Cowdenbeath will start their new season in the Third division. Nothing unusual about that, it's something they're quite used to. But this season will be different because they'll be the first team the new boys to the Scottish League will be playing. All eyes will be on the Blue Brazil as Club X get life in the big leagues off to a good start. We've still got our money on Edinburgh City, mainly because they've got the best facilities (Spartans don't even have floodlights for God's sake) , even though their attendance figures leave a bit to be desired.
Keeping it in the family are Livingston. Former manager Davie Hay, who also happens to be father-in-law to one of the new Italian owners Tomasso Angelini, will be returning to the club in an advisory role. Can we say he'll be the new consiglieri? The good news continues for the club (we think...) as the dispute with Emmanuel Dorado has been resolved. Dorado was sacked after he refused a pay cut, something the league considered bad form, slapping a year-long transfer ban on the club. A payment has now been made to Dorado, the transfer ban is nearly lifted, and Livingston chairman Angelo Massone, somewhat ominously, "does not expect any further issues". Ehm, has anyone seen Dorado lately?
Paul Di Giacome and Gary Wales have both left Kilmarnock after failing to win new contracts. Both players had clauses in their contracts guaranteeing them a new deal after a certain number of appearances, clauses the Ayrshire club cleverly avoided by just not playing them. Nice!
It looks like Hearts will be keeping the advert in the job center up for a wee bit longer, after leading candidate and obscure East European Vladimir Weiss failed to contact the club by the 5pm deadline set by Hearts. Despite a positive interview in Lithuania, it would appear that Weiss didn't get the assurances he needed - namely for Romanov to feck off and not interfere with team selections - and so he changed his mind. Weiss is now rumoured to be hanging on for another glamour job as national coach of Slovakia. With one candidate out of the way, it clears the way for Icelandic legend Gudjon Thordarson to take over at Tynecastle. In a desperate attempt (or is it a threat?) to win over the fans, he's promised that he'll bring in Terry Butcher as his assistant if he's appointed. So, that would be a manager who was sacked from pretty much every club he managed being assisted by a man whose managerial career saw him sacked from pretty much every club he managed (Coventry, Sunderland, Sydney FC and Brentford). Hmmmm ....
Speaking of Hearts, former player Joe Hamill gives us an interesting insight into the reason why players should abandon the SPL for the lower leagues in England - the catering is better. He says:
Leicester were playing to home crowds in excess of 20,000 people every week while facilities and attendances on their travels were generally better than in Scotland as well. The differences you notice most are that you are playing in front of bigger crowds almost every week and, although I don't like to say it, the set-up down there seems more professional. You are in for your breakfast in the morning, you trained and then you would get your lunch and have the use of facilities. You felt good turning up every day.
Lastly, definitive proof that the Scottish football is not competitive. Take a look at this. If anyone understands it and would care to explain it to me, please leave a comment. Till tomorrow!
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