Forget the English Premier League, the responsibility is ours

First, a confession. I failed Higher Accounting much to the chagrin of my teacher Robert ‘Boaby’ Flood. Surprisingly not too dissimilar in looks to Willo, but older. So some of what I am about to suggest may simply be unworkable from both a financial and/or logistical point of view. I wait to be shot down.

Last week’s announcement that the English Premier League will be receiving £5.14 billion from domestic rights alone for three seasons from 2016/2017 provoked exhausting debate, comment and analysis – unfortunately there was little mention of soldiers and nurses.

The introduction of additional games forced BT and Sky to up the ante with the broadcasters paying upwards of £10m per live match. It is expected that the when the international rights are factored in it could see the Premier League earn nearly £10 billion over the three years. A quite substantial feat considering some of the utter dross that makes up the 20 clubs bathing in a vat of a gold. Yet what they have achieved is testament to the ‘show’ they continue to put on.

It wasn’t just in England where there were substantial column inches and television coverage on what the increase in revenue will mean for teams, the league and everyone else, the debate spread north. At times it is as if Scottish and English football are intrinsically linked. They aren’t. They are two completely different entities. The new deal induced comparisons to the pittance which Scottish football is afforded, prompting more soul searching and much self-pitying.

Among the moans, groans and ideas there was, somewhat bemusingly, the suggestion that Scottish football is due a cut from the Premier League due to the number of Scots who tune into the league. The Premier League is due Scottish football nothing from the deal. It is up to Scottish football to look after itself, rather than squirming up to its grand neighbour, pulling at its trouser leg and begging for some pennies.

It doesn’t need a revolution, simple innovation.

Be more creative

Unlike the clubs in England’s top division, Scotland’s teams are much more dependent on gate revenue so simply going for the easy suggestion to lower ticket prices therefore increasing crowds is a dangerous road to travel down. It is a very delicate and perhaps risky balancing act. Clubs have to budget accordingly for the season ahead. The percentage at which they cut tickets will be the same percentage of new fans they will need to attract without affecting their bottom line and affecting the playing budget.

A winning team is the best way to attract fans to the ground. Failing that, clubs need to think more creatively. Hamilton Academical and Inverness Caledonian Thistle are just two clubs who have thought outside the box with ticket deals this season and it has been a relative success. But it is difficult to do continually throughout the season.

Instead clubs need to offer more options for fans.This is where someone with greater marketing skills than me would thrive. Ideas such as parent and kids season tickets. Make it more attractive for parents to bring along the next generation of fans by combining the prices of tickets. Or simply give a wider range of pricing options. Should a ticket right in the corner be the same as one behind the goal?

And rather than it simply being a ticket for the game why not offer more, giving fans greater value for their money. A selection of games could see fans who have bought a certain ticket meet the manager before the game or meet the players or simply be invited to a suite for a drink and some snacks. Then with kids there is an abundance of activities that can be done before the game and at half-time that will get them active and participating so they go away from a match having enjoyed themselves even if the game has been poor.

Encourage away fans

Of late fans of both Hibernian and Aberdeen have been denied extra tickets for their respective trips to Ibrox and Celtic Park despite there being more than enough space to accommodate all those who would like to venture to Scotland’s second city. It is the latest situation where you feel that clubs would rather not have any away fans. Everyone has their own tale to tell about stewards when visiting football grounds; those at Ibrox and Celtic Park have particular skill in taking the term jobsworth to a stratospheric level.

A large away travelling can make for a cracking atmosphere. Ask football fans who refuse to travel what their biggest deterrent it and the majority are likely to respond ‘price’. Hearts are one of the worst offenders for price, while Celtic have the temerity to charge you upward of £25 before plumping you down behind a pillar.

This point may be contradictory to the one made previously but clubs should get around the table and come to an agreement that away fans should be charged the same price as that of the lowest available to the home fans. These are passionate fans who have travelled expensively by bus, car or train, yet treated with contempt.

Standing sections

This is one area where Scotland can be seen to take the lead on and drive publicity to the league. There is a growing hunger for the introduction for safe standing in English grounds and it is a hunger replicated in Scotland. There simply isn’t a lot of reason for any stubbornness to the idea, although I admit I am unsure at what the costs are for installation.

The only other reason against it is safety. Yet you look around the top two divisions and you have areas in certain stadiums where fans remain standing for the 90 minutes. It is especially the case with large travelling crowds.

Not only do fans find it more enjoyable but there is no question a better atmosphere can be created. I was at Tynecastle for Aberdeen’s League Cup semi-final victory over St Johnstone where the Dons faithful were stood throughout and it is one of the best atmospheres the ground has had in recent years.

It would potentially give the stadiums a better look on the television. Using Hearts as a reference point, I think it would give Tynecastle more chutzpah if the Gorgie Stand was standing only or even the lower tiers of the Main Stand and Wheatfield Stand.

Embrace the digital age

I watch Sportscene every week. But it is starting to become a chore rather than something I look forward to. I have taken to watching highlights on YouTube before skipping through Sportscene just to get a second look at incidents or goals or Motherwell’s latest defensive blunders in preparation for the Podcast. The commentary is frustrating and the lack of time on each game is disheartening. But the biggest bug bear is the camera(s) or, more pertinently, lack of.

When it comes to replays there are usually two. You have the same camera angle but the replay is slowed down. Then you have the same camera angle again but this time it is slightly zoomed in. It is a second-rate production at best. Which is unfortunate because you get the feeling those on the front-line are restricted with what they have to work with.

Why do we have a highlights package crammed in to between 45 and 60 minutes? Sometimes there is a Championship games. Sometimes there isn’t. And sometimes they shouldn’t bother. Why to highlights last five minutes at most? Why aren’t there more camera angles at the games? All questions I would like to know the answer to.

The SPFL do a solid job with their YouTube channel. You have your highlights, pre and post-match interviews, classic goals, best goals etc. But more can be done. They should cast their glances to BBC Alba and the features they produce for inspiration. There are 42 clubs in Scotland with a variety of quirky and interesting personalities and stories to be told throughout the league. As for the football itself it would be grand to have extended highlights of games made available or even classic games from the past.

And what about an app? Technology should be embraced and Scottish football brought to fans’ fingertips. There is nothing wrong with shoving it down the throats of fans and, heck, whoring it out. It would be great to have a place to go where you can get the latest league tables, fixtures, statistics, interviews and features – written and video – goals, highlights and even full games.

I don’t think there is as much wrong with our game as some in the media and in places of power within think. We still have good attendances considering the size of the country, clubs are working hard to get themselves on a solid financial footing and there is a lot of young, exciting talent in the country. But with a little bit of foresight and imagination, innovation and creativity can drive the country’s game forward and even have fans south of the border envious with aspects of our Scottish football.

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