Even by their own abysmal standards today marks another low in the catalogue of mismanagement that Scottish football has suffered under Neil Doncaster and Stewart Regan.
Running two separate cup competitions shouldn’t be too demanding, both tournaments have been on the go for over sixty years with different formats and minimal overlap.
The League Cup starts in August and finishes in March with the Scottish Cup now starting in December, for the big clubs, and ending the domestic season in May.
In midweek the four semi-finalists were known for the League Cup, interest in the sponsorless tournament was at a high, the guessing game was underway as to which combinations would be paired in the semi-finals to be played on January 31 and February 1.
Rather than stage the draw with interest at a peek, perhaps enticing a sponsor in and television coverage beyond that of the dull state broadcaster, the SPFL will hold the draw at 5.05 this afternoon after a full card of fixtures in the Premiership and the third round ties in the Scottish Cup.
After winning a cup-tie players, supporters and managers are wanting to know ‘who’s next’.
For clubs ranging from Hurlford and Nairn County to Spartans and Linlithgow Rose any ‘giant killing’ act this afternoon will be forgotten about by 5.05 as the draw is made for the League Cup semi-finals.
Their moment of glory will literally be a moment as they are pushed aside with the focus and attention turning to the latter stages of a tournament that won’t be seen again until well into the new year.
Today’s Scottish Cup victors will then wait till Monday at 2pm to find out their fate with the draw taking place at a time that appears to suit no-one and get minimal attention.
Would it really have been too difficult for Doncaster to have staged the semi-final draw for his tournament at 6pm on Thursday with Regan hosting the draw for his competition at 6pm tonight giving this afternoon’s victors the chance to enjoy their success and look forward to a game against one of the leading clubs in the country?
It may be minor in the bigger picture but until people with a grasp and understanding for what the game is about are in charge Scottish football will remain in the doldrums.
