SPL In Crisis: Remaking a classic (Whose Henry?)

Growing up I loved black and white films. The atmosphere created from watching anything from Laurel and Hardy, The Marx Brothers, to dramas such as ‘Inherit the Wind’ (one of Spencer Tracey’s best performances) was great.

A classic is ‘Twelve Angry Men’. It is a film based on a play where 12 jury men sit in the room weighing evidence to a nicety, balancing probabilities and facing their own prejudices in an attempt to deliver a verdict in a serious case. The main character starts out standing alone against all the other members of the jury but, as he dissects the case, he begins to change votes one after another. He shows moral fibre and no little courage to stand against the other eleven. The main character was played by Henry Fonda. One of Hollywood’s all time good guys.

Years later in the late nineties, like most great films, it was re-made. This time the lead role was played by another Hollywood great; Jack Lennon in one of his last performances.

Almost fifteen years later Scottish football now produces its own version of the classic. Unfortunately we have taken the script and altered it considerably but, unlike the real thing, there is no perceptible leader within the jury. Indeed there does not appear to be anyone with any moral fibre or courage.

Again, unlike the original, everyone knows the evidence is irrefutable and there does not seem to be any dissenting voices regarding the guilt of the defendant.

Scotland’s unique version will be released on May 30th with a changed name of ‘Twelve Spineless Men’. This is the date SPL Chairmen vote on sanctions that are to be levied against a completely new football entity being voted straight into this country’s top league.

It is unprecedented, anywhere in football, that a newly formed club is immediately promoted over every other domestic club and placed into a national association’s top league.

Is there a Henry Fonda who will stand tall and turn the tide?

Don’t hold your breath because I certainly will not be holding mine.

Update: P.S. Just listened to Rod (Henry Fonda) Petrie on the BBC. Good on him.

Maybe we have all just found our champion!!