Former First Minister Henry McLeish has blasted the proposed Scottish Premiership independent review for not featuring Celtic.
The ex-FM, who was a footballer in his youth, has been an active participant in talk of league reform. In May this year, he promised to spearhead a report for the Scottish Football Supporters Association [BBC].
Top Scottish clubs, including Hearts, Aberdeen and Dundee United, launched a new research initiative with Deloitte earlier this week. Announced on Hearts’ website, the SPFL-backed review into growing the domestic game was met with optimism by many supporters.
However, the initiative didn’t mention support from Celtic or Rangers. McLeish, who replaced Donald Dewar as First Minister in 2000, is sceptical of its success without Scotland’s big two involved.
McLeish said [Daily Record]:
“I’m questioning motives as well as timing.
“We have 42 clubs but only five are involved. It’s important to me that all of football is involved, not just a few.
“Rangers and Celtic aren’t participating and I wonder what relationship they might have to this.
“What degree of consultation will take place? If it’s to be a review, will they speak to the other 37 clubs?
“Will they speak to the football authorities? Will they speak to the fanbase? They might surprise me by being comprehensive. I hope they are. Because Scottish football desperately needs restructuring and refinancing.
“I’m calling for a comprehensive review led by the SPFL and SFA – and supporters. What we need is a more in-depth and inclusive review starting now.
“This is the time to do it. No one would want to stop what has been announced from proceeding. But it’s five clubs. So, at the end of the day, it could be self-interest.”
Former First Minister sceptical of latest proposals to review Scottish game, without Celtic involvement
Interestingly, it’s unlikely former First Minister Henry McLeish is a particularly popular figure in the Celtic boardroom.
In 2001, he criticised future Celtic chairman John Reid, who he described as “patronising”. In the same comments, which he didn’t know were being recorded, he said current Bhoys director Brian Wilson, a former Minister under Tony Blair, was a “liability” [BBC].
Those comments might be water under the bridge by now of course. But for men as prideful as Reid and Wilson, it’s unlikely McLeish’s comments went down at all well.
So whether McLeish’s latest remarks about the lack of involvement from Celtic in a proposed league review have been met fondly is a mystery. However, it’s unlikely that the Celtic board will disagree with him here.
For Celtic not to be at the forefront of any league review is more than odd, after all. As the biggest club in the league, it would surely make sense for Celtic to be front and centre in discussions about growing the brand of the Scottish Premiership and SPFL, more broadly.
Any findings from this proposed league review will be fascinating, there’s no doubt. However, unless Celtic are involved, it may lack the required legitimacy that the 5 clubs and the SPFL desire.
In other news: Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou embracing challenge of “quality team” Real Betis
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