By GARY KEOWN
Published: | Updated:
It felt like Sebastien Pocognoli was ever so slightly chucking his players under the bus as he signed off from his first camp as Scotland boss. You know, all that stuff about how that ghastly display in losing at home to Slovenia was nothing to do with tiredness and everything to do with people not doing their jobs.
‘It looks like they were tired because they were not well-positioned,’ he said. ‘We were too far from the ball and just not in the right positions.’
Whether the players took it that way or not will no doubt be a matter of interest when they reconvene in just over four weeks’ time to wrap up the Nations League campaign against North Macedonia at home and Switzerland away.
It’s going to be a big November for Pocognoli. And, arguably, an even bigger one for SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell and chief football officer Craig Mulholland.
The lurch towards modernity at the SFA has always felt a little odd considering Steve Clarke had been given a new four-year contract to carry on regardless as head coach just before the World Cup.
SFA chief executive Maxwell, Scotland head coach Pocognoli and chief football officer Mulholland are under scrutiny
Anyway, the whole set-up has now been ripped to bits following Clarke’s unavoidable departure. Tony Docherty is the new Under-21 boss, Tam Courts is looking after the Under-19s and former Rangers academy man David McCallum has the Under-17s.
Are these guys whose careers are on an upward trajectory? Same goes for Graeme Mathie, in as the new head of football strategy, operations and performance after a spell at Ayr United. It’s a matter for discussion.
What can’t be disputed is that Maxwell and Co now need to buckle down, show they can convince those inside the sport of their wider blueprint for the future and get their widely trumpeted plans for more game time for Scotland-eligible Under-21 players voted through at the upcoming SFA general meeting and the SPFL AGM scheduled for next month.
If that falls down and the next international break pans out as disappointingly as the one just gone, there are going to be some questions to answer about where exactly things are going under those at the top of the tree.
Doncaster’s dodge leaves awkward SPFL salary questions unanswered
Sidestep of the week goes to SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster. The 56-year-old, presumably the one director listed in the last set of company accounts as pulling in £487,000-a-year, was asked by a listener on the Price of Football podcast whether he felt having a handsome two-year notice period was in the best interests of the Scottish game when corporate governance standards typically recommend one year or less.
‘There are many areas in terms of SPFL policy where I don’t get a vote,’ he replied. ‘My employment terms are clearly one such area.
S{FL chief executive Neil Doncaster has dodged questions about his two-year notice period
‘They are recommended by an independent remuneration committee. They are recommended to the board.
‘The board then sets those terms and the board has a clear majority of club representatives on it. They make their decisions and clearly do so based on their knowledge of what the market is around Europe.’
And that was that. End of answer. Nuffink to do wiv me, guv.
When it comes to giving a tricky opponent the bodyswerve, Doncaster puts even Ben Gannon-Doak to shame.
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