JINGS, you'd have thought that a new government would have brought about a dramatic change in our fortunes, but no.
I remember vividly belting out D.Ream's "Things Can Only Get Better" back in May 1997 when Tony ambled up Downing Street with Big Bird by his side (things got even better when Aberdeen beat Raith Rovers 2-0 the following day, thus ending a 9-game run without a win), but that optimism and joy was nowhere on show when David Cameron made the same amble the other day, though the bird by his side was a lot fitter.
I could never figure out how voting Tory gets you a Lib-Dem government, but there you go - I know nothing about the intricacies of politics. I just know that red is good for the working man, while blue is good for the overpaid toffs and ne'er-do-wells that pollute the country.
... which neatly brings me around to the point of this latest addition of Mince & Tatties. With the season now but a bad memory for most of our clubs, the great summer sale has begun. For most professional footballers the month of May is a time of great stress, as clubs balance the books and change the locks on the doors.
Falkirk, relegated from the SPL on the final day of the season, get the cull off to a cracking start as they prepare for life in Division One. Portuguese forward Pedro Moutinho, Enoch Showunmi and Vitor Lima where all shown the door, along with Brian Allison, Paul Sludden, Josh Wagenaar, Dayne Robertson and Sean Lynch.
Hearts' wage bill should look a lot lighter now that Laryea Kingston, former captain Michael Stewart (who might be joining former St Mirren striker Billy Mehmet at top Turkish mid-table side Genclerbirligi), Jose Goncalves and Christian Nade look set to leave Tynecastle.
Aberdeen have not been left behind in the clearance sale. Stuart Duff has been told to he can leave the club, while David Grassi, the former Parma and Espanyol defender has been given contract until the end of the year (despite some fairly ropey performances). Manager McGhee has promised sweeping changes at Pittodrie: Mark Kerr and Charlie Mulgrew are out of contract and look set to leave the club, while back-up keeper Stuart Nelson has not impressed in his few outings between the sticks: expect him to be looking up the 'Classifieds' in the Press & Journal soon.
Hamilton Accies got rid of 11 players yet still remain in business. Alright, so it's mainly their loan players - Mickael Antoine-Curier, who returns to Dundee, Brian Easton (back to Burnley), Gary Inglis (Rangers) , Joel Thomas (Colchester) and James Wesolowski (Leicester City) - but you have to hope that Billy Reid has some kind of back-up plan in place - he's also losing fringe players Lucas Akins, Richie Hastings, Gerry O'Connell, Tony Stevenson and David van Zanten.
Over in Glasgow, Kirk Broadfoot is said to be 'desperate' to sign a new deal with Rangers. Further debasing himself, Broadfoot told the Daily Express
"I am a Rangers fan and it is a dream come true every time I pull on that light blue shirt. I loved every day of my last three years at Ibrox and I'm just keeping my fingers crossed I can be here for a few more years to come."
Over in Glasgow-East (Lab), Robbie Keane, part of the unsuccessful Celtic All-Stars returns to London, scuppering any hopes the Celtic faithful had of keeping the 29-year-old at Parkhead. The Irish international, voted Celtic's Fans' Player of the Year, scored 16 goals in 19 appearances for the club, and returns to Spurs where he'll probably be farmed out to Wolves, a club he has a soft spot for, possibly.
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