‘Hard man’ culture holding back football
OLD-FASHIONED managers resistant to modern coaching techniques and players who won’t put the hours in on the training field are holding Scottish football back, according to a report by academics at Stirling University.
As a result, the game in Scotland faces an existential threat similar to that of climate change, the study says. Its authors warn Scottish football’s “hard man” culture, combined with a resistance to change from senior players means the game is rooted in the last century, with potentially apocalyptic results.
Unless attitudes change revenues will drop, clubs may be forced out of business and the national team will continue to suffer, the report argues.
In recent decades Scottish managers, such as Alex Ferguson and Kenny Dalglish, enjoyed huge success, winning titles in England and Europe. The study found players and coaches are resistant to modern training methodologies, and the kind of intensive performance-based approaches exemplified by European-style coaches, to the extent clubs told researchers they don’t even try.
“There was a hotchpotch of excuses presented, including lack of finance, few support staff and players who were resistant to having their weekly routine altered or putting extra work in,” the report says.
Dr Andrew Kirkland, of the university’s Sport Department, said: “The hard man culture is alive and kicking in Scottish football.”