How should Scottish football learn from having four weeks worth of action 'put on ice'?

As the long-awaited thaw starts to kick-in around the country, we can start to reflect on what we can learn from the harshest winter that Scotland has suffered since 1963. For the last month, football matches, sporting events and facilities have been under the lingering threat of postponement, cancellation and being out of service since the middle of last December. As ever with the Scottish football community, the calls for summer football and winter breaks are just as seasonal as the weather. So should we be changing the season which we play football in, keep it the same and treat ourselves to a few weeks off for the winter, or is this just an expression of the common British contempt of the weather?

One man that would have us all believing in the benefits of summer football is SFA chief executive Gordon Smith. Long prior to his appointment in his position, he has always been strong in his views of what can be changed to benefit football in this country and summer football has been a common feature. The benefit he sees however is for the development of the game from grassroots up, rather than the impact it’ll have from elite-level down. Certainly for children, who are learning the skills of the game, playing on surfaces that are boggy, marsh-like and like concrete in the winter with the effect of sub-zero temperatures, playing in the winter is going to be very difficult for them. That’s if these outdoor surfaces aren’t already out of service.

Councils around this country inexplicably take down goalposts during the summer months. If anything, this shows that the SFA need to build links with local government about the best ways to provide sport for children. This country constantly laments that children aren’t being children like in 'the old days'. A hazed memory of when kids used to head out and explore, get into trouble and build character now all ruined by a culture of health and safety restrictions and so-called “wrapping kids in cotton-wool”. Children that are into football won’t need much encouragement to abandon FIFA or Pro Evo for a few hours for a kickabout. They don’t require sport development teams to put on workshops to get them playing football; granted they can be very useful to teach skills but when that is the only opportunity to have a good kickabout in the summer it is very restricting for children. Furthermore, when are kids likely to take a ball outside – during the winter months when it’s dark by 4:30pm, they are at school during the day and have homework to do in the evening, or the summer, when they’ve nothing to do for seven weeks straight and when the sun’s shining until long after any parent will let a child stay outside?

As for organised football, there may be problems as the majority of youth football is run by volunteers with a 9-to-5, with families of their own and like to take a holiday at different points during the summer. Given that most private schools run traditional summer sports competitively during the spring term like cricket and athletics, would there be a possibility that youth football could run, similar to that system, without playing during December, January and most of February? However that is addressed, if children need to be given the best chance to develop in the game, consideration must be given to what environment they play in.

So how about the impact of senior football, a sport that has been running through the winter months for the last 120+ years? Well, this years calling for summer football has been rebuffed unceremoniously by SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster who states quite boldly “there is no evidence that fans want summer football”. A fascinating assertion considering that there is also no evidence that fans don’t want it either. We are also still awaiting Henry McLeish’s dossier into the game so unless Doncaster’s had a peek at the report which states exactly that, what conclusion can be made about what the SPL is willing to provide? Obviously nothing with the fans in mind – surely if that was the case then SPL stadiums wouldn’t be so hopelessly under-filled. There has also been a very recent fashion of abandoning games for the reason of fan safety around the stadium due to frozen over car parks, roads and pavements in spite of surfaces being playable. I’m sure if Henry McLeish went to one of these matches, thousands of fans would provide some evidence that they want change to the current system. Also, perhaps they may like to have a less patronising man in charge of the top-flight.

There are problems with changing to summer football but there are countries that seem to be able to operate by working around them. Especially some European countries who have stronger national teams than Scotland – namely Russia, Sweden and their neighbours, who gave Scotland a 4-0 hiding last year, Norway. Seeing as there is no evidence what Scottish football or its fans wants or don’t wants, perhaps a serious well researched study into the advantages and disadvantages or summer football and winter breaks needs to be done.

The star of the winter is undoubtedly the SFA's jewel in the crown, the Toryglen Regional Football Centre - a £15.7million facility with an indoor synthetic football pitch, proudly hosting a FIFA 2 star regulated surface and further amenities to entertain the country's senior clubs and the national team. Since many teams don't have the enviable training facilities such as Hearts' Riccarton training base and Rangers' Murray Park, and have seen their own training patches completely frozen out, Scotland's senior clubs have been in the unique situation of utilising this facility and having to train alongside other clubs sharing the facility and being able to observe them in their daily routine. Bounce games have also been able to take place as well. According to Toryglen's Operations Manager, 14 senior clubs have been using the facility. Given the current situation, surely more of these facilities should be provided to further reaches of the country so not only can the Scotland's senior clubs be supported with additional availability of facilities but to also benefit the public having access to genuinily world-class facilities.

For now, British sport will have to take stock of the damage of the last four weeks and what can be done so that it’s better prepared for the next 'big freeze'. Meantime, in the southern hemisphere, South Africa have drawn level with England in a Test Series finishing in controversy and Andy Murray is entering the Australian Open with confidence that he can win his first Grand Slam. Britain has had a tough introduction to the new decade, but hopefully as the snow clears and spring sets in, the sporting powerbrokers can use this opportunity to learn what can be done so that sport can benefit from experiences like this and not suffer more setbacks.

Togo withdrawal borne out of common-sense

The attack of the Togolese national football team prior to the start of this year's African Cup of Nations has shown how far footballing authorities are willing to handle tragedies such as this. Now the 'Blitz spirit' is certainly a laudable characteristic to have. Showing strength in the face of adversity is what pulled New Yorkers through after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Londoners through the July 7th 2005 terrorist attacks (as well as aforementioned blitz), however, to place such expectations on the Togo players is disrespectful at least.

The attack took place as the Togo team bus passed from the Democratic Republic of Congo's 'Polish corridor' into the exclave of Cabinda. Shortly after crossing the border, a group from Cabinda secessionist militia organisation FLEC machine-gun attacked the bus in an attack that took, according to the players, anything from 15 minutes to more than 30. As a result of the ambush, the Togolese team press-officer, the assistant coach and bus driver, of Angolan descent, had been confirmed dead. With the ensuing chaos, reserve goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale had been reported as having died (resulting with a fury of activity on his Wikipedia page). Obilale is currently recuperating in hospital having had surgery and his condition is stable.

The Togolese captain and Manchester City forward Emmanuel Adebayor stated he had wanted to leave the tournament, that players were upset, shocked and were unlikely to sleep. A flurry of reports and discussion boards covered the prospect and impact of the withdrawal of Togo, though not the attacks themselves. The one thing that could be taken for certain was that the players of the Togo team would want to be anywhere that wasn't Angola, preferably home. The diplomatic game of tennis that followed really showed some disrespect for those inside that bus during the attacks.

In one hand, there are the tournament organisers, the CAF and the government of Angola for whom the attacks have come as bad PR, a far way away from what the Togolese have felt. Comments made from Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos don't fully serve as any sort of sympathy as thoughts remain fully with the welfare of the tournament: "we fully condemn this act of terror, but the competition will continue in Cabinda. We are together, may the best man win." With that, the plan to have Cabinda stage matches for the Cup of Nations as a way of showing the progress that a war-torn area can make and to help regenerate the area has failed in it's first stride. It's unlikely that the Togolese government are going to get their apology from the dos Santos or the CAF for sending their players to Cabinda to play football.

The only party where there seems to be any genuine concern for the welfare of those attacked has been from the Togolese government who have been swift in getting the team home. Perhaps, it may be argued that the actions of their Prime Minister, Gilbert Huongbo has been a little too involved, given the way FIFA do not allow for interference from politicians and governments in the affairs of their member associations. The French media were the first to report that the Togolese players wanted to play on and this was confirmed by Thomas Dossevi who was quoted as saying they wanted to play on in memory of their dead. Adebayor later confirmed that on advice of the Togolese government, they were to return to Togo. As the kick-off for their opening match with Ghana passes, the CAF confirm Togo have been disqualified - which is where the interest in the handling of this lies.

It's almost certain that for this situation to be handled with any sort of decorum, then the CAF would need a specific protocol with any sort of guidebook they go by if a team is gunned down by terrorists. The severity seems to have not been taken fully into account given that whatever the players seem to have decided to do, either their government or the CAF have other ideas. This is a highly traumatic incident where related mental disorders develop from and the actions of event organisers seem only to protect their product. It is also an incident that isn't going to be covered by any existing protocol but where some basic human understanding will definitely come into effect. The first solution would be to let the players leave for home and deal with the emotional battering they had received. If however, playing their sport would be the best way for them to handle their ordeal then this enters a diplomatic situation where those involved will define their best interests. If any third party is to do that, then that would have to be at the advice of psychologists rather than politicians. The CAF's action of non-action and to let the event slide until their due kick-off on Monday against Ghana has been a missed opportunity, in World Cup year on their continent, to show that they are able to act in a positive manner. To confirm their disqualification as that time passes though, is as close to disrespect to the three dead as it is going to get.

The CAF's show is going on however and the football is proving to be eventful in it's opening stages. The opening ceremony was elaborate and entertaining, Angola's capitulation to Mali in the opening game was thrilling, the fancied Ivory Coast were held 0-0 to Burkina Faso and Algeria, who defeated five-time Egypt 1-0 in a heated World-Cup play-off prior to the tournament, were dispatched 3-0 by Malawi. On the pitch, the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations is proving to be an absolute gem of a tournament and a mouth-watering starter to the summer's World Cup in South Africa. Unfortunately, it is also likely to be overshadowed by the tragedy to have befallen the Togolese team at the start. While it'd be great to have the football be so enthralling that it takes away from the ills of the world, it would be just a great a tragedy if it affects how people are helped, looked after and treated should such a tragedy happen again.

Scottish football rediscovers inglorious failure

What a difference time can make to the fortunes of Scottish football! The new footballing season usually comes with a fresh air of excitement and in this non-major international football tournament summer a chance to become fully revitalised with the return of league football. However, though the Scottish football fan is well used to the feeling of hopelessness, this season begins with a new 'disgrace' for the Scottish national team and fresh questions to be asked of the way the national sport is being governed.

Rewind to season 2007-2008 and Scottish football was hitting the crest of a wave. A crest that peaked during the early months from September into Christmas. During this time, Celtic had qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League having beaten European champions A.C. Milan at Parkhead and also taken care of Benfica and Shakhtar Donetsk. Rangers were also in the Champions League and though they finished third in their group and demoted to the UEFA Cup, they went on a memorable run to final of the competition. Aberdeen also restored pride in their fans with a fine effort in the UEFA cup reaching the knockout stages bringing Bayern Munich to a 2-2 draw in Pittodrie having been 2 goals up.

Most gloriously however, the Scottish team reinstilled pride, and ultimately expectation in the Tartan Army. There was no fluke in the campaign that brought the team painfully close to qualification. The battle started in Montreux where we were drawn in a group with the 2006 World Cup finalists and a quarter finalist, tricky Eastern European opposition and an unwelcome return to the Faroe Islands. Two brilliant victories over France and a couple of tearing aparts of Ukraine and Lithuania and quite rightly Scottish football felt confident again.

It's a mighty fall to take, looking at what has happened recently.

Lamentably for supporters of Scotland's provincial clubs, the standard bearers of club football in this country are the Old Firm. While there is debate about supporting other clubs in the international stage, their performance is a reflection on all of us. That reflection starts with Kaunas. A league and cup double serves as a reasonable tonic for being unceremoniously flung out of Europe by Vladimir Romanov's side project like a reveller flung out the back door of a Dundee nightclub (also coming off the back of their fans' efforts on the streets of Manchester). Celtic's exit from Europe was also as swift as could be finishing bottom of their group below Danish minnows Aalborg BK.

While Hearts, Aberdeen and Dundee United still figure out a way of reducing the points difference between the Old Firm and 3rd position in the SPL, Scotland have plunged the largest over the past international season. Gone is the possibility of achieving results such as that in the Parc de Prince, gone is the evidence of the team actually looking like an international side, gone is the belief in the team, gone is the idea of needing to expand Hampden Park to 75,000 due to the demand for Scotland tickets... hello George Burley. Hello as well to that feeling in the pit of your stomach when Berti Vogts was manager.

It's hardly going to leave anyone completely confused as to why we are doing so badly. One only needs to look at the names of the likely candidates that were to succeed Alex McLeish to become Scotland manager - Mark McGhee, Graeme Souness, Billy Davies, George Burley. Otherwise translated as: a young manager with Motherwell who took them to third in the SPL (and retrospectively finished in the bottom six the next season); a man who has failed to be as succesful with Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United as he was with David Murray's chequebook; a man with rich experience in the Coca-Cola Championship... and George Burley.

It's glaring how unattractive the manager's post is with Scotland. Especially considering the previous two incumbents left to manage for Rangers and Birmingham City. Alex Ferguson?... fantasy. David Moyes?... a dream, though it is one he has gone on the record saying it is not outwith the realms of possibility, but if he has "a lot to do" with Everton, then there are some amount of years for him to fulfil the potential he has as a club manager.

There can be no doubts of the quality of manager the 'Largs Mafia' produces, David Moyes is a good example. However, is the coaching setup at Largs a victim of it's own success? It seems that if a genuinally talented Scottish manager breaks through, they are bound to become bigger than the Scotland job itself. A manager turning looks with a team in the bottom six of the SPL or in the English Football League has every chance. In the meantime, England bag one of worlds truely elite managers and the Republic of Ireland have a manager who has won everything an Italian club manager can.

The only evidence of talent needed to fill the Scotland job is how well a man works with the SFA powerbrokers; not with how well they work with the best of Scotland's footballers. That is the shame in the matter.

Burley has had a very testing time compared to any Scotland manager. So far he has failed in the park (7 points from 18 and yet to play the Netherlands for the second time), with the players (Lee McCulloch and Kris Boyd removed from selection, Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor banned after having been on the lash behind the managment team's back with another five players) and the press conference. However much blame is shifted on Burley, it would be unfair not to make the SFA the crux of the matter. The Scottish game is broken between three organisations sharing the same building but unable to work as one, unable to support their clubs and unable to support the national team. Gordon Smith took up his role as a radical, free thinking young executive and is now constricted to being a stuttering suit.

The Tartan Army gathered outside the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo after the Norway game to be held back from the SFA entourage with a chorus of 'sack the board'. This is a chilling repeat of the Berti Vogts era when this became the soundtrack to a friendly, 4-1 reverse by Sweden at Easter Road days after his resignation. After Vogts left and Walter Smith was drafted in, Scotland still had a chance with qualification for the World Cup in Germany for 2006. In 2009 with Scotland still in with a chance of qualifying for South Africa, it is difficult to see that George Burley is a man capable of leading us there.

In January 2010, it is expected Henry McLeish, Scotland's second First Minister (and former East Fife half-back) will be releasing his "extensive and thorough" review of Scottish football. As McLeish, alongside Donald Dewar, headed Scotland into a new dawning with the creation of the Scottish Parliament, Scottish football can only hope that he too enters it into a radical redressing to prevent further international stagnation and domestic dysfunctionality.