

Hi Jack, very interesting article.

Your point about changing the Scottish season to summer football would, in my opinion, be a great idea. Here in Ireland we have had the Eircom League playing summer football for a number of seasons now with albeit conflicting results. Around the country, opinion is divided on whether the switch has had a positive or negative effect, but the FAI are insistent that attendances are on the rise and that the product on show is improving year-on-year. I'd also agree emphatically with the FAI's belief that the product has improved, both on and off the pitch.

This can be seen with Irish clubs slight improvement in European competitions - obviously being halfway through your season does help in fitness terms when playing early rounds of these competitions. We can suffer in attendance figures because of Gaelic games which are also played mostly in the summer months but Scotland would not have this same issue.

I'm sure summer football would encourage a rise in attendances and in turn a rise in income for clubs which should, in theory, mean more investment and progression of the clubs. The only sticking point would probably be with the bigger teams that have international players although this does not seem to be an issue in places like Russia that have an extended winter break.

There are pro's and cons to this argument and i obviously don't have all the answers but weel done for at least opening the debate.

Jack,
In the real world most of us have to pay for our continuous professional development and take responsibility for our own self development. Professional footballers have more spare time than most and must take a fair degree of self responsibility.
You're comments about the PFA are revealing. If you don't feel others are taking them seriously enough then you have a problem, and as a group of people you should be challenging your union to do more for you, after all a Union exists to represent the views of its members. If I were you I would be asking difficult questions of Fraser Wishart et al and making them justify what impact they are having on your behalf, and for your future.

FOOTBALL IS IN DECLINE
Crowds are falling, corporate interest is waning, and income is reducing.
Due to the high costs of admission, travel, and refreshment, it is no longer the working mans game. No amount of fiddling is going to address the fact that the game is in dire straits. Half empty stadiums will soon be derelict stadiums as more and more clubs go under. Keep losing the lesser clubs, and even the mighty will succumb. From now, until who knows when, people are going to be unsure of their employment, and going to football matches will be way down their priorities. The game is all about passion, atmosphere, and local team loyalties. How can a partly filled stadium incite team allegiance, pride, promote rivalry, and encourage vocal banter between supporters. A full stadium is what makes the game so intense, addictive, and enjoyable. Without capacity attendances, you destroy the lifeblood of the game. What can be done to save the game? Introduce summer football, watching the game in sub winter conditions is definitely a no go, who wants to pay a lot of money to sit in the rain and freezing cold, when you can watch a game on television. Allow season ticket holders to take their spouse and a maximum of three children under sixteen free to games that are not a sell out. Authorities need to reappraise the game, relevant to the modern world. Encouraging the young to attend and develop the habit of going to football is investing in footballs future. The game is now crying out for atmosphere and what better way to create an atmosphere than exuberant noisy kids. Today鈥檚 youngsters will determine whether commercial football is still around in the future. Ignore them at your peril. If football is going to have any future, it must again offer value for money, and not price itself out the market. Its survival depends on attracting the young.

I am always amused by the thought that footballers opinions would be recognised , football is a business and is about money nothing more and nothing less. In business there are boards of directors and chief executives that are paid to make decisions , Terry Leahy doesnt consult the checkout girl in my local tesco,s before making big decisions about the future of his company.

The problem is the big guys in the big companies make the decisions and stand and fall by them. The SFA on the other hand as a business model is the wrong way round and as such is the equivelent of the local arear manager at Tesco's tellling Tery Leahy what big decoisions are made, and you can betb your bottom dollar that if you were one of those area managers the very last thing you would be telling Terry Leahy is to make you redundant.

Ita a nice idea to take the views of footballers but is never ever going to happen. As for real positive change for the future it just wont happen TURKEYS DONT VOTE FOR XMAS.

Hi Jack

Would you be in favour of reformatting the leagues to create two, 20 team divisions, with teams playing each other home and away and having 3 or 4 teams been relegated/promoted? This would not include the top SPL sides fielding a reserve side in the second division.

Would this format not create more interest for the public particularly regarding relegation and would hopefully increase the crowds towards the end of the season.

Jack

Would you opt for altering the football calendar totally to achieve summer football (Mar to Nov) or go for an earlier start/later finish with a winter break ?

Perhaps a flexible winter break would be optimal. In the years of World Cup/ Euros the winter break could be small but with no competitions the winter break could be longer.

Michel Platini wore footie boots but an academic he is not, courting power utilising one's fame and stardom can back fire ? We need footballers involved but it must be tempered with academics like Gazidis who have a genuinely marvellous love of sport and football.
Michel Platini is proving to be a disaster for football by his actions and by his inactions, and he wore footie boots.

Revolutize football in three easy steps.
Two video appeals per team, get the big decisions right ! two video appeals will not slow down the game.
To stop the manager from abusing the law he can only make a video appeal in his own half if the ball is dead.
2.
The Referee must have the power to award the worthless yellow card "after the game," retrospectively. He can rescind yellow cards and reds also, he will be more empowered have much more "flexibility" in his decision making and the real beauty of it is the huge huge respect he will command from all the players and voiciferous blinkered managers.
Increasing the ban for accumulative yellow cards would help get rid of the pro foul.
3. The Linesman having to be more pro active as a result of video appeals would make more decisions and not hide so much, he will feel more empowered, garner more respect from the players, video appeal will embarass him into more decisions, psychological accountability.
The linesman is "miked" up, take away his flag so he can run properly and keep up with the line of play. (In every "ten" uses of the flag the players already know 5 of the decisions, the Ref will decide one, and the Linesman will decide the other four decisions)
With his new found self respect the Linesman can "encroach" on to the pitch to help with penalties and free kicks, when Agbonlahor is sprinting on to a 60 yard pass and the 39 year old Ref is 60 yards away, the Linesman can be ten yards away in line with play, helping to Referee.
Instead of carrying a "clumsy" flag the Linesman can wear flourescent green sleeves.
It's not rocket science ?

Point 7...FIFA (and UEFA) has been failing to understand modern football and the needs of individual national leagues for a long time. They have shown a complete lack of leadership on matters of technology (which most professional sports have implemented with success), finances, rule changes to combat cheating, and the power of a few clubs over the good of the game, why should Scottish football care about what such an inept organisation wants.

On the plus side for young Scottish footballers, they should see more time on the pitch during major tournaments if the foreign players were off playing in their respective international competitions, it might actually discourage teams buying these players in the first place!

Footballers should have no more say in the restructing of Scottish football, than check-out girls have in Tesco's price-structuring policy.

The idea that they understand the different economic problems facing the game, is to unduly flatter their intellects.

They are, for the most part, let's be honest, educational under-achievers, many of whom, if left on grass for 90 mins without a manager's continually screamed instruction, would begin to graze.

Jack

Football players, these are the guys who every week bend or break every rule in football, why should we trust their views?

spot on, there are so many things that would improve if we had summer football, better football, better crowds, better business. i dont understand why it has not been done.

The coaching and wages part of your blog i reckon you would know best being an insider ;) lol but aye i hoope someone takes notice of this and does make changes for the better :)

Hi Jack,

some interesting points, and between the people who have already commented, I think they have basically covered all my thouhts.

I agree with you that an increase to 14 teams is pretty meaningless, but what about 18 teams? Then stop this nonsense of splitting into 2 groups who the play each other twice more. I think that is harmful to Scottish football, in terms of both quality of play and commercial success. Do you agree with this view?

I also agree with the point made about starting earlier, having a 6 or 8 week winter break, an then continuig. Should be feasible. What do you think?

Yes, not all players make good coaches, but having the pros even assisting the youth coaches, and providing an insight into footbal at the pro level for the youngsters is a good thing. I remember, back in "the day" when I was a youngster, (here in South Africa a long time ago) we had this. It was not every trainging session, but probably 2 out of 3, ad I always looked forward to that - particularly if one of my "heros" was the assistant coach. In those days our league here was much smaller than now, with very little money involved, but I believe it worked well.

Thanks for an interesting blog.

Mike
South Africa

hi jack, i totally agree with looking at norway as an example for us! they have a much more open league set up with 16 teams playing each other twice. they have a similar population and a comparable climate albeit even colder!

Learn from the experience of others absolutely but if its about improving the quality and the depth of teams in the top tier an 18 team division is not the answer and its naive to pretend otherwise. This would produce too many meaningless games.

Options based on 14 and 16 are far more realistic plus the introduction of 'colt' teams.

And what would the commercial impact be for the revenue of non-OF teams only playing the big 2 twice? For the cynics, turkeys may not vote for x-mas but I kind of sympathise with people trying to generate and sustain revenue in Scottish football right now. Personally I'd like to see the OF at places like Tannadice and Tynecastle twice a season. Its better entertainment than the alternative. Wonder what the implications for the TV deal (and audiences) would be if the broadcaster was offered PartickvCeltic as opposed to DUtdvCeltic?