To those who doubt the power of ordinary football fans to change the political weather in our game, take a look at what happened in the last fortnight and start to believe again. Believe that the corrupt SFA can be held to account. Believe that real change can come.
For a couple of months, a major change was being plotted behind our backs, away from the eyes and ears of the supporters. It was not a change that would have brought the sport as a whole much benefit although most people at Celtic Park were all in favour of it. It involved us conspiring in a grubby deal with Sevco. It has hurt our reputation with other clubs.
Some chairmen knew what was right but felt pressured by Celtic and Sevco. They were also being tantalised with bribes. They were clear about what ought to be done, but were afraid of what their fans would think. So they asked them.
Other clubs were in favour of taking the money and crossing their fingers that it would all work out. But they knew a major change like this couldn’t simply be taken without paying lip service to some form of consultation. So they asked the fans.
Did you notice that we were never given that choice? Nor were Sevco fans. We were never likely to be given it either. Our club is arrogant at times and presumes to know what we think without bothering to take soundings. But when the Scottish Football Supporters Association polled the fans last year, on this issue, during their first survey the numbers were overwhelmingly negative. Scottish football fans do not want something like this shoe-horned into our setup.
In the end, it was the fans who said no and that ought to give us all pause for thought. The supporters of the smaller clubs have again proved that a collective effort can move their boardrooms and that, in turn, can effect or stop dead changes at the top of the sport.
Bear in mind that Regan sees this as his legacy project. His entire tenure has been a series of disasters and scandals. This was what he wanted to be remembered for, this ludicrous Daily Record inspired Project Brave shite. And like everything else he touches, it’s wreckage all around him. Fan power, which he has utterly disdained over and over again, has once more revealed itself bigger than he is and we should be thinking long and hard about what that means.
We can take this guy, or at the very least push the clubs to do the job. For the second time since he took office his organisation is accused of being like a corrupt, bullying cabal. Shamefully, we’ve let ourselves be associated with it. I know a lot of our fans actually like this proposal … I understand why it has an attraction. Of course I do.
But when you hear other club chairmen talk about about bribes and bullying you realise that this isn’t right, that it isn’t how things ought to be done. The merits of the idea itself are rendered moot when you consider the circumstances of it and the way it’s been handled. And if you think the sudden passion for league reconstruction is a coincidence as we head towards ten in a row … well, I have a bridge to sell you.
Regan is a shabby operator who thinks he can do what he likes. Anything which weakens him further is something we should all be celebrating. It’s another sign that this man’s time is just about up. He’s on his last legs, and fan power can push him over the edge.
Keep on going and we’ll bring the whole house down, regardless of what the chairmen want.
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