Advertisement
BBC BLOGS - BBC Sport: Jim Spence

Old order faces youthful challenge

Jim Spence | 21:31 UK time, Tuesday, 1 December 2009

Comments (4)

Craig Levein, Mark McGhee and Jim Gannon signify the changing of the old guard and the coming of the new breed of football manager in Scotland - and it's a welcome development.

All three are articulate, media savvy and thoughtfully opinionated in their musings on the game. They ally their football experience with an understanding of social trends and change, and a readiness to embrace these, whether it be in re-working youth systems, their managerial techniques, or their willingness to challenge a cosy media consensus.

Similarly, a new breed of supporter has been patiently working to ensure that the old order of Scottish football must accept change.

Read the rest of this entry

Touchline bullies must be silenced

Post categories:

Jim Spence | 13:52 UK time, Saturday, 28 November 2009

Comments (16)

Scottish football needs a 'Secret Shopper' to 'shop' the coaches who shame the game.

The blustering buffoons who rant and rave and foam at the mouth from the sidelines have to be driven out and stripped of their tracksuits if our game is to advance.

They exist at all levels, but particularly in the younger age groups, their bullying, bug-eyed, foul-mouthed tirades, dressed up as motivational coaching, are a damaging disgrace which the SFA must stamp out.

Parents and the players are too frightened to complain about the bully boys, because the consequences are simple and chilling. The rule of the touchline tyrant has always been the same... "My way, or the highway".

Any attempt at reproach or discussion with the type of coach who screams, shouts and generally behaves like a former Eastern bloc dictator, is met with a ferocious response.

Read the rest of this entry

The SFA should sacrifice their blazers

Post categories:

Jim Spence | 16:15 UK time, Friday, 20 November 2009

Comments (29)

The Scottish Football Association needs a revolution. It is time for an outbreak of democracy to ensure that the president and the board are voted into office by fans and clubs alike, instead of time-serving their way through to positions of ultimate power.

Those standing for office should have to provide CVs and a business plan before they seek to run our game. If you seek high office, you should be prepared to put on record what experience and track record you have to do the job.

And if you have none, you shouldn't be there.

You should also have to put up for public consumption your proposals for your time in office, outlining your plans for improving and bettering the game, both in terms of the football and financially.

Read the rest of this entry

Explore the BBC

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.