SFA Chief Stewart Regan has fired a public response at attention seeking MP Jim Sheridan.
The little known Labour member for Paisley made the news yesterday calling for wide-scale reform to the SFA.
Whilst the SFA are certainly in need of reform the phrase ‘people in glasshouses’ springs to mind when it comes to a politician telling others how best to run their business.
Amongst the predictable sound-bites from Sheridan there was an appeal to ‘address the grass roots of the game’ and to ‘look at the structure of the SFA’.
Regan isn’t short of problems to address and is clearly annoyed that Sheridan has gone public before making contact with Hampden.
“I am surprised by the comments attributed in the media yesterday to Jim Sheridan MP,” admitted the SFA Chief.
“Mr Sheridan spoke publicly before making any effort to contact me or ascertain details of the work currently ongoing to improve our game.
“Mr Sheridan’s comments on alleged bias within the Scottish FA are divisive, grossly misguided and deeply unhelpful.
“He has called for an independent review, when it is widely known that the former First Minister, Henry McLeish, presented the first part of his completely independent review of Scottish football earlier this year, and that part two is due to be published imminently.
“My intention to conduct a review of internal processes at the Scottish FA has also been widely reported.
“Finally, with regard to Mr Sheridan’s comments on referees, we have, again, already stated our intention to work with all relevant parties to create a Referees’ Charter.
“In short, we are in the process of addressing every point Mr Sheridan makes, and I would be happy to meet with him to clarify these details.
“I am also interested to hear more on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s renewed interest in Scottish football, and am especially keen to find out what level of support they are able to offer the game going forward.”
Neil Lennon-10 years at Celtic
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I feel for this guy Regan, he’s been thrown right into the Lion’s Den. I hope he gets his way to make the required changes.
I was impressed with his comment’s during his BBC 5 live interview the other week, a lot of people including the media is uneasy with the sounds he’s making.
I have been following the English Media’s backlash over the alleged FIFA corruption etc, and they calling on other countries to join them in breaking away from under the umberella of Fifa, would be good if it happened and some British super league or something came out of it.
All this talk about sorting out grass roots football etc that we hear in Scotland is peeing in the wind IMO, I can’t see it recovering to be honest.
It would be good to see Regan restructure the SFA etc and expose the shennanigans at play,but apart from Celtic getting a level playing field I can’t see empty stadiums being filled again, or any other positives for the rest of the game happening anytime soon.
It has become an anchor around Celtic. I have been following your blog for a while now and I really enjoy your posts.
Keep up the good work !! SB67 Hail Hail
Full of salient points. Don’t stop belineivg or writing!