Deserter Don was so ahead of his time...

BACK in 1977 Don Revie left his job as England manager for a cushy payday in the United Arab Emirates, which at the time was deemed a crime more serious than seducing Princess Margaret in the Queen’s shipyard.

An outraged FA claimed he had brought the game into disrepute and banned him for 10 years.

Although the ban was overturned in the High Court, taking Arabian oil riches effectively branded Revie a mercenary and a leper – and he never worked in English football again.

Leeds United fans have started a petition demanding the FA issue an apology to their former manager (above, left) for “the immeasurable harm done to his reputation, to his family and English football”.

But I’m not sure about an apology. With the amount of greed the FA has allowed to flourish ever since, especially in a year when the Saudis (below) have bought Newcastle and England head to a World Cup in Qatar (top, right) for the most shameless grabbing of oil money the game has witnessed, it would surely be more apt to award Revie a posthumous medal.

For being 45 years ahead of his time.

I’M guessing the majority of football fans outside Scotland don’t know what league or town Raith Rovers play in – it’s the Scottish Championship and Kirkcaldy. So well done to shirt sponsor Val McDermid (left), women’s captain Tyler Rattray, stadium announcer Johnny MacDonald and the many other staff and fans who have very publicly disowned the club for signing rapist David Goodwillie.

You have finally put Raith Rovers on the map. For the best of reasons.