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A Test of Nerve

Last updated : 19 May 2008 By Cub Reporter

The risk of course is we have an injury run like Kilmarnock's and then we're in deep trouble. That's a sporting risk though and with our limited resources one which has to be taken. We do need to give more thought to the financial risk which comes from increasing investment but, as we have already seen, nothing ventured nothing gained is an apt phrase for football.

Time to splash the cash


Given we are so rarely in this position, and it could be years and years until we are again, we should do what it takes to keep McGhee for one more season and back him properly in the player market. If we get our (or John Boyle's!) money back through Europe, another top six finish or, ideally, a cup win, then great. If not we rip it up as soon as it gets too much, no holding on this time, and sell the higher earners - there will be no shortage of folk wanting Porter, Hughes etc. If we then cut back suddenly and it leads to us struggling in the SPL under a new manager, so what, so long as we don't do anything as stupid as last time the club will still exist.

Having spent year after year in mid-table obscurity with little hope of achieving anything, it seems a shame not to grab the chance when it has finally arrived. Would we not trade a few years of finishing 10th and 11th in exchange for a real charge at the UEFA group stage and the Scottish Cup next season? It seems a fair deal given that in all likelihood we might be back around 7th-8th if we just try to maintain our position rather than push further forward.

The last time we were at this crossroads was in 1994. Then the board, probably rightly, decided that Tommy McLean's wage demands could not be met and though we did well under our first season with Alex McLeish things fell apart soon after. It has taken us fourteen years to return to the same level and now we need to keep our nerve and be bold. This could be our moment but we cannot be passive - if we hesitate who knows how long we'll have to wait for the next opportunity for glory.