Plumbing New Depths
The early exit of all three Scottish teams - Celtic, Hearts and Rangers - from the Europa Cup shows how far the country has fallen - from the days when our best football clubs clubs could compete on a world stage.
We are now officially unable to compete in a competition which is designed for Champions League 'drop outs' - and those who fail to win their domestic leagues.
No doubt the tabloid newspapers will be full of lurid headlines - but the real task is to face up to how bad things have become in the Scottish game and act accordingly.
Scottish clubs simply don't have the money or resources to compete with the very best in Europe - but the teams that beat Celtic and Rangers, in particular, where not out of Europe's top drawer - not by a long chalk.
Yet our clubs were well beaten and - in the case of Hearts - the tie was over after a five nil thrashing in the home leg at Tynecastle.
As with most things in life there are no easy answers - but the game could do with a period of serious and sober reflection.
Which should include drawing on the views and experience of successful Scottish managers in England - Sir Alex Ferguson, Kenny Dalglish, Alex McLeish etc.
Success breeds success - and it's that winning habit teams in Scotland have sadly lost.
We are now officially unable to compete in a competition which is designed for Champions League 'drop outs' - and those who fail to win their domestic leagues.
No doubt the tabloid newspapers will be full of lurid headlines - but the real task is to face up to how bad things have become in the Scottish game and act accordingly.
Scottish clubs simply don't have the money or resources to compete with the very best in Europe - but the teams that beat Celtic and Rangers, in particular, where not out of Europe's top drawer - not by a long chalk.
Yet our clubs were well beaten and - in the case of Hearts - the tie was over after a five nil thrashing in the home leg at Tynecastle.
As with most things in life there are no easy answers - but the game could do with a period of serious and sober reflection.
Which should include drawing on the views and experience of successful Scottish managers in England - Sir Alex Ferguson, Kenny Dalglish, Alex McLeish etc.
Success breeds success - and it's that winning habit teams in Scotland have sadly lost.
