Scottish Football, The June Review

It’s a strange thing being stranded outside the World Cup. We watch, we’re interested, we have our heroes, we relish our villains. But we’re not involved. And it hurts. (http://www.scottishfootballblog.co.uk/2010/06/t-shirt-wars.html)

Maybe it’s been made worse this year by a dearth of stories in Scottish football. It’s been one of our quieter summers so far. (http://www.scottishfootballblog.co.uk/2010/06/summers-dreams-ripped-at-seams.html)

Managers

A tale of two Lennons and a delayed Finnish.

Neil Lennon was finally unveiled as Celtic manager. The appointment was pretty much an open secret but the process was remarkably protracted. After such a lengthy courtship a less besotted bride than Lennon might well have walked away.

The stakes are high for Celtic and Lennon remains a novice. It will be interesting to watch. But only time will tell if this is a gamble that will pay off.(http://www.scottishfootballblog.co.uk/2010/06/who-is-stuart-baxter.html)

So long did Celtic hesitate that they weren’t even the first Scottish Premier League team to unveil a Lennon. That honour went to St Mirren who plucked Danny of that ilk from Cowdenbeath. A decent young Scottish manager being given a chance is to be applauded although many St Mirren were less than bowled over by the move. (http://www.scottishfootballblog.co.uk/2010/06/lennon-signs-on.html)

Kilmarnock explored their options - including German World Cup winner Thomas Hassler - before settling on Mixu Paatelainen. The Finn got a reputation for functional football and an abrasive touchline style during his spell in charge at Hibs. Expect the manager to be more entertaining than his team as cash strapped Kilmarnock go back to basics to stay in the top flight next season.

Players

It would be great to report that the lack of transfer activity is to allow SPL targets to complete their World Cup campaigns before opening negotiations.

But the reality is rather more sobering: finances dictate that all 12 clubs will be doing what they can but nobody will be going mad.

And Kris Boyd’s eventual destination remains up in the air. Lots of people have looked but poor old Kris remains on the shelf. Scotland’s most potent striker brings goals. But the feeling remains that he offers a one dimensional game. It seems that a few of the middling English Premier League clubs or Championship teams that have been sniffing around Boyd have begun to view him as a big salaried luxury that they can’t really afford.

Off The Market

Kris Boyd wasn’t the only one struggling to find a buyer. His current (or former) employers Rangers seem to have been sale for quite some time. Unfortunately for owner Sir David Murray there was hardly an array of suitable bidders for his majority shareholding. (http://www.scottishfootballblog.co.uk/2010/06/rangers-off-market.html)

So Rangers have been taken off the market. A giant tax bill still hovers over their heads. Even without that threat Rangers are braced for a continuation of their own age of austerity. Manager Walter Smith will remain in place for another season, it’s likely that he’ll have another year of making do and mending while trying to fight off the challenge of Neil Lennon’s Celtic.

Surviving

Some good news to sign off with. Cowdenbeath, doyens of the lower leagues, survive to fight another day. Donald Findlay, a man with a somewhat chequered football career, has been installed as Chairman. That’s not pleased everybody but, with community ownership the eventual aim and Cowdenbeath's immediate future assured, Findlay’s involvement would seem to be a means to a much more pleasant end. (http://www.scottishfootballblog.co.uk/2010/06/true-blue-brazil.html)

Looking Ahead

Motherwell kick off the season when they start their Europa League campaign against Icelandic side Breidablik (http://www.scottishfootballblog.co.uk/2010/06/motherwell-visit-gods.html) at the start of July. And that will be us underway again. Hibs, Dundee United and Celtic all have European qualifying to negotiate and then we'll be back with the start of the SPL season.

Who needs the World Cup?

Tom Hall covers Scottish football on the Scottish Football Blog.