It’s started – so it should finish. Dons legend Miller in plea for this season’s Cup
There was a time when Willie Miller regarded the Scottish Cup as his personal possession, hoisting it above his head as Aberdeen’s captain in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1986.
Consequently, he’s always had a fondness for Scotland’s oldest footballing competition.
That’s why he dreads the thought that we might not see a final for a second-successive campaign.
As the effects of Covid-19 continue to impact upon football, the warning signs are there.
This season was already compressed due to the held-over Euro 2020 Finals this summer.
But the decision by the SFA to postpone all Scottish Cup ties and lower-league games – and training – until February has, combined with postponements, led to a logjam of fixtures to be crammed into an already overcrowded schedule.
That has led to fears that the Scottish Cup could become a casualty once again.
Miller, who also took the Dons to the 1993 Final as their manager, said: “It’s a complicated question, but at the moment I would prefer to see us play out as many games as we can and not allow ourselves to be dominated by events.
“This pandemic has lasted far longer than anyone would have thought.
“We haven’t been able to get back to normal, but I don’t believe we should shut everything down and close the doors.
“If we can make it happen, then we should – but it won’t be easy.”
Although a dozen of the 20 Scottish Cup second-round ties have still to be played, five clubs who don’t test their players for Covid-19 have already qualified to meet clubs who do – and that number could increase to nine.
The third-round draw also means that two non-testing clubs are guaranteed to progress, with the possibility of another two joining them, adding to fears of increased infection.
So there are concerns that the competition could be declared null and void this year, especially since it no longer has a sponsor and the SFA would not be forced to return money.
“This isn’t the right time for that. But eventually, if you’re forced into it and the government is restricting you, then you’ll have to make that call,” Miller, now a BBC Scotland pundit, admitted.
“But I think they should continue to play the ties, while acting sensibly about it.
“I can see why people would end the Scottish Cup right now because it would help the administrators by freeing up dates for the league fixtures which have got to be played.
“However, while none of the top teams have kicked a ball yet, the competition has started and it would be disrespectful to the part-time clubs who have taken part.
“So more time should be given to see the effects of the vaccination programme.
“The SFA have the power to scrap it, but it’s the government who are issuing the restrictions.
“We need to wait and see where it’s going and – although it’s not looking great just now – by the end of the month, we’ll know whether the virus is beginning to subside.
“However, if it’s still running rampant as February goes into March, then it might be impossible to have the tournament played this season.
“Even then, I think we should keep persevering with it until we’re defeated, either by Covid or the government’s guidelines.
“With the weather getting worse, fixture congestion could be another problem and the Euros – assuming they will go ahead – could be an extra one on top of that.
“Everyone has been affected by this virus in the last year. It’s been disastrous, and so many mistakes have been made. Nobody would have thought that we’d be in this position.
“Just like the authorities wound the leagues up early last season, they’ll probably have to make that decision about the Cup this year if it becomes plain they can’t complete it.
“Of course, there’s nothing to prevent the SFA from carrying it all over into next season.
“That happened last time around, although admittedly we’d reached the semi-finals by then.”