“We need to make a giant leap into a future which places the search for success about vested interests”

Scottish football is at a crossroads. We must end the rancour and build a future which puts the search for success above vested interests,

Former first minister HENRY MCLEISH outlines his vision for Scottish football.

figured prominently in the national football debate in recent years, and which increasingly show the disconnect between the game and the outside world, including: l the lack of serious fan involvement l the narrowing and ageing of the fan base l support for women’s football l Project Brave-relationships between the SPFL and the SFA l finance, including oversight, ethics, regulation and due diligence l anti-social behavior l the strained relationships with the Scottish government l should one or two bodies run the game? l the adequacy of the league structure l ineffective governance l stadium facilities l protection of young people and children in the game.

We are making progress on youth development, but not fast enough. We have made progress with our clubs, measured in larger attendances and stability, but more needs to be done. Finance is a problem and, overall, the game is coping, but more innovation is needed. The lack of any real democracy, effective governance or any serious reaching out beyond Hampden is, however, holding us back

No game is an island. Football has to be seen as a feature of Scottish life with all the relevant systems of oversight, regulation and scrutiny. Being an integral part of the nation, football has now to win the trust of a wider and more sceptical public and be much more accountable to the fans and the wider set of interests that represent a forward looking country. The game remains remote, isolated, and lacks transparency. This is a debilitating mindset that must be changed.

Despite the significant progress made, based on the findings of the 2010 SFA review and report, cultural resistance, institutional inertia, a defensive mentality and, curiously, a sense of insecurity, cast a long shadow over Scottish football. The game resents what it regards as interference by outsiders, seems irritated by critical but often constructive comment, and has often developed a circling-of-the-wagons response or a them-and -us mentality when engaging with the world beyond Hampden. In reality, there is a massive amount of latent goodwill and optimism for the game to reinvent itself and win success. There is also a great deal of talent in Scottish football. But walls have to be torn down.

This is the time for a major debate about the future of Scottish football and an opportunity for an in-depth look at every aspect of the game with a view to building an effecting case for change. Critical friends, passionate people and new ideas from outside the game are needed. We need to be mindful of the positive issues of community, mining and social class that have shaped the enduring feelings and passion for the game and the indelible mark this has made on the national psyche of the nation.

It is important to acknowledge the remarkable history of the game, its achievements and record-breaking attendances which today should be viewed as an inspiring reminder of how and why we became a footballloving nation. This is about DNA and not just sentiment and nostalgia. An in-depth look at the governance of Scottish football is essential, if the culture, institutions, mindset and the attitudes within the game are to be transformed. A new blueprint for the transformation of Scottish football has to address five major questions:

1 How can we achieve a greater degree of scrutiny, oversight and regulation, through a shake-up of governance, generated internally or externally?

The game resents what it regards as interference by outsiders, seems irritated by critical but often constructive comment, and has often developed a circling-of-the wagons response or a them-and -us mentality when engaging with the world beyond Hampden. In reality, there is a massive amount of latent goodwill and optimism for the game to reinvent itself and win success. There is also a great deal of talent in Scottish football. But walls have to be torn down