He is quoted in Tuesday’s Daily Record saying, “I need to go into that meeting (with TV companies) with a stronger hand than what I'm holding. I need a plan for the future or we're looking at continual decline.
We need a league that means money and excitement, that's number one. Second we need a league that promotes youth development.
The third requirement is a league that lifts us higher in the co-efficient tables at UEFA. And lastly we need the best structure possible to administer the leagues.
But first we need an SPL that's worth more to our broadcasters."
It can hardly come as a surprise that there was no mention of the supporters who are expected to turn up at our grounds an pay their money at the gate. Time and time again it seems that the game is being organised for the benefit of armchair fans and the corporate profits of $ky and E$PN.
The spur for this comment seems to be the 4,526 attendance at Douglas Park on Sunday. Would that figure have changed much had it been a fixture in a 10 team league? The fact is that with one team in the title hunt and the other relegation bound, live TV coverage, a Sunday lunchtime kick off and prices in excess of twenty pounds it almost guaranteed a poor attendance.
Until our clubs bite the very unpalatable bullet and accept that they must reduce prices to encourage higher attendance there is little prospect of an upturn. Packed stand will do more to make our game a sellable asset than a ten team league.