Giving it the Colt shoulder
Self-centred, selfimportant, selfish. The idea to put so-called Colt teams, made up of kids from topflight sides, at the behest of the governing body big wigs, into competitive competition, has been nothing short of farcical.
It might be hypocritical to have bitten one’s tongue until now, but, as St Mirren prepare for Hearts’ future stars — after all, it is for the future we are supposedly being put through this farcical charade — it is difficult not to get riled up.
Who will be picking the Hearts team? Perhaps Craig Levein will have better things to do with his time this Saturday afternoon.
Take your surveys and your pens and canvas any lower league Scottish side about how they feel about Colt sides, either being in the Irn- Bru Cup, su+++ ch as tomorrow, or in the league pyramid. I dare you.
Because no sooner have the words ‘Colt’ and ‘teams’ escaped from your mouth will your pen and your question be flung back in your puss.
Colt teams in general. No-one outwith the top flight really wants them. And even then I wouldn’t be surprised if they are a pain in the backside, even for them.
In the Irn- Bru Cup, fans have been turned off by the notion of their side simply being made a mockery of.
Just because you play outside of the country’s socalled 12 best sides should you suffer the no- win situation of having to face a bunch of kids. All in the name of development.
It makes a mockery of our nation’s game, it rips the backside out of the professionals making an honest living and it sure as heck rips the knitting of the fans.
Last weekend, St Mirren drew in a crowd of over 4,000. We all know this is a club on a roll, looking to go places.
If Saints had drawn, say, anyone but Hearts Colts ( other Colts teams are available) in tomorrow’s second round clash, then you would have been confident of bringing another 3,500 through the turnstiles. But no.
Tomorrow, just one stand will be open. Because there is no appetite for the product on offer.
It has nothing to do with the fans turning their back on St Mirren. But they just don’t want to see their side having to face a Colt side. And I don’t blame them. For the principal of the matter, I probably wouldn’t be there tomorrow if I didn’t have to be. But that’s unfair. And it is unfair on the Colts teams themselves. After all, they have to face this sort of response every time the cup comes around.
It’s unfair on the fans because those eager enough to fling away their hardearned cash on the game will literally be watching men against boys. But get this.
Due to the crowd, or near lack of, St Mirren are the big losers as they stand to lose money from the game.
No hospitality, no tickets, no punters equals no dough.
And that is the real farce of the matter. If we want to make the game grow, then fair enough.
But harming the clubs in the leagues below reeks.
Jack Ross’ touchline ban sees him sitting in the stands for tomorrow’s game ... so at least that will make two of us.
And, of course, the club’s injury list, which remains sky high, means that there should be at least enough of us to chip in for a round of Bovrils.
On the other hand, the game is doing little to warm the soul, but, as long as the pie still remains open, there could be hope for at least a decent afternoon yet.