Is the Scotland National Team in need of a new home? – Fans react (Part 1)

As it was revealed last week that the Scottish Football Association had invited the Scottish Rugby Union to bring forth proposals as they explore the possibility of moving from the traditional national stadium, Hampden Park. 

With the SFA’s lease set to expire in just over two years time, the football association are exploring the options as to where the future of the National teams football can be played outwith the current location. 

One of the significant benefits of relocating to Murrayfield would be that it could seat an additional 15,000 fans as Murrayfield is currently Scotlands largest sports arena, with a capacity of 67,000 compared to Hampden that currently holds a maximum of 52,000.  Certain cup matches, particularly old firms and the Edinburgh Derby and major Scotland games, a sell-out is guaranteed and supply much needed income to the SFA who do not have limitless funds given it has been 18 years since the last time we were at a major finals. 

Scottish Rugby Unions chief operating officer, Dominic McKay expressed his support for the move, outlining the large capacity of the stadium as a major selling point in an interview with the Scotsman earlier last week:

 “We have the biggest stadium in Scotland so it’s quite a big commercial opportunity for the SFA to drive money into football”

“We’re completely respectful of the fact Murrayfield is 40 miles away but over the last few years we have spend a great deal of money around the stadium to make sure supporters have a great experience. We hope they enjoy the experience beyond the match and we’re keen to offer that to football.”

There has been large support for the relocation of the national stadium to Murrayfield amongst many Scottish football fans that have recently witnessed Heart of Midlothian play their home fixtures at the site as Tynecatle currently undergoes maintenance to the main stand. Hearts hosted Rangers at the Murrayfield venue last weekend and even though there was a limited capacity compared to what the stadium holds for more major fixtures, the 30,000 fans in attendance generated an astounding atmosphere amplified by the enclosed structure of the venue.

Click Here to read more on this topic, including fan reaction and writers opinion. (Part 2)

Is the Scotland National Team in need of a new home? – Fans react (Part 2)

Some prominent sports figures such as the Chief Operating Officer of Event Scotland – Paul Bush, have even suggested there should be a new national stadium built altogether, abandoning both ‘out-dated’ Murrayfield and Hampden.

Bush told Scotland on Sunday last year:  “I’d love to have a venue like the Millennium Stadium in Wales in Scotland. It’s got the right capacity, it has a roof, it has all the right corporate and conferencing facilities, and it has a hybrid pitch, which has phenomenal durability.

“We’ve got two ageing stadiums in Scotland in Hampden and Murrayfield. They will need significant investment in the next couple of decades.

“You have to have a sense of realism. The capital costs of building a new facility are obviously a challenge. But if you stuck it in the middle of Scotland, the whole country could easily get to it. You have to think about the whole spectator experience.”

Although, the currently debate seems to be centralised around two national venues, Hampden and Murraypark, and the case being put forth for a potential new modern arena  - I personally support the idea that our national team should not have a designated venue altogether. I believe the ideal situation is that our national team tour the stadiums on offer within out country in order to allow fans from various areas the opportunity to watch various matches. 

Such a system is already adopted Spain where their national team doesn’t have a registered national area but usually play all major qualifying matches at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid or other venues such as the Mestalla in Valencia and the Camp Nou in Catalonia. Ideally, major qualifying matches for the Scottish national team should be played at venues such as Ibrox, Celtic park, Hampden and Murrayfield whilst friendlies and minor qualifying matches could be played at Pattodrie, The New Aberdeen Stadium (whenever that is finally constructed), The Paisley 2021 Stadium, Easter Road and Tynecatle in order to ensure stadiums are at full capacity even when there is a lesser demand for tickets. Having our national team perform in an array of stadiums across the country will not only allow better opportunity for fans to watch the matches, potentially encouraging younger fans to become increasingly involved in football, but it also will showcase the impressive venues that our small nation has on offer within its boarders.

Lets hear your thoughts - get involved in the debate around this topic on the Facebook and Twitter platform or leave a comment bellow. 

Is the Scotland National Team in need of a new home? – Fans react

Rangers FC: Players an embarrassment to club – Caixinha

Pedro Caixinha says his Rangers team "embarrassed" him and the club at Hampden Park on Sunday.

The gers' failure to reach the first domestic final of the season has put added pressure on Caixinhas’ management prompting the Portuguese gaffer to launch an attack on his Rangers players, accusing the team of embarrassing him, the club and the fans.

"I've told the players: 'You are embarrassing me, you are embarrassing our club, you are embarrassing our fans'," Caixinha said.

"Now it is time for you to react and I'm glad we're playing on Wednesday."

Caixinha, who took over in March and has a current record of 14 wins, four draws and seven defeats, was blunt when asked if the players were tough enough to play for Rangers, responding:

“It doesn’t look like that, I’ve already told the players and that’s why I’m telling you.

"Now I expect to be paid the other way around," he said. "These players pay for this club, for this badge. These players pay for me.

"Are they behind me? That's what they need to show.

"If they are in a semi-final (with the chance) to make history for this club and they play like that, then something is wrong.

"Now they need to prove (themselves). It is part of the past, it's been identified, it's already been discussed. Let's move the page forward. Wednesday is the next stage for them to prove it."

However, were it not for injuries to goalkeeper Jak Alnwick and Fabio Cardoso the manager said he would send Sunday's starting XI out against Kilmarnock in the Premiership on Wednesday to make amends.

Has it not been for injuries, defender Fabio Cardoso and Jak Alnwick would be present in the starting line up for Rangers for their upcoming midweek fixture against Kilmarnock to make amends for their dismal semi-final display. It is expected that the same starting XI that lined up for the weekend fixture will be fielded on Wednesday, in order for players to make up for for their poor performance and prove they can handle the pressure at Ibrox.

"I've already told the players and that's why I'm telling you. I cannot count on Jak for Wednesday because he felt a contusion on his arm.

"You have seen Fabio's face (he suffered a broken nose after seemingly being elbowed by Ryan Bowman), so I cannot count on him.

"If I could pick the same XI, if they were all available, those guys who didn't do the work who really needed to do it (on Sunday), those are the ones who would start on Wednesday."

Now Caixinha, who has yet to string three games unbeaten this season, has demanded a response from team going forward.

Could Mike Ashley be preparing for a Rangers takeover?

As the controversial sports retailing tycoon, Ashley, looks set to part from the Magpies in the near future, the social media rumour mill has been running wild as speculation grows that Ashley might be gearing up to take over the Ibrox club from the hands of Dave King.

It emerged earlier last week that current Rangers chairman, Dave King, does not have the required £11m- £12m in funds available if he is ordered by the courts to make an offer for remaining shares in the club under the 2006 Companies Act, leaving many supporters pondering what the repercussions of a potential ruling against the Rangers chairman might be. If majority shareholder, King, is required by authorities to make an offer for all remaining shares at the club then many wonder if this will pave the way for Mike Ashley to regain a significant shareholding within the club and provide the required funds necessary to support King.

Ex- Scotland striker Alan Brazil has gone on record to defend the job that Ashley has done on the business front at Newcastle, and suggested that he knows that many Rangers fans would be open to seeing the businessman return to Ibrox in some capacity.

Speaking on his talkSPORT breakfast show, Brazil told Arsenal legend Ray Parlour: “Another classic for you…Mike Ashley.

“Rangers fans couldn’t wait to get him out the door, But I know the way things are going at Rangers at the moment they’d have him back tomorrow – the ones who are in the know.”

Before selling his stake in the Ibrox side to supporters group Club 1972 back in June, Ashley had previously attempted to increase his shareholding in the club to 29.9% as a return for providing future investment in the side, however the SFA board “unanimously” declined Ashleys proposal at the time due to current regulations in place that restricts owners owning significant shareholdings in more that one football organisation. Although now that the sports merchandise tycoon is set to sell English Premier League club, Newcastle United, and part ways with the St James’ club for good, many fans on twitter have began to speculate regarding the possibility of Ashley still being interested in the Ibrox outfit.

Question put to me:: Do you think Mike Ashley is selling up Newcastle to buy a stake at Rangers?? It’s defo got me thinking 🙈@Gregco5088

— Gareth Mclellan (@GarethMclellan) October 20, 2017

Right the rumours are mike Ashley still has his hand in Rangers and the retail deal we thought was in place isn’t quite what we thought

— ANDY LACEY (@knighthawk1970) October 17, 2017

"Rangers fans would welcome back Mike Ashley because they are disillusioned with the current regime" - Alan Brazil - Disillusioned

— Ewan ☺ (@Ewan_Carr) October 18, 2017

Mike Ashley is selling Newcastle. Imagine if he put his money into The Rangers. A real life billionaire. It would be a dream come true.....

— Crazy Caixinha (@CrazyCaixinha) October 16, 2017

Mike Ashley owning rangers outright would be amazing. 2 billion wealth! We’d be competing against Celtic within 12 months

— Bobby Brown (@WillieDeSept) October 16, 2017

Mike Ashley is coming for Rangers. You heard it here first!

— Callum (@TMA84) October 16, 2017

If the rumours do prove to be accurate then it is certain that fans will not react with open arms if Ashley does launch a takeover. Fans groups and supporters clubs have already voiced their disapproval with Ashley’s previous presence on the Rangers board during their 2014 - 2016 campaigns, when it emerged that he had bought the stadium naming rights for a laughable sum of just £1 and planned to rename the Ibrox stadium to incorporate the name of his sports retailing firm - Sports Direct. Ashley had previously renamed Newcastle United’s St James’ Park stadium the ‘Sports Direct Area’ although after similar opposition from supporters groups the new name was abandoned and Ashley has since apologised for the move.

In recent interviews Ashley has spoke with regret regarding the failures at the St James’ club.

“The first thing you feel is stupidity, because as soon as you know the hindsight of something, you know what you were doing wrong.

“For example, I thought it was the right thing to do was to generate as much money as possible for Newcastle, so when people say to me: ‘Whatever you do on an interview do not talk about changing the name of St James’ Park!’

"Well I’m me, and I’m going to talk about making an error, and I should not have changed the name of St James’ Park. I should not have done that.”

It's possible that Ashley views a potential Rangers takeover as a means to right his wrongs in football? Through re-establishing the Scottish giants as a competitive force in Europe its possibly seen by the controversial billionaire as an opportunity to improve his tarnished reputation amongst supporters.

The SFA should learn from Iceland’s football success.

As another qualifying campaign passes by, unsurprisingly the outcome remains the same for our national team - failure to qualify for another major tournament. This disappointment in a succession of poor campaigns means that it will have been 20 years since our national team last qualified for anything major.

Aged only one years old when Craig Brown led the National team to our last world cup campaign in France 98, I have since grown accustomed to poor performances on the pitch and controversy off the pitch but as the SFA now searches for Gordon Strachan’s successor we must realise that player management isn’t the core issue hindering our chances of qualification but rather a lack of investment in academy systems which should be nurturing and develop our youngest footballing talent within our homeland.

Structural changes in youth development, adequate football facility funding and strategic planning began in Iceland upon the start of the millennium and the nations national football team are already reaping the rewards. The Icelandic Football Association, in partnership with Sigurður Jónsson (ex-Arsenal and Dundee United star) , Arnor Gudjohnsen (father of ex-Barcelona and Chelsea striker, Eidur) and former Bolton Wanderers man Gudni Bergsson, sparked the revolution in Icelandic football through the introduction of the nations first elite youth academy.

Iceland's football association has overseen massive investment in the past 18 years to ensure that  the young footballing talent are provided with infrastructure necessary to assist them in developing their skills. There are now 30 full-size all-weather pitches, seven of which are indoors, and almost 150 smaller artificial arenas that ensure youngsters at grassroots can continue to play football in winter inside indoor heated dome structures - a stark contrast to the grassroots game in Scotland where football outside the four- or five-month summer period means small-sided games for our youth on hard indoor floor.

Furthermore, the revolution of the game within Iceland has seen a vast increase in qualified coaches entering the Island, with around 650 people holding a UEFA B license according to the national footballing body. Instead the Scottish game relies heavily on clubs within our top flight producing and growing young talents whilst investing in an outdated coaching system that fails to provide the type of players necessary to well equip our national team to compete for a place within major International and European competitions.

With a turnover of £35.8 million posted by the SFA last year, compared with a mere £7 million posted by the Icelandic footballing authorities, there is no doubt that we can afford sizeable investment in our game at every stage of development in order to provide much needed long term success.