Players' Futures....and More

[+CaleyD]

Article Link

I didn't think a final decision had been made about scrapping the reserve league, but it would seem that if it has/is to be scrapped then a lot of players could find themselves on on their ear.

I fully expect to see a few faces departing ICT in the summer, partly because the lads who've just came in are on short deals, partly because we've got a larger squad than we realistically need and partly because Butcher will want to ship some players to take in a couple more of his own.

Whilst it's never pleasant to see anyone losing their job I can't help feel that this could probably help the smaller teams in Scotland who'll be able to pick up some bargains during the summer. However, the flip side to that is that we are more than likely to see the "high earners" who might be let go moving to other countries and the levelling of the playing field could ultimately result in a poorer SPL overall...certainly in the short term....although it is very likely that it may well become a more competitive one.

I think now, more than ever, the SPL should be looking at increasing the size of the league. With the new Setanta deal due to come online there's going to be a bit more money to go round and even if another 4 teams were brought in we'd all still be better off than at present. The extra teams might also allow us to keep more players in the game in this country.

I also think it's about time the rest of the SPL got a bit tougher with the OF in terms of how cash is distributed. As I said already, the SPL is only going to get more competitive over the next few years. We're already seeing the gap between the OF and the rest being eroded season on season and I predict that within the next 5 years we'll see someone other than the OF take the league title. They are no longer the dominant force they might have been, and for that reason I don't think they should be allowed to dictate and bully others into accepting the scraps from the table.

Whether you see the scrapping of the reserve league and the shortening of squads as a good or bad thing, it's very likely going to be the catalyst for a lot of change. I just hope the SPL/SFA have the wherewithall to be ready for that change and are prepared to make what will be some very tough decisions.