Discipline is key for Maxwell
Ian Maxwell has revealed the game’s heavi ly- criticised disciplinary process could set for a shake-up.
The new SFA chief executive has a full in-tray already with a decision on Hampden’s future, their ongoing issues with Rangers and the imminent release of the independent review commissioned to look into child sex abuse within the game.
But he insists he wants to bring his own experiences as a player, coach and MD to the table with issues he feels need revamped.
He said: “Things aren’t necessarily broken but there are maybe things you would do slightly differently.
“That’s where my experience from being a player, a coach, from being on the board at a club, comes in.
“With the likes of the disciplinary process, you think: ‘ You know what, as a player you don’t know that if you do that, this is what happens.’
“If that was explained slightly differently, or if the Judicial Panel Protocol process was tweaked a little bit, it would be improvements as opposed to fixing things.
“It’s about going back to that experience when I’m talking to staff and saying: ‘Have you thought about that? I’d imagine there are perfectly good reasons why we can’t do things a certain way but once I have that understanding, it’s about tweaking to improve it for everyone.”
The former Par tick Thistle supremo and SFA and SPFL board member is also determined to make sure the review of child abuse is dealt with properly.
Commissioned at the end of 2016, its conclusions are expected in June.
And he said: “My son Christopher played at Cumbernauld Colts and, as a parent first and foremost, you want to make sure that if your son is going to be involved in football at any level it is absolutely safe. That’s got to be fundamental.
“In all the time Christopher has been playing I’ve never seen or heard any reports, it does seem to be mostly historical. The review that we have coming out might contradict that but I don’t think it will.
“But you have to play in a safe environment. The report is going to be a massive and sensitive issue.
“It’s one that we have to deal with properly.”