Showing that absolutely no lessons have been learned from the shameful summer of 2012 the SPFL yesterday compromised the third round draw for the League Cup.
Unlike the Scottish Cup which has an open draw from the first round onwards the League Cup is seeded all the way through to the last eight in the hope that the top eight clubs compete in the quarter-finals.
The path to yesterday’s draw was long and complex but started off on July 9 when it was announced that Sevco’s first round tie would be delayed due to Glasgow 2014. At the same time it was also announced that their Petrifek Training Cup tie would also be delayed for the same reason.
Cynics may have assumed that that pointed towards a home draw for the League One champions with pay-at-the gate bringing in some readies to help keep the lights on.
The luck of the draw paired Sevco away to Queens Park but while the first round was played on August 2 Sevco were enjoying a glamour friendly away at Derby County.
With the Championship kicking off the following weekend Sevco had a free midweek and for reasons best known to themselves the SPFL scheduled in the Petrofek Training Cup tie with Hibs rather than the more senior tournament- the League Cup.
This week while the second round ties were played Sevco were beating the spiders 2-1 to earn a tie against Inverness Caley Thistle.
That decision then created the knock on effect that resulted in yesterday’s third round draw where Sevco will be given Inverness Caley Thistle’s seeding slot if they beat John Hughes’ side in the second round tie on September 16.
While every other club in yesterday’s draw were seeded based on their league place last season Sevco have been given the opportunity to avoid one of the top eight teams in the country in their bid to reach the quarter-finals.
If the first and second rounds had been played on schedule Sevco’s reward for beating Inverness Caley Thistle would have been a possible tie against one of the top eight sides left in the competition- instead they will face Falkirk who finished last season 15th last season.
Sadly it seems that no questions were asked by any club about this strange chain of events.
Equally sadly it seems to be following in the pattern set over the last two years where rules have been body-swerved to accommodate one club.
Ignoring the rules applied to Annan Athletic, Peterhead and others Sevco were granted a licence without having kicked a ball never mind published five years of audited accounts.
Every match in their first season saw a fourth official present- a service that no other club enjoyed.
Last summer as the SPL and SFL merged rules on the number of players over 21 were removed as were the regulations involving the number of games a trialist could play.
Honest mistakes on the park are expected, when they are repeated by officials and administrators more and more supporters are left wondering just what the point is when the odds are stacked against their success.