Given the significance of the result and level of performance produced by Inverness that evening, was such a description slightly derogatory and a little underwhelming with respect to the abilities of the players in that side?

Of course, the less dramatic and more accurate way to describe Inverness may have been this: A team made up of seasoned professionals deemed good enough to be sought after by various managers and to have made hundreds of senior appearances, plus others with strong enough character and ability to bounce back from rejection at a club or clubs, supplemented by young players displaying talent which promises a bright future career.

Inverness recorded a 3-2 win over Celtic earlier this month. Photo: SNS.

I accept my offering certainly does not roll off the tongue but I would argue that it does offer a more respectful view upon individuals who deserve to be given credit for the careers they have shaped for themselves.

Another reason for contemplating this is that as the season ends and clubs announce which players they are not offering fresh contracts to, the football market will be awash with those who could be generalised by the three labels given to the successful Inverness XI.

The first group, the 'journeymen', is interesting. I have often found that this description is used in a far from complimentary manner with regards to a player. How often do pundits or fans refer to someone simply being a journeyman or expressing their displeasure at another journeyman signing?

In truth, the term should be used in a more positive way as it reflects someone who has served their apprenticeship and learned their trade and provides a manager with reliable and experienced performances. Of course, a football team cannot consist of 11 such players, just as it cannot be filled with defenders, but their presence is vital and should be considered invaluable.

What about the 'rejects'? No matter the circumstances, it never sounds like an appealing title to be given and yet in football terms huge number of players may wear such a hat.

Ultimately, there are different ways at looking at being labelled a reject. One is that a player believes he is not good enough, or the alternative is that he maintains faith in his own ability and acknowledges that his rejection is only down to the opinion of one man.

Those who fall into the latter category need to support such a belief with a drive, dedication and displays which make it impossible for them to fall out of the game and find themselves without a team.

There is no doubt that many journeymen and rejects will be seeking new clubs this summer and, at a time when the supply of available players is undoubtedly outstripping the demand from clubs, some will find new employment difficult to come by.

However, several will be given opportunities as managers and coaches understand the importance of the presence of players who have proven they can meet the demands of the game.

Furthermore, these same bosses are aware that there are many players desperate to prove the folly of rejection from a previous club.

On the subject of players moving on to new challenges I must mention my former team mate and skipper at St Mirren, John Potter.

As he looks ahead to a fresh chapter in his career he should be remembered with respect from everyone at the Paisley club as he undoubtedly had that from those who played alongside him.

Respect can be difficult to earn and maintain in football and it is not simply achieved by those fortunate enough to be the most talented. It is afforded to those who are consistently willing to put themselves in the firing line; those who don't go hiding when the pressure or criticism increases or who won't play through the pain barrier for the good of the club.

These qualities that John possesses mean he can be held as another positive ideal of the journeyman player and I am sure other managers will be keen to secure such a player.

If not, then I am slightly concerned he might pinch some of my broadcasting work as he has an ideal face for radio!

The best way to finish this week's blog: I'm Jack Ross, I was a reject and I was a journeyman and proud of it!

Managers, players and supporters alike will look back over the campaign and judge whether performances were good, bad or indifferent and whether ambitions were realised.

I was working at East End Park on Saturday where undoubtedly those of a Dunfermline persuasion could be more than satisfied with their individual and cumulative efforts over the season and yet, while watching the game, I was reminded of the same fixture at the same venue on the final day of the season only four years previously.

There was a large and buoyant away support in attendance and a comfortable 3-0 victory for Falkirk.

It was almost a mirror image of the match on Saturday and illustrated just how quickly fortunes can change in football.

As if to reinforce this thought I then learned that another former club Clyde had been unable to avoid finishing bottom of the lowest tier of Scottish football-this only seven years after the Clyde team I captained being only 45 minutes away from winning promotion to the Premier League.

There are countless other examples of clubs who have fallen from grace in relatively short periods of time but when this happens is there blame to be apportioned or is it just simply a natural cycle which occurs at many provincial clubs?

If you believe that responsibility has to be shouldered for such demise then naturally players, management and club owners are those who would be deemed liable.

In some cases there is a clear indication of when and where the troubles began, such as the loss of a successful manager and top players or a change in board resulting in far less investment.

In others there can be gradual and varied reasons for a decline in achievements with calculated risks or gambles on certain players not paying off or boards showing poor financial budgeting, leaving a new incumbent manager in a position of weakness with regards to attracting new recruits to his squad.

The other school of thought is that clubs that lack the resources to sustain a long period of relative success will always remain those who enjoy periods of achievement followed by seasons of struggle.

The interesting thing is that fairly often supporters of such clubs accept such a cycle and regularly talk of a longing for a spell in a lower league where victories are far more common and old rivalries can be renewed.

It would seem that in football success is very difficult to achieve for clubs but if they are good enough to reach that goal, the sustainment of such success is an even bigger task.

This same logic it would seem can apply equally as appropriately to players. Having an impressive season and receiving plaudits for doing so is what they all strive to do, but improving upon these performances or indeed replicating them can often be beyond them.

How often has the game produced a player who scores more than 20 goals in a season followed by campaigns where he struggles to break single figures or witnessed an individual who collects every player of the year award there is but finds himself out of the team the next term.

These scenarios only emphasise that the game never stops offering challenges to a player - the great ones are, of course, those that can keep overcoming them.

This blog has undoubtedly been inspired by a certain degree of sentiment as Falkirk and Clyde are clubs that I have a great deal of affection for.

Both offered me great opportunities at different stages of my career and my sense of gratitude to them is part of the reasons why I am always eager for them to return to a period of success.

Both clubs have some fantastic people working at the club, both at management level and behind the scenes, and terrific supporters who I am sure will play significant roles in next seasons push for respective promotion.

Perhaps the best advice to offer those who are finishing the season with a sense of disappointment is from the legendary American fotoball coach Vince Lombardi who said:

"It's easy to have faith in yourself when you're a winner, when you're number one. What you've got to have is faith when you are not a winner."

What exactly qualifies a players to be worthy of such a description? Do they need a collection of medals from winning titles and cups, or just simply illustrate through their performances in training and playing that they have a fierce desire for success?

The answer is both, with the latter almost being an essential pre-requisite for the former. However, in my own experiences, all players possess a huge competitive nature that craves winning, but not all can transform this hunger into achieving tangible success.

The reasons for this might just be found in another similar football phrase, which talks about a "winning mentality". This is the strength of character that enables players to turn good seasons into great seasons and turn potential into prizes.

But what if a player falls into neither of these categories? Can he adapt his mentality, or can a manager encourage it within individual players and/or a whole squad? There is no doubt it could be achieved and one method of doing so has been the more common use in football of sports psychologists.

I have had several experiences of these experts during my career and would be honest enough to admit that, from a personal point of view, I never felt that any changed my mindset in a significant manner. In their defence, often in football, sports psychologists have to work with the team rather than on a one-to-one basis, undoubtedly making it more difficult to achieve results.

Despite this, I would have no reservations about using such individuals if I became a manager as I am sure that would be of benefit to some players. I would say, however, that part of my job would be to instil this mentality through my own methods to begin with.

At this stage of the season, when championships are decided, the need for the coveted winning mentality is greater than ever, and usually teams who rise to the top are those with players of this ilk within their squad.

Looking back over my own career, I have won a championship on the penultimate day of the season, lost one in the final game and suffered cup final defeat when the odds were stacked in favour of me being a medal winner.

Does this make me a player of a winning mentality? I am not sure, to be honest, as the facts provide evidence both for and against. If I had been asked the question early in my career, on reflection, I would say no - I did not have the required mentality to win silverware and yet later in my career I would argue that I did.

I did not follow any specific method to achieve this - rather, it arrived through a mixture of hard work and application and most definitely through a surge of confidence and increased self belief - even if, as part of teams, it just fell short of earning a First Division league winner's medal alongside a League Cup victor's one!

The dressing-room "winners" are not just those who are world famous and grab the headlines. The game is littered with players, such as David Bingham, who won multiple league titles at different levels of the Scottish game and who, without question, could be classified as having a winning mentality.

Finally, on the subject of winners, I want to pass on my congratulations to Dunfermline on their title success. I was working at Cappielow on Saturday and was delighted for the management, players and Mo Hutton, the kit man (he has been desperate for a mention in this blog!).

They are a fantastic squad of players with a manager in Jim McIntyre who is hugely deserving of leading them to the Scottish Premier League, where I am sure they will prove to be worthy additions.

In football terms, it seems that being part-time is a tag that some in the game would prefer to avoid.

For example, in a season where more clubs are suffering severe financial problems there is often a quote from someone within the respective club announcing that the situation is so bad that they may have to go part-time.

Furthermore, although Raith Rovers' defeat at Dunfermline on Sunday makes promotion more unlikely, they could have arrived in the SPL with - to the horror of a few - some part time players!

The preference for all players and clubs to have this status is a given, but what of those who sit on the cusp of being full-time: are there ways in which to move to being part-time without fear of being held in lower esteem?

I believe there are, and these will be ways in which clubs will have to explore if they are to protect their future existence in an economic sense, but still give themselves the best opportunity of producing a winning team.

For example, most of our part-time players will hold jobs away from their club and train twice a week in the evening in preparation for a match day.

Rather than be happy with this almost accepted arrangement, could more teams not seek to offer players more employment, training and education opportunities through board members, associates and sponsors of the club?

Such a relationship between a club and local businesses could facilitate more training sessions during the week and even during the day as working or training hours were structured to allow this.

The benefits to a club in this sense could be fitter, better players and could result in players enjoying far longer spells at clubs as they benefit from employment in two areas thus leading to greater continuity within a squad.

Furthermore, the presence of many more players working in the local community may help generate an increased affection for the team as supporters feel a true association with those playing for the side on matchdays.

There is no doubt that there has been an erosion of the ability of an average fan to relate to players, but this could possibly reverse the trend and result in increased attendances and increased revenues.

I acknowledge my opinion on this is perhaps much more difficult to implement in reality and would be dependent on the desire of a club, players and many other individuals to develop such a set-up.

However, if you cast an eye across the North Sea and examine the success of some Scandinavian clubs in having this type of infrastructure then there is proof that it can be done.

The success of our top clubs and international side will always be based on our ability to retain a good number of full-time sides, especially those who are constantly looking to push the boundaries of their professionalism and produce top players.

However, what about the many sides who underpin this side of the game?

Why not look to bridge the dramatic gap in training routine from full-time to part-time football? Why not create a new environment where players can strive for progression as a player but can also work, train or be educated for a better future outside the game?

Part-time football does not have to an unacceptable phrase in Scottish football. In fact, for some, it could just be the best way forward.

It won't simply be for the reason that it was the last time I played the game professionally but for the fact it has been, without any doubt, a horrible season in Scottish football.

The on-the-pitch talking points of performances, tactics and team selections have been overtaken and overshadowed by refereeing strikes, conspiracy theories, political summits and legal wrangling.

My own view is the debates on these matters have become tiresome and are dominating attention at the expense of matters on the most important of football-the playing side.

I don't think this was more evident than this week when the build-up to the Motherwell v St Johnstone Scottish Cup semi-final was swallowed up by reporting of these events.

For me, a Scottish Cup semi-final has always been a massive game, it has always been an occasion to get players and supporters excited and always been an occasion that everyone in the game was aware of.

Is it simply a sign of the times that this game and the other tie, to a lesser extent, were not promoted as significant matches of the Scottish football calendar?

If those who allege to have Scottish football's best interests at heart continue to shun such games in favour of telling us who is the latest to have their integrity called into question, then is it any wonder the semi-final ties were played in front of so many empty seats?

Twenty years ago I was aged 14 and very much dreaming of a successful career in the game. I was fortunate; I was signed to a professional club and was confident of my future progression.

What were my ambitions for the future? Was it to be famous or wealthy? Not really, although fame I acknowledge does come with success.

My goal was to be a top football player, to win medals, to play for the best clubs and to represent my country - and the reason was because I absolutely loved the game.

Countless other teenagers will have had and will continue to have the same dreams - and if they go on to fulfil them, they will be famous for their ability in a wonderful sport.

Now, at 34-years-old I look around and see too many individuals afforded fame by football but not because of how they played the game.

There are too many seeking to raise their profile by using football for their own self-promotion.

They are happy to be sensationalist and controversial for no other reason than selfishness, and certainly not for the good of the game.

I have blogged previously about players becoming pundits and I include some of them in the above accusation.

Those few - plus the occasional former referee, politicians and so on are happy to stoke the fires of controversy for personal gain rather than a deep rooted desire to rescue our game from the abyss it is in danger of falling into to.

I acknowledge the need for change and revolution is urgent in many aspects of Scottish football. However, in the midst of the absolute required changes in the corridors of power let's search for the past a little.

Can we get back to having playing matters at the heart of our game and can we return to reminding people why football is such a great game and why it has been the heartbeat of our sporting culture for so long?

Furthermore, can we try to insure that we give platforms for power and influence to those genuinely seeking solutions.

I really hope so.

if we don't, then I'm not entirely sure that youngsters will continue to dream of future football glory.

The news I am referring to is the appointments of Neil Murray and John Brown to significant roles within the scouting setup at Rangers.

At a time when more and more clubs are unable to pay excessive transfer fees for new recruits the ability to unearth players from all levels and countries is becoming of paramount importance.

Scotland manager Craig Levein (left) with chief scout Michael Oliver

It is fair to say that two of the SPL's star performers this season in Emilio Izaguirre and Beram Kayal are perfect examples of a far reaching scouting network paying dividends.

Both were previously playing in leagues which are not normally considered a source for SPL recruitment and yet both have undoubtedly made major contributions towards Celtic's title challenge and would also command high transfer fees if pursued by other clubs.

If we assume therefore that for a club or manager the choice of scouts is vital and that the role requires a real eye for a player why do we rarely hear of former players pursuing careers in this area?

We know players try to become coaches, pundits and agents but should more pursue this career given their background in the game?

There may, of course, be an egotistical aspect to consider in that perhaps players consider this type of role to be beneath them but when you see members of successful Rangers teams such as Brown and Murray making a return to the club in this capacity and others such as John Kennedy scouting for Celtic then there is a growing trend of very good players occupying scouting positions.

While some of those mentioned above have found themselves in these positions after working in other areas, there are examples of players who have pursued a scouting career with vigour and progressed accordingly.

Former Aberdeen star Hans Gilhaus is one example with a chief scouting position at Chelsea among others on his CV.

Most of this blog has centred on the importance of having good scouting networks at larger clubs but are they just as vital at smaller sides?

It could be said even more so, with it more essential that recommendations prove to be worthwhile.

Unfortunately budget cuts will usually impact upon this area of a club's infrastructure and therefore lessen its ability to produce a diamond from the rough.

In these instances it may be that a manager will rely on the goodwill of contacts he has made throughout his career with it being a major advantage, if these associates cover other countries and continents.

The interesting thing about scouts is that they are an important part of a player's career from a very early age.

I remember from my boys' club days the sense of excitement that would spread around a dressing room if someone found out a club talent spotter was attending the game and the subsequent surge in confidence felt from receiving a glowing recommendation from this individual.

Fast forward several years and players producing good performances in the senior game will be conscious of clubs sending trusted staff out to monitor their progress, and will usually associate it with the possibility of an impending move to a bigger club.

Therefore, scouts are at the very foundations of our game but it might just be that the current climate is making their roles more important and more high profile than ever before.

It is agreed that being a great player does not guarantee being a great manager, and the same logic is applied to a career in the media in that top players do not always make top pundits. The reasons for this are varied but can include a difficulty in articulating views in a coherent manner to being one of those players who took no interest in the tactical side of the game and who only focused on their own individual role within a team.

There are of course several players who are able to make the transition from controlling the ball to mastering the microphone and what therefore is expected in the analysis offered by such former professionals? Do the viewers or listeners prefer run of the mill clichéd opinion, banter and in-house jokes or valuable insight into why teams and players perform in a certain way?

Jack Ross is a regular pundit on BBC Scotland

My own personal preference is for the latter, and yet I would suggest it is not always provided, partly because a desire to become the loudest and last voice in a debate becomes of the higher importance, and sometimes because a lack of knowledge of lesser known players and teams, a problem precipitated simply by a lack of research.

This personal opinion is certainly not universal but there is no doubt that a career in football can provide a great platform for broadcasting work and therefore players should approach this opportunity with the same dedication and application as was afforded to training and matches.

One potential difficulty for former players offering opinions on television or radio is the possibility of offending those within the game. I must admit that, when I played, receiving criticism from players turned pundits (or indeed journalists) never troubled me too much. I think most players would feel the same as long as the criticism was not sensationalist and bordering on disrespectful.

I am not saying I enjoyed criticism, but then I do not think anyone in any walk of life revels in it, but I accepted it as part of my profession. With former players, I actually got more agitated by one describing me not by name but as the 'big winger' as I played at full back in a match he was summarising highlights for.

I certainly was not offended because I believed I was such a good player that he should instantly recognise me but because surely being paid for sitting in a studio means that knowing players names is not too big an ask!

The majority of players who contribute on radio and television, and there are some who do it very well, occupy the position of summariser or analyst. However, in other sports such as rugby, cricket and athletics, they have utilised the expertise of former competitors in other roles meaning a combination of very good knowledge of their respective sport and good broadcasting ability makes them able to present or interview.

Although there are exceptions in football such as Gary Lineker on Match of the Day it seems our sport is reluctant to trust former players with roles which could be considered out of their comfort zone.

Much is made of an urgent need to repackage Scottish football, from the size of our leagues to the timing of the season, but what about the broadcasting of our game. Are there instances where we do not always promote our football in the best light and do we make the best of the resources we have available? Perhaps we do, but could the demand for revolution include what is being offered to an expectant audience?

More players than ever are keen to break into the world of broadcasting, and with increased competition should come an assurance of higher standards.

This particular moment made being at a Champions League final even more special but as this year's competition reaches its latter stages and attention drifts towards its culmination at Wembley in late May, is the opportunity to be a spectator at the showpiece being limited by the price of a ticket?

I confess I drew a sharp intake of breath at the cost of £150 for the cheapest seat and immediately thought is this a further example of football edging away from its working class roots?

Undoubtedly, demand for these tickets will far exceed the capacity meaning from a simple economic perspective the pricing structure is valid but from a sporting and more specifically traditional football fan viewpoint it is excessive.

There is clear evidence that in some ways football is changing or has changed in terms of who is able to pay to watch matches on a regular basis.

But what about those who play the game? Does football still draw its players from working class areas and backgrounds or is the pattern off the park being mirrored by those who are plying their trade on it?

Zinedine Zidane, a player from an impoverished background, scores at Hampden in 2002

I read with interest recently of the career progression of Wigan star Victor Moses, who along with Lee Hills of Crystal Palace, attended an independent school in South London.

Such an educational background is rare in football and usually more common in other sports such as rugby, cricket and golf. Are these players simply the exemption to the rule or a sign of the times?

Giving a definitive answer to this is very difficult but certainly there are factors to consider that may point to this becoming a more normal occurrence in Scottish football.

The disappearance of areas on which to play football combined with the expense of using the purpose built pitches mean that the game is not as accessible as it once was.

Furthermore, the costs that can at times come with being involved with an organised team from a very early age also mean that some youngsters are finding themselves excluded.

As circumstances have dictated that football may be losing its "doors open to everyone" tradition the examples of those players such as Hills and others such as recent Rangers loan player James Beattie illustrate that perhaps those from middle class backgrounds are emerging as professional players in greater numbers.

It does seem a little ironic that at a time when the likes of tennis and golf are making themselves more available to children of all backgrounds; football, for so long the people's game is in danger of becoming a sport of limited opportunity.

What about the attitude of people in football to those who come from a more comfortable upbringing?

In terms of players and within the dressing room I do not believe it makes any difference. Players get stick for their dress sense and musical taste through to their performance in training so being the son of millionaire would only guarantee you a little extra banter from team-mates but certainly no prejudice.

However, there have been the odd occasions when I have witnessed a coach's opinion being influenced by a player's privileged background.

In these instances, a player's hunger has been questioned on the back of not playing well for the sole reason it is the easy but also lazy judgement to pass.

Such views would be based on the opinion that players only play for the money and a better lifestyle and not for the love of the game and the burning ambition to win titles and cups.

I wonder if those who coached a young Gianluca Vialli, who lived in a 15th Century castle as a child ever used this as a question mark over his desire to become a professional player?

The truth of the matter is that being a top player is about ability, dedication and many other attributes but has never been about class.

Let's make sure it stays this way.

For football in Scotland it is Hampden Park that is the arena where legends are made and cup finals won. But have recent events conspired to show that even our traditional home of Scottish football is not immune to the commercial preferences our game has developed at the expense of the love and romance of our national sport?

I am making reference to the decision to prevent the Scottish Amateur Cup final being held at Hampden, the stadium which has hosted this level of the game's showpiece match for around 100 years.

Hampden Park was the setting for Sunday's Old Firm cup final. Photo:SNS

There are as always perfectly viable reasons for such a decision to be reached by those who own our national stadium and indeed the possibility of the tradition being continued is a possibility but with the caveat of a price to be paid.

But are these excuses acceptable in the face of the great joy and excitement those who play football at amateur level get from earning the right to grace the hallowed turf, or in the anticipation these players will have as they drive into the bowels of the stadium on cup final day and make the long walk from dressing room to the pitch?

I do not believe they are. As a youngster I always dreamt of playing at Hampden and was fortunate to do so in both a semi-final and final.

There should be no attempt to dilute the experience of Hampden Park and, while my memories were ultimately of losing matches there, the incredible pride in walking in the footsteps of Scottish football giants lives long in the memory of those who achieve it.

Therefore do not let this decision be another step towards a further detachment between those who love our game and those who administer it.

At a time when the average fan feels an ever growing distance between them and club, a compromise would surely show that there is still room in Scotland for football dreams to come true and for players playing solely for the love of the game to have their historic day at Hampden.

A further argument for the axing of this fixture could be the possible damage to the playing surface but given the condition of the pitch during the Co-operative Insurance Cup final it would seem that it is already suffering badly.

Whether this is as a result of a severe winter or the regular staging of pop concerts is debatable but what is clear is that the pitch is not befitting of the centre piece of our national game at present.

The players of the Old Firm deserve credit therefore for producing an entertaining match in difficult underfoot conditions and none more so than Steven Whittaker of Rangers.

I blogged around a year ago on the need for versatility in today's game and there surely cannot be a better example of a player capable in so many different roles than Steven.

His performance as a make-shift centre-half only highlighted his ability to produce performances in almost any role, adding to impressive displays as a full-back on both sides and as a central midfielder.

We are very quick in Scotland to laud the talents of those from beyond our borders and on many occasions point to the Dutch model where players are educated in playing all over the park and coached to be proficient with both feet.

Does Steven Whittaker not fit all this criteria given his defensive capabilities, his ease in a midfield role, his threat going forward and his use of the ball from both sides?

Should we then not use his abilities as a great example to our young players aspiring to reach the top levels and be more vocal in promoting our own talent as the benchmark?

Our national team is on the cusp of an exciting period, let's jump on the positivity bandwagon and allow our best amateurs their day in the sun at Hampden and give more credit to those professional players our system can produce.

In a post-Bosman era and during times when patience is short it is perhaps unsurprising that we witness such dramatic turnovers of players at clubs in Scotland.

I was working at the recent St Mirren-Hibernian match for Sportsound and only seven of the 22 players starting the match had done so in the corresponding fixture just over a year previously.

Similarly, the Aberdeen-Kilmarnock clash on the same weekend had even fewer survivors in personnel, with both matches serving to highlight how quickly a Scottish Premier League starting 11 can change.

St Mirren and Hibs players shake hands before their league match in February, perhaps to introduce themselves to one another... Photo: SNS.

As I have already mentioned, there are mitigating circumstances in the modern game which account for such a turnaround and indeed these four clubs also had different managers in charge for the recent matches.

A new managerial appointment usually increases the number of comings and goings at clubs but how much of a risk is it for a manager to try to rebuild completely and on what basis does he sign new players?

Undoubtedly a manager takes a gamble by dramatically altering his playing squad, but in doing so he is able to back his own judgement and ultimately know that, if he fails, at least he did so using his own players rather than those he inherited.

With regards to the type of players a manager will choose to bring to a club, I believe that this is an area which has changed in recent times.

I definitely believe that there is a greater pressure on some gaffers to try to recruit players who have potential for a sell-on value in the future.

Signing players on such a premise is difficult as you may be making a choice based on potential rather than pedigree.

Furthermore, the time required for these types of players to fulfil their promise may be greater than that afforded to a manager to achieve success without the necessary experience in his ranks.

A further dilemma that a reshaping of a team brings is what area of the team to focus on first.

There has always been an argument that you build from the back, that you create a solid foundation on which to build upon.

And if the need to have a strong spine to your side is paramount, are managers nowadays looking for pace throughout their side? Or do some deliberately acquire players of great physical stature knowing they can bully or outmuscle the opposition?

The current trend for shorter-term contracts in our game only adds to the lack of long-serving players at clubs with the debate over players' loyalty almost becoming redundant as everyone accepts that sweeping personnel changes are an annual occurrence at their club.

However, even if we accept that less than a third of players in a match we watch in the coming weeks could be featuring in it the following season, is this another reason why more and more fans are becoming disenchanted with the game and feeling a greater detachment from their side?

I say this because, previously, when players remained at clubs for longer there was undoubtedly relationships and affections built between supporters and players which perhaps made the former feel more a part of their club.

This in turn added to the sense of clubs belonging to the community, something which is disappearing all too rapidly.

When the close season comes around again, I acknowledge that there is a craving for some new signings to be made and a desire for the sense of anticipation to see a new face in action, but would some not prefer a return to the days when players became synonymous with clubs and a reassurance they could get a name on the back of a replica shirt that might last a few years?

My forecasts for next year are the weather will be cold - that's an easy one! As for a team's starting 11, the Lottery numbers might be easier to predict!

The debate over the relevance, methods and judgements of drug testing in football and the punishments that can follow has heightened significantly in the wake of the past week's events surrounding Simon Mensing and Kolo Toure.

The headlines created by these respective players' failure to pass a drug test has highlighted both the rarity of such happenings in football and the apparently innocent ignorance most players have with regards to prohibited substances.

The fact that this could happen to a player in the Scottish game begs the question of whether clubs do enough to educate their players about the regulations surrounding drug testing and whether they do enough to keep players regularly informed of those substances that are banned. I would suggest that they don't, as often sessions that provide this type of information are considered low priority by clubs (and players) in comparison to training sessions or tactical meetings.

In my experience, there should be a greater onus on the provision of adequate up-to-date information, which will only help the avoidance of a situation where a player is unknowingly ingesting a prohibited substance.

Having said this, in an age where players are far more aware of the importance of nutrition, vitamin supplements, etc, in adding to their overall physical condition, there should be a desire from them to demand or source the appropriate information. In doing so, they would be protecting themselves from unwittingly failing a test and being banned from the game.

At this point, it is worth considering whether or not a football performance could be significantly improved by the use of banned substances. I accept that an individual could become faster or stronger as a result of choosing to use performance enhancing drugs - and examples in other sports, such as sprinting and weightlifting, show that they can emerge victorious simply because of the edge they achieved from cheating.

However, in football, would being marginally quicker or stronger make a player better? There is an argument that it would, as there are some who believe the game is now more about athleticism than ability. However, surely the use of drugs in football would only ever become a major issue if something is created that improves a player's vision and touch, or gives him the ability to go past three opponents and curl the ball into the top corner.

This is not an attempt to dismiss the use of drugs, as undoubtedly the discovery of recreational substances or those that are undeniably present as a consequence of deliberately aiming for a prohibited physical advantage, would deserve lengthy if not lifetime bans from the game.

However, in the aftermath of the recent publicity, there has to be an acknowledgement that, by in large, Scottish football is a clean sport, but it must also serve as a reminder that perhaps more has to be done by everyone in the game to ensure that this deserved reputation remains intact.

Such a scenario is still the exception rather than the rule but its emergence into modern day viewing was magnified last weekend when a non-Old Firm player was filmed celebrating Celtic scoring during their derby win. As the moment of joy was captured in the players home dressing room prior to his team's crucial fixture, the incident has been the catalyst for much discussion in the football community.

I think that there are two issues to consider; firstly, should the changing room remain off limits and the mantra of what goes on in this room, stays in this room be upheld to the letter and is it naive to believe that players will not hold great affection for the club they supported as a boy, even though they are a professional playing for another side?

The dressing room is losing its privacy. Photo: SNS

With respect to the first point I am not entirely sure what benefits a fan gets from seeing only pictures of a dressing room. I am sure most are capable of imagining such a scene and therefore the real interest within this scene is what is being said. If there was audio available alongside the pictures then undoubtedly viewers would gain real and rarely available insight into what happens at top clubs.

If this was the case then everyone would be aware of exactly what comments are made or what arguments are had in the aftermath of victory or defeat but such access would, I am sure, meet with almost universal objection from players.

The reason being that players (and managers) acknowledge and respect the privacy of what is said within dressing room walls, and are aware that any breaches of this trust are usually harmful to a team's chances of success.

Probably the most common example of this breaking down is when managers publicly criticise players, having failed to do so in person within the changing room. If the criticism is aired to the media and fans in the wake of a dressing room dressing down then players have less complaint - some still don't like it but most accept it, especially if it has been justified.

Therefore, if the intrusion of a television camera within the dressing room is viewed by some players as inappropriate it pales into insignificance when compared to the public airing of opinion by either player or manager that compromises team spirit.

If the cameras are here to stay then would they catch other players showing their support for other clubs? I would suggest they would although my own personal opinion is that even if I had such feeling for a rival team it would not be at the forefront of my thoughts as I prepared for a match.

I must also point out that I have played alongside several players who maintained a support for and attended matches at the club they grew up to follow and never have I believed it diluted their desire to win for the club they were playing for. Having the honour of representing a club and its supporters should be enough to ensure you want success regardless of any previous affection for that team.

Finally, there is one very good reason for not having footage shown from dressing rooms and that is to save players the embarrassment of watching their antics! I know there would be several examples of me reacting to comments in the heat of the moment and behaving in a manner I would happily acknowledge as unacceptable on second viewing.

The worst I can recall was the changing room at Love Street after St Mirren defeated Rangers. A great result and a terrific occasion but my manager Gus McPherson and I had exchanged words late in the game and he rightly brought the matter up as the game finished. Needless to say, a frank exchange of views followed during which I took my boots off and threw them in the bin!

As the dust settled, emotions calmed and we enjoyed the win but with me suffering the indignity of having to fish my boots out from among the rubbish. Plus, the manager was right!

If I am being completely honest, I really mean the Six Nations but there is still a common perception that the enjoyment of football and rugby must be mutually exclusive.

I am by no means an expert on the oval ball sport but understand enough to enjoy the intensity of matches at International level.

It is interesting to observe another sport and question whether there is anything that is done within it that would benefit football or that is unsurprisingly overlooked by either players, managers or those who administer our game.

Scotland coach Andy Robinson looks on in despair from his vantage point in the Murrayfield stand. Photo: Getty.

One of the differences that I found relevant was the way in which the head coaches of the international sides and their support coaching staff observe the match.

It appears to be done from a position up in the stands where their vision is supported by the match action being seen on small television monitors.

This would appear to be a sensible vantage point to take and yet is one we rarely see replicated in football.

There are managers that choose to watch from a better position than pitch-side with Sam Allardyce and Walter Smith at times being amongst them but, given the advantages in seeing the game more clearly from higher up, why do more coaches not do it in football?

One possible answer is the ease with which you can communicate with your players from the dugout areas and managers may view this as essential in terms of getting the best from their players, and also feel it places them in a position where they are better equipped to make quick changes to their side.

It must be noted that as the vast majority of football managers spend the game at pitch level they must develop a strong skill in assessing the game from that viewpoint.

I have undertaken my coaching certificates and must confess that observing a team's shape from the touchline is more troublesome than from sitting in the stand.

Perhaps the advances in technology mean that more football managers, especially at the top level where the facilities are available, will follow the lead of rugby in this respect.

Or could it be that the technical area will long remain the treasured domain of a football coach?

There are other areas where I believe football could follow rugby's lead, with the use of sin bins for cautionable offences being one definitely worth considering.

I think there is an argument for the red card that a player receives for denying a goal-scoring opportunity in the box to be changed to 10 or 15 minutes in a sin bin.

The reason I say this is because in this instance a team concedes a penalty, more often than not a goal from the award and then is punished again by going a man down.

Even from a spectator's perspective, it makes sense: the recent Aberdeen against Celtic match surely suffered as a spectacle from Andrew Considine being dismissed in the opening minute.

Furthermore, the numerical advantage with a time limit on it would then almost force the team with the man extra to try to make the most of the situation and consequently open a match up.

Of course, there will be counter arguments for the introduction of such a radical change to the laws of the game but there is definitely scope for football to widen its eyes, come down from its pedestal as the world's greatest game and perhaps learn from some other sports.

I must finish by saying that I also think that there are aspects of football that I would suggest rugby could embrace, such as a greater flow to the game, fewer stoppages and why not throw in some proper celebrations of tries?

Also, as much as I enjoy the Six Nations, I was in Paisley watching St Mirren playing Hibs and still would not swap it for a ticket for Murrayfield - once a football man, always a football man, it seems!

At these moments, supporters may dream of what they would do if they were in a chairman's shoes or if they were the owners and in control of their club's destiny.

I am sure in the midst of these thoughts everyone would have their ideal choice of manager and list of preferred signings to add to the team. However, if their fantasy was to become a reality just how difficult and indeed how necessary is it for football chairman and owners not to interfere in matters of signing policy, team selection and choice of tactics?

To begin with I must be honest and say that if I was in a position where I had the means to secure ownership of a football club I would find it hard not to be regularly offering my opinion to my manager on those matters listed above.

Having had playing experience I would feel that my opinion was worth listening to, and yet for this same reason I would realise how important it would be for me to resist the urge to interfere and consequently allow the manager and players to do their jobs.

Ever dreamed of owning your own club like Vladimir Romanov at Hearts?

This would seem to suggest that perhaps clubs would benefit from a chairman who has played the game at a professional level.

But history shows that such an arrangement can have mixed results with the rise and rise of Wigan under the stewardship of Dave Whelan being incredible, while Francis Lee endured disappointing results in charge of the boardroom of Manchester City.

Jim McLean at Dundee United was a rare Scottish example of a former player taking ownership of a prominent senior club.

And the varying fortunes of the examples given only highlight that there would be no guarantee of success if the future brought a player-turns-chairman scenario.

If we accept that there is no pre requisite for success in terms of a chairman's playing experience, are there other factors that are important in securing good relations with a manger and players and subsequent success for the club?

In my own experience, those chairmen who are most respected are those who are able to distance themselves in the appropriate manner but who are also capable of making the players aware of how much they are supporting them in their quest for success.

For example, I have experienced some owners who like to be in and around the dressing room and training ground and others who players would struggle to recognise such is their detachment.

With regards to the former I think there is a fine line to be drawn between being involved and impinging on match day preparations.

Of course there may be a view that if you invest and own a club you should be able to have as much access as you desire but I know that players and coaches do not appreciate this as they rightly believe that pre match is a vital time for mental and physical preparation and any distractions are unwelcome.

Therefore it seems that opinion from the playing side of the game is that the ideal chairman is one who enjoys good relations with his staff but knows the boundaries that separate him from those he has put his trust in to produce on the field.

Are there such types in Scottish football? Of course there is, and many who deserve credit for the time, energy and money they have invested in their respective clubs.

However, there are always exceptions and in my career I have witnessed those who are happy to roll up to the glamour games at Ibrox and Parkhead but are conspicuous by their absence as you visit the league's lesser lights.

Similarly, players become wary of those who make their presence felt in the aftermath of victory but who disappear in the disappointment of defeat.

Furthermore, there are even the very occasional chairmen who do have a say in team selection and who perhaps even influence tactical changes during a match.

It may be that this is the future, that those with sufficient wealth to buy a club will think they should make all the decisions.

Remember that dream of owning a club; surely that would be the nightmare scenario.

There was the retirement of one very good one in the shape of Gary Neville, and a similar decision made by another reasonable one!

The second full-back in question is, of course, myself as I made the decision this week to end my playing days prematurely.

I made my decision after listening to the appropriate advice regarding my injury and realising that my knee was no longer able to cope with the demands of full-time professional football.

However, when the term is applied to your football career it's fair to say that you experience a wide range of emotions as you come to terms with the thought of not doing what you've known best for the vast majority of your adult life.

I must confess that I've not been as downbeat as perhaps people would expect.

Jack Ross wants to remain in football in some capacity after hanging up his boots

Once I'd reached my decision - probably the most difficult part - I have taken a rather pragmatic view on my situation.

I've been unbelievably fortunate to enjoy a career in football and have taken great pleasure from it.

If I'm being completely honest, I didn't achieve what I wanted to when I was striving to be a professional player.

My ambition, like many youngsters, was: to play for the top teams, to win league titles and cups on a regular basis and to have the honour of representing my country at Hampden and at major tournaments.

However, only very few players attain these goals and on reflection I take pride in my career achievements and leave the playing side of the game with very fond memories.

There is a further factor to consider when not choosing to wallow in self pity, and that is the longevity of my career has been good.

Having to make a choice to retire at 34 is not the same as reaching a similar decision at 24, and therefore those players who are forced to leave the game - and there are many of them - at a relatively young age deserve far greater sympathy.

Players such as former Celtic defender John Kennedy and Dundee United's Lee Wilkie have suffered the frustration of not being able to enjoy the career they should have because of injury. I'm sure there are countless others that fans of other clubs could identify.

Although I am looking at my situation in the most positive manner, it does not dilute the fact of how much I will miss playing.

For me, the feeling of nerves and anticipation as you stand in a tunnel waiting to take to the pitch and the noise that hits you as you emerge on to it is one which I know will be difficult to replicate.

Similarly, the adrenaline rush from your team scoring and winning games and the sense of satisfaction mixed with exhaustion as you sit in the dressing room after a victory are wonderful emotions that I'll undoubtedly long for.

I'm hopeful that my future lies within football in some respect; after all it is where my passion and abilities lie and where I believe I have a lot to offer.

My blog this week has perhaps been a little more selfish than normal but I felt it was worthwhile to convey the emotions of deciding to stop playing football.

And I hope that I'm able to continue to share my opinions and views on our game in the future.

Gary Neville and Jack Ross sharing a moment in their respective careers: never thought I would see the day!