How far forward do you think is possible and what would you like to see if you had the job for the day, taking into account the wages and the model you would have to employ to maintain any marquee signings and giving the volatil nature of the Scottish game and the requirements for maintaing a stronghold in all fronts both Scotland and Europe. You have if succesful a squad that needs to compete in over 60 games thats almost two seasons in one, remember that players countries always have the say over the players or they can insist your player does not play domestically if found to be faking.
Remember some of your players may be reuired to travel over half the world for their countries. Think you could do it?
To sort it in a day? Hod oan and I will get my wand.
However, let’s have a look at what I would start.
You correctly point out Rogers legacy in terms of a bloated squad and the wages that are tied up in probably a dozen players who will never realistically contribute.
I can’t turn back the clock,but I would ask what have we learned from punts? You will be aware each of those players were put on four year contracts. That to me would end. I would only offer each punt two years, with a trigger inserted that the club could pull if it worked out to extend it to four. That way we protect ourselves against a four year cost for a dud and secure them if they work out. What we are saying to players is. Do you believe in your ability then it shouldn’t be a problem, if they don’t think they can make an impact, why should we even consider buying them?
To reduce the wage bill I would make every single one not featuring go out on loan. This would reduce our costs and also give them games that puts them in the shop window. They may even improve to a level we would keep. Having them hanging about makes no sense at all.
This wage bill is unsustainable in our current Scottish market. We won the Treble and received less than £3.5m. We need to realise that CL qualification is our number one objective. If we secure that with a team that doesn’t get slaughtered we ragdoll everyone at home.
Marquee signings are dead. We cannot compete in that market, so I would tell the support that. What I would do was up our scouting in Eastern European, African, the US and South America. There are players who could lift us without bankrupting us. Failing to secure CL puts us in a very precarious financial position going forward. What are the options?
A manageable debt to secure CL qualification. Or hoping that going cheap will do?
I would look at whatever we have in funds available. Look at the positions we need filled and the players the manager thought could secure it. I would assess the additional cost and speak to Desmond about funding it. If we qualify, we have the bet covered. We have the players to win ten and we have a group of players whose value will increase when we sell them on. Doing nothing earns nothing, sometimes in life as in business, the safest option is not the best. I’m not talking spending ridiculous amounts. If we have to spend £30m to compete for £60m+ then I would go for that.
The pool doesn’t need to be as big as it is now, but it needs quality to rotate. I would look at our Academy and put a rocket up their arse at getting better at putting our own into the team. The numbers achieving this over the last 25 years has been woeful. It is vital we improve here. Too many of our academy will never play for us. Even those identified as the best for me are still not good enough, if we truly have aspirations. We don’t lower the standard of the first team to accommodate them.
Our model of buying low selling high has failed with Rogers tenure. We need a scouting network to make that a reality.
So, reduce contract terms to two years with a trigger. Loan out every player not being used. But do what we need to give us a chance to qualify for the CL. Improve the quality of the academy or cut it back. Scouts to search less costly markets. Take in a manageable debt to meet current threats.
Oh and award myself a £2m bonus,
