Although the rules are badly needed, the timing sits uneasily with Rangers' lingering liquidation fears.

Now, the SPL finds itself sandwiched between the two issues, trapped between the mutually exclusive rocks of sporting integrity and financial consideration.

A tide of resentment is lapping round the ankles of those running the top flight, from Rangers fans who feel the proposals are unjust and from fans of other clubs who are openly cynical of their timing.

At present, the proposals to tackle financial mismanagement in the game are just that, proposals.

Many supporters though see them as an attempt to open the door for a newco Rangers to avoid paying their dues and re-emerging relatively unscathed in the top division.

The proposals have been under discussion for some time it has been suggested, but in the febrile atmosphere of Scottish football, many fans are getting the kind of whiff associated with Arbroath harbour on a breezy day.

The SPL will argue that the new rules, if accepted, will set a more rigorous and transparent framework for the financial affairs of clubs.

That is a good thing and long overdue.

Perception though is the key factor here and many fans think, rightly or wrongly, that what is going on is an attempt to ensure the survival of Rangers in some guise in the top league.

That begs the question of what is the appropriate punishment for Rangers, if they emerge as a newco?

The answer to that depends on individual notions of justice and will be coloured by a host of factors.

The financial proposals have to be voted on by all 12 clubs, but the six man SPL board have the even bigger decision to make as to whether a new Rangers enters the league at all.

That judgement will require the wisdom of Solomon: weighing on one hand the financial benefits of Rangers to the other clubs and on the other hand the potential damage to the sporting integrity of the league.

Rangers have behaved with a reckless disregard for the rules that everyone else is expected to abide by.

What comes next could be a morality tale.

Will it be Real Politic, where moral judgement is set aside in favour of pure financial consideration?

Or will Rangers be required to purge themselves in some accomodation with the Scottish Football League and work their way back up the divisions to emerge refreshed and renewed?

That these things have happened on the basis of a football manager's religious background are a shocking indictment of parts of Scotland.

Lennon has tried in-between times to run a football team.

That he has steered them to league success with personal mayhem as his constant companion speaks of a strong character.

He still has much to learn about harnessing his passions in a way that reflects better on him and the club he manages. But that comes with age and experience.

When he sits down, he will reflect on the personal cost of these traumatic times to him and his family.

Lennon will weigh that against the future prospects for the team he is building.

He might also reflect that, while he will always take stick from fans because of his own fiery nature and the status of the club he manages, a more civil, more decent, more compassionate and outward-looking Scotland is also being forged while the kind of bigots who targeted him are driven to extinction.

The first question will also be a key component in Lennon's decision-making process.

Whatever kind of Rangers emerge from the debris of post-administration Ibrox, they seem set to be a much lesser power in the land for some time to come.

While fans of every other club will hope that a serious challenge can be mounted, Celtic have vastly superior resources with which to dominate the Scottish Premier League.

Within a short space of time, access to Champions League wealth may put them ahead of their greatest rivals in Govan for a decade, let alone the chasm that will open between Celtic and the rest.

It goes without saying that, unless Scottish football suddenly converts to a socialist-type redistributive model of wealth sharing, Celtic could be Kings of the Hill for years to come.

That will weigh heavily on Lennon's mind.

He has given Celtic sterling service as a player and manager and could walk away with his head held high.

But, as a football man, it is difficult to see where a better opportunity might present itself for him.

Celtic are Gulliver in Lilliput in terms of resources and support in the Scottish dimension.

The future for them and Lennon appears to be whatever they want it to be.

He has won his first Scottish title and should be able to repeat that with some ease.

Europe, though, is the stage he can truly test himself on.

Great Scottish managers like Sir Alex Ferguson and Jim McLean flew the flag for Scotland throughout Europe, putting to the sword the best the continent could offer.

They flew the flag against the giants of European football on a Ryanair budget.

Lennon and Celtic are not similarly handicapped.

Europe is the stage that Lennon and Celtic will want to fly high on.

Once the summer soul-searching is over for the Celtic manager, I suspect he'll be fastening his seat belt, passport in hand, for adventures in Europe with Celtic.

It was a fascinating exercise and left me wondering if we can do anything to return to a time when Scottish top flight football seemed much more competitive.

While by and large the big two of Celtic and Rangers have dominated our game, there was a period when that dominance was much less pronounced.

Empty seats are a regular sight in modern day Scottish football. Pic: SNS.

In recent years, the odd Scottish Cup or Scottish League Cup win aside, the Glasgow pair have simply been far too powerful and rich for the others to mount any serious challenge to them.

That cannot be healthy for the future of the other clubs.

Celtic's turnover in 2011 of around £52m compares with a figure of around £8m for Aberdeen.

If Celtic cannot be expected to seriously challenge for the Champions League against giants like Real Madrid and Barcelona, who have turnovers which dwarf their own, how can other Scottish clubs make any headway in the Scottish Premier League against them.

It is difficult to know how to resolve this issue.

Celtic and Rangers have grown into huge businesses for many reasons.

At present, we have no idea how Rangers will emerge from their current
problems.

Irrespective of what happens to Rangers though, it is difficult to see how anyone can come close then to challenging Celtic with their enormous resources.

Historically the Glasgow duo, while the best-supported clubs in Scotland, did not average the huge crowds they draw now.

A few years after the Second World War, the big city clubs in particular were not miles behind them at the gates.

Let's take season 1948/49 as a snapshot. Average attendances in that era would leave current day chairmen weeping into their beer in a fit of nostalgia.

Aberdeen 24,200
Dundee 24,532
Celtic 37,171
Hearts 28,196
Hibernian 27,627
Rangers 44,600

It was a boom period post-war for the game and the clubs outside of the Glasgow pair never came close to repeating those enormous crowds.

However, while the Glasgow two were still better supported, the gap was much narrower than now and often the two were split by other clubs in the race for the top prize.

Dundee were pipped by one point as Rangers took the title in 1949. The season before, Hibs took the title by two points from Rangers and Celtic finished 12th.

In 1950, Rangers again nabbed the top spot, one point ahead of Hibs, who were followed by Hearts, East Fife then Celtic.

The following year, Hibs were champions with Rangers and Dundee level on points behind them.

It is a snapshot of a time when Scottish football was much more competitive than today.

Is it simply wishful thinking that we can find a way to reinvigorate our game and bring a real competitive edge back to it?

Yesterday, though, Rangers must have wondered what might have been, had they not lost Nikica Jelavic and had they not suffered some significant suspensions and injuries in recent times.

Mostly, though, they must wonder what might have happened had they shown some real mettle and application and not allowed themselves to squander a title-winning lead to Celtic.

Suggestions that Rangers' impoverished state will have helped propel the league flag to the east end of Glasgow can only come from apologists for the Ibrox side.

Andrew Little (centre) is congratulated by his Rangers team-mates after scoring his team's second goal at Ibrox. Photo: SNS

Neil Lennon's side were reigning in Rangers' handsome lead at the top before financial concerns started to bite at Ibrox.

The Rangers side that started at Ibrox was vastly experienced and contained a plethora of internationals.

They were good enough to win their fourth title in a row and, as they threatened to demolish a nine-man Celtic side, how they must rue their recent unfathomable collapse.

Rangers threw away a huge points advantage, and the title, to the better side over the piece and have no-one to blame but themselves.

After putting three goals past a Celtic side which had conceded only one goal in their last eight SPL games, they must be kicking themselves for their own shortcomings.

Recent form of three defeats in four SPL games appeared to prove that this Rangers side was short of the character normally associated with those in light blue.

Until Sunday, that is, when in a show of defiance they dispatched a Celtic side who never really got out of first gear until the dying stages of the game.

Generally Celtic have been more creative and forceful than Rangers and have provided craft and guile far in excess of their rivals. That was in short supply at the Ibrox showdown.

Traditionally Celtic are expected to be cavalier in attack, playing with flair and style, yet defensively they could have been welded in the Clyde shipyards, so tight have they been at the back.

Just 17 goals conceded in the league until the Ibrox game seemed testament to their defensive capabilities.

Up front they have been superior to all others and, having netted 62 goals prior to the match, more than two per game, they have been ahead of the pack in terms of threat carried.

The Cup final against Kilmarnock saw Celtic's first defeat in 27 matches: that is phenomenal form.

There has been a killer instinct about Neil Lennon's side.

In their recent 4-0 win at Dundee United they were outplayed in the first half and defeat looked a distinct possibility.

Then Robbie Neilson was red-carded and Celtic ruthlessly grabbed the advantage and took the game by the throat to capitalise.

On Sunday, something similar happened to them.

Cha Du-Ri's red card gave Rangers the advantage and at first they were merciless in using it.

The second red, for a daft tackle by Victor Wanyama in front of the referee's nose, showed a lack of discipline and left Celtic with an impossible task.

The winning mentality hammered into the side by Lennon over the last couple of seasons was bettered by a side which showed more organisation, passion and desire on the day.

Celtic, though, have the title in the bag and it is won over a season, not just one day.

With the Scottish Cup offering the prospect of a double, the Parkhead side can still enjoy a great season, but Sunday's result will have given hope to the sides remaining in the Cup that Hampden success is not impossible - as Kilmarnock proved last weekend.

JJ has eight games to save the Pars from relegation. No pressure there then?

Dunfermline, who parted company with boss Jim McIntyre last weekend, are without a home win this season.

Demotion could prove a financial catastrophe at East End Park.

That will be no easy task, but the man who won the Scottish Cup with Hearts in 1998 has experience by the bucket-load.

At Falkirk, Jefferies won promotion from the First Division as well as lifting the Challenge Cup.

At Kilmarnock, he guided the Rugby Park side to a runners-up spot in the League Cup in season 2006-07.

There is little point in debating whether the Dunfermline board should have parted company with Jim McIntyre sooner, or given him the opportunity to steer the club to safety.

Dunfermline are where they are and, given that they wanted experience this time around, the appointment of Jefferies looks like a good fit.

An air of calm and organisation is needed around the Halbeath Road in these potentially dangerous times for the club. A clear mind and precise plan of action is required.

I would be astonished if, in his meetings with the board, Jefferies has not outlined various plans for the future of the club.

The possibilities of escaping relegation are slim, with a straight dogfight between Dunfermline and Hibernian looking likely.

So scenarios for both relegation and rebuilding, and remaining in the Scottish Premier League and rebuilding, will probably have been discussed.

The club has potential but also faces problems in terms of low crowds and a battle to keep finances on an even keel.

At a time like this, experience could make all the difference to the club's prospects.

A few weeks ago, Jefferies told me he'd been busy reducing his golf handicap.

He has had sufficient time to do that while out of work since leaving Hearts last year after his second spell in charge.

Now it's time for him to return to doing what he does best. The golf course's loss might be Dunfermline's gain.

The honours do not come round often for fans of clubs other than Celtic and Rangers and they have to be joyously treasured when they do.

It gives hope and inspiration in equal measure to all other clubs and their fans, that glory is not beyond their reach.

Killie beat Celtic to win the League Cup for the first time in their history. Pic: SNS.

Most Celtic fans I've spoken to have accepted their defeat with good grace and have been fulsome in their praise of Kenny Shiels' team.

In fact, one of the most uplifting things about the result has been the goodwill and dignity with which Celtic fans have reacted to Kilmarnock's win, despite it ending their hopes of a treble.

That mature approach augurs well for the future of our footballing landscape which could be changing dramatically with the situation Rangers are in.

The tragic circumstances surrounding the match at the end of the game will never be forgotten, but in terms of the game as a football occasion there was a great deal to celebrate.

The Kilmarnock fans gave terrific backing to their team in a game which may well mark a seminal moment for their progress.

Manager Shiels has applied a consistent message to his philosophy of how he wants his team to play.

On Sunday he and his team were true to their principles and were justly rewarded.

Cammy Bell was outstanding in the Kilmarnock goal and made half a dozen fine saves to thwart Celtic and the penalty claim at the end for the challenge on Stokes, could as easily have been given as not.

Kilmarnock though also created chances and their goal near the end was a well-executed counter-attack culminating in a fine cross, perfectly finished by the head of substitute and birthday boy Dieter van Tornhout.

Their play throughout was thoughtful and composed and they showed a diligence and application which was a credit to them and their manager.

Killie went into the game with patchy league form and many expected Celtic to take the first step towards a much talked about treble.

Two wins, three defeats and five draws hardly seemed inspiring, yet during the season they have beaten Rangers 1-0 twice, drawn 3-3 with Celtic and lost narrowly to them 2-1.

They seemed to have the measure of how to play the big two. So it proved at Hampden.

While some will say Celtic did not play as well as they can, Kilmarnock had to beat what was put in front of them.

They had to re adjust to the early loss of Danny Buijs in the 20th minute and it was Lee Johnson who replaced him, who provided the perfect cross for the winning goal.

It was an all-round team effort and there were some outstanding performances.

Chief among them for me though was the magnificent contribution of keeper Bell.

His athleticism and quick reflexes, combined with an intelligent command of his goal area, was the feature of the day for me.

A goalkeeper at the peak of his powers, he enabled Killie to draw inspiration and confidence.

Celtic were never in total command of the game and it was certainly never one way traffic.

Like a human whirlwind in the technical area manager Shiels constantly cajoled and encouraged his team to greater heights.

Shiels seems like a throwback to different times. His approach seems to be 'the game for the game's sake'.

He was generous in his praise of Celtic before and after the match and while many think he was playing mind games, I prefer to think of his approach as one of complete honesty and frankness.

Celtic can now concentrate on enjoying their forthcoming title success, while Kilmarnock can reflect on their day in the sun and perhaps even brighter days ahead.

The connectivity of the two clubs in the minds of many fans, who care not a jot for the Glasgow pair, may have been broken with Rangers' desperate situation and Celtic's clear stance.

Celtic have been run prudently and with diligence. Rangers have not.

How might the ongoing situation affect the rest of Scottish football though?

As someone based far away from the parochialism of Glasgow, and who dips his toes in the waters of that city's big two only when the editor asks politely (see my last blog on Sir David Murray), I am more interested in what Rangers' changed circumstances might mean for the wider Scottish game.

A more vexing question perhaps is can any club seriously tilt at Celtic's windmills?
The answer is surely no, given the huge gap in resources.

However, second place in the SPL and Champions League football may now be a realistic proposition for the other clubs.

There are some variables to be thrown into the mix.

The memorandum of agreement for clubs to compete in Uefa's competitions expires in 2014.

Top outfits like Barcelona and Real Madrid have been lobbying for major change and perhaps even setting up a breakaway European league.

They have mooted smaller domestic leagues in the big countries, to allow them to maximise the opportunities a new European set-up could bring.

For instance, it has been suggested that a reduced Premier League in England would feature 16 clubs, with the carrot of as many as eight places in a new Champions League.

In Scotland, however, given massive fan resistance to a 10-club league, could the move be in the other direction, to a bigger top division?

A 16-club SPL would please most fans.

Given Rangers' circumstances, the other clubs would have a decent shout of that second Champions League spot to accompany Celtic into a previously unimaginable world of glamour and riches.

Celtic have long held wider ambitions than the Scottish domestic scene can provide.
It would surprise no-one, given their potential, if they had been approached by other top clubs for their thoughts on the subject.

I chaired a question and answer session for Dundee United fans in the Arab Trust recently. It's fair to say the majority did not want to see Rangers go out of business.
They were, however, adamant on two things.

That Rangers must meet all their dues and obligations and that the current situation was a great opportunity for the rest of the SPL clubs to change the voting structure for the benefit of all of the clubs. The desire for a bigger league was also clear.

If a way can be found to make up the shortfall in income from an SPL that is bigger but has less fixtures then other Scottish clubs could benefit from Rangers' difficulties.

There are lots of imponderables at play here. However, with Celtic rightly looking after their own interests in proclaiming that life goes on without the neighbours, other Scottish clubs may also be turning their attention to what life could or should be like for them in the same circumstances.

Are the light blue legions capable of the same kind of action which supporters of other Scottish clubs organised, when they felt their own clubs were in serious danger?

A crowd of just 17,800 for the defeat at Ibrox from Dundee United is a worrying portent.

Sunday's Rangers-Dundee United Cup game was live on BBC TV, but the empty spaces around Ibrox did little to raise Rangers fans' spirits. Photo: SNS

Many of us can recall a time, not too long ago, when such attendances were not uncommon at Ibrox.

Then the years of plenty arrived under Sir David Murray and Graeme Souness, and continued under Walter Smith.

Full houses and big spending were the order of the day, but Rangers now face a different financial reality.

The club's supporters must be contemplating a radically different future from their illustrious past.

With the club's future shrouded in uncertainty, do they have the spirit to organise themselves to try to effect change?

Celtic, Dundee United and Hibernian fans all rallied to their respective causes when they felt their clubs were in peril.

"Celts for Change" forced what they saw as a discredited board from power; ushering in the Fergus McCann era.

"Hands off Hibs" saved their club from the merger (or takeover and oblivion) proposed by the late Wallace Mercer and found their saviour in Sir Tom Farmer.

"United for Change" brought an end to the tired regime of Jim Mclean and allowed Eddie Thompson to take control at Tannadice.

Rangers fans, though, appear to be much less proactive than those three groups were.

With the Ibrox club facing perhaps the greatest crisis in their long history, there appears to be little serious organised campaigning to demand action.

A prominent Rangers fan once told me that the Ibrox supporters had "The Man in the Big Hoose" mentality.

He reckoned they doffed the cap too easily to those in power.

Was he right? Have Rangers fans, normally not short on voicing their opinions, been too subservient on the issues at Ibrox?

Neither Sir David Murray nor Craig Whyte, faced anything like the well organised and orchestrated campaigns, which the boards at Celtic Park and Tannadice had to contend with.

It may simply be that Rangers supporters have sufficient faith in those who have run and are currently running their club.

However, it seems strange to me that fans of the club from Govan, with all the associated memories of radical shipyard workers in that part of the city, should so meekly accept what the fates may be about to deal them.

Among a vast Ibrox support there surely exists the range of knowledge and skills to help shape the future direction of the club.

The big question for Rangers fans is whether they are prepared to do something about it.

It led me to ponder the question, is being a keeper the hardest position on the field?

I would argue 'yes'.

The vast bulk of managers, players, fans and even journalists, have some experience, at whatever level, of playing football.

But very few have experience between the posts.

Andy Goram enjoyed a fine career as a goalkeeper yet was under six-foot tall. Photo: SNS

Scarcely a manager in Scotland has been a goalkeeper, hence the reason for employing specialist goalie coaches.

So who can truly judge, with genuine expertise, the man for whom one mistake between the sticks can be fatal?

Dunfermline keeper Chris Smith has had a bad run in recent weeks, but the very position he plays in has amplified his errors.

Strikers miss chances, midfielders miss passes and defenders miss tackles, but very few of those will have the instant and dramatically game-changing effects of a goalkeeping howler.

It goes without saying that good keepers need athletic flexibility, bravery, the ability to judge angles and great reflexes.

All of them, though, require more than anything, the great mental strength to recover quickly from the mistakes which can befall them and which have consequences more dramatic than any outfield player is liable to suffer.

By the very nature of being the last line of defence, the pressures on a keeper are unique.

A particular set of skills is called for, including an inner strength.

Many insist that a keeper needs presence.

Usually that is code for being around 6ft 4in and built like Steven Segal.

That, in my book, is nonsense.

The top keepers in the last 25 years in Scotland have been Andy Goram, Stefan Klos and Jim Leighton.

Goram never touched 5ft 11in his socks, Klos just made 6ft and Leighton was never in danger of concussion from hitting his head off the underside of the bar.

All three, though, exuded capability and confidence, along with the ability to remain unflustered and in command in pressure situations.

All were confident enough in their own skins to hold their line and refuse to come for balls in a reckless fashion, which could be better dealt with by defenders.

In England Brad Friedel and Shay Given are two prime examples of top-class custodians.

Age seems to be an important factor too in improving goalkeepers.

The top men are now seeing careers which allow them to play to 40 and perhaps beyond.

It's a great joy to watch all players perform their art at the highest level.

The meandering Lionel Messi on a mesmerising run is a thing of beauty.

The thrill of a Cristiano Ronaldo free kick swirling and twisting into the top corner of the net is a moment of magic.

But matching both in its own unique and special way is the craft and artistry of the great men who guard the nets.

Foster's rebuke that any Championship side could win the SPL may be wide of the mark but there is little doubt that the clubs in that league operate in a different financial world from all but the Old Firm here.

The Dons have a far more illustrious history than the Robins, with a European Cup Winners' Cup and Super Cup in their trophy cabinet.

But Derek McInnes's new side had an average crowd last season of 14,604 compared to 9,071 for the Dons.

Bristol meantime, has more than twice the population of Aberdeen.

Hearts, our third best supported club, last season pulled in 14,184, a figure topped by a whopping 21 clubs in England's Football League, never mind the Premier League.

Bristol City boss Derek McInnes has been recruiting in his native Scotland

Neighbours Hibs were watched by an average of 11,755, a figure on a par with Preston North End and Barnsley.

Dundee United's 7,389 is in the vicinity of teams such as Oxford United, Brighton and Bournemouth.

Motherwell, who pulled 5,254 through the gates on an average basis, compare with Southend United and Exeter City.

There are many English sides in the lower leagues who by virtue of population base can trump all but Celtic and Rangers, when it comes to attendances.

Those crowds, coupled with television revenue, equate to income levels that SPL clubs cannot hope to match.

In Scotland, we have historically lost top players to England but in recent times the torrent of talent flowing over the border had dried up to a trickle.

It appears that the previous order could be restored. If so what does that mean for Scottish football?

It would seem that youth will be the way forward more than ever before for all of our clubs.

That and a judicious use of the loan system appear likely to be our lot in the future.

The scenario though, presents opportunities as well as disappointments.

While it is galling to lose top talent to England, if clubs handle players' contracts properly, decent transfer fees should be made, helping to bring through the next batch of promising talent.

It might also lead to more adventurous football given the nature of youth: assuming that is, that coaches do not try to curb their natural expressiveness.

With more Scots playing at a higher level down south, our international future might also be brighter than once feared.

It is a real scunner to see top Scots players leave our best league to play in England, but in football money talks as it always has done.

I've never been a fan of sitting at a game and improvements in technology mean standing could be a real boon to our game in terms of atmosphere.

Celtic and Rangers both seem ready to embrace the move and others should follow.

At Celtic Park, the Green Brigade has been much maligned, but very often they have provided the only atmosphere at games there.

Fans at some SPL grounds may once again be able to stand at the match - but would Hibs consider such a move having completed its all-seater stadium? Photo: SNS

Football is both entertainment and spectacle and the SPL is to be applauded for this overdue and sensible move.

No-one is mooting a return to the huge terracing of yesteryear like the giant slopes of Easter Road or Tannadice, but a return to the Hibees bounce or the Shed boys dance would add greatly to the sense of occasion, in my book.

There may be some grounds where a return to some safe standing is impractical; although those clubs may come under pressure from their own fans once they see how standing works at other grounds.

Safety must always be the primary concern, but there is no good reason why, with good planning and communication with fans, safe standing should not enhance the match-day experience.

Too often that experience has been a turgid and miserable one, with overzealous officialdom treating those who pay their wages, the fans, shoddily.

In recent times the Friday night experiment has worked well and the recent Saturday early kick-offs seemed to be reasonably well received among many supporters.

At last it seems that there is genuine dialogue going on between those in charge of the game and supporters.

That is good for the future of our football, for which I believe there is still a remarkable appetite.

Now everyone from local councils to police must ensure that there is no unreasonable obstruction to these sensible plans on standing.

It's time to stand and deliver on standing at football.

While Black's situation arises through circumstances forced upon him, it got me wondering whether our game would be any worse off if we adopted the part-time approach as a model.

With St Johnstone attracting just 1607 fans to their game against Aberdeen, there must be real concerns about where our national game is headed.

Yes, I know that the conditions were shocking, but if people are not prepared to turn out in such weather and we keep refusing to play in the summer, then crowds seem likely to continue to decline.

Can our game go on sustaining full-time players among the 20 or so clubs who currently operate on that basis?

Might the mix of part-time and full-time, similar to the Raith Rovers approach, might be better suited to the modern economics of the Scottish game.

When Gothenburg beat Dundee United in the final of the Uefa Cup, it was reported that the Swedish players all held down jobs outside football.

Might it not be better if many of our clubs and players could operate an arrangement with employers whereby they trained in the morning and worked another job in the afternoon for instance.

The world of work has changed for a great many people, but not for football.

Maybe it's time that the game embraced a new order and accepted that full-time football for the many is simply unviable.

There are players at some clubs, mainly but not exclusively in the First Division, who would be financially better off making decent part-time wage from football, while doing another job which would give them some kind of security, in the very insecure world of Scottish football.

The former St Johnstone chairman Geoff Brown once told me that he had far fewer injuries with players when Saints were a part-time club.

He attributed it to players having other jobs such as roofers or joiners, where they had a different type of daily fitness.

As they went about their day jobs, they worked off the strains and pulls picked up on the park.

And just as importantly he said, they didn't have the time to think about their injuries and woes.

At the very top level, football will always be full-time.

But there is a case that is growing stronger for more and more clubs to see the benefits of turning part-time.

I reckon they will be digging out the passports again next season.

I was with them in Nancy back in 2008 when they lost 1-0, with terrific support from around 2000 travelling fans.

Despite the narrow defeat and subsequent home defeat in the second leg, it was a great occasion.

The way Stuart McCall has his Fir Park side playing, it would be a brave soul who would bet against their return to the European stage.

McCall has produced a side which is mentally very tough, particularly away from home.

Seven wins from nine makes them the most successful travellers in the Scottish Premier League behind leaders Rangers.

Motherwell are riding high in the Scottish Premier League (pic: SNS)

Recently, I covered the Steelmen's win at Inverness.

Terry Butcher's side should have taken the points, but instead I watched Motherwell storm back from 2-1 down to score twice in the last thirteen minutes.

Last weekend's 3-0 win against a St Johnstone side in fine form was further evidence of the strength of side that McCall has assembled.

They play good football but there is a real mental edge in evidence, which will stand them in good stead for the rest of the campaign.

Omar Daley may not be quite as fast as his fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt but he can fly by most full-backs in the SPL.

Michael Higdon and Jamie Murphy both carry serious goal threat and Keith Lasley, who has looked indomitable when I have seen him this season, has found time to rustle the opposing net four times from his midfield berth.

Well sit eight points behind second-placed Celtic with a game in hand, so can they split the Old Firm?

That is probably asking too much given the enormous gulf in resources between the Glasgow pair and the Fir Park side.

Holding on to third place though, looks like an increasingly good bet.

Both Mark McGhee and then Craig Brown did fine work at the Lanarkshire club.

And Motherwell continue to flourish and prosper under the tutelage of McCall.

Just one defeat in their last ten games tells its own story.

This is a Motherwell side going places.

Europe next stop?

Withdraw their labour ?

Treat their contracts as repudiated and walk away as free agents ?

Or stick it out in the hope that Vladimir Romanov finds the cash from somewhere ?

There is no more fundamental breach of the contract between employer and employee than failure to pay wages due.

Every labourer is worthy of his hire. Unless he plays for Hearts it seems.

There appears to be a sanguine view among some fans that because the players are earning by many standards handsome salaries, that they can and should be able to cope, but that misses the point.

Professional footballers, like most of us, live according to their incomes and have outgoings according to their incomes.

Football authorities always like to see the law kept out of the sport.

But it appears that even in the wake of the landmark Jean-Marc Bosman ruling 16 years ago, they have learned little.

The Hearts players could not be blamed for resorting to the law of the land, claiming breach of contract and walking out of Tynecastle as free agents.

That would deny the club any compensation which would otherwise be due for the players.

The club can't have it both ways.

It cannot ask players to commit themselves to the shirt and the cause and risk career threatening injuries while not paying them wages due for work done.

If so, what about those who traipse from Montrose and Forfar to follow Dundee United instead of heading to Links Park or Station Park on a Saturday afternoon?

What of those who eschew the Fife sides to head to Gorgie or Leith to enjoy the delights of Hearts and Hibs, rather than Cowdenbeath or East Fife?

How many football fans leave Cowdenbeath to watch Hibernian or Hearts at the weekend? Photo: SNS

Why do we support the team we support in the first place?

I suspect it is a long and complicated story, involving grandparents, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, as well as a myriad of other influences.

Are the followers of the Old Firm more or less passionate about their teams than the followers of Stenhousemuir or East Stirlingshire?

There are many armchair fans who claim allegiance to a team but seldom turn up at games.

Are they fans at all? Do you have to attend every match to be a real fan?

Or are fans entitled to choose where and when to follow their team in the same way they would choose where and when to shop?

Why do one man's loyalties lie at Tannadice when his brother's heart belongs to Celtic?

Why does one woman head for Rugby Park when all roads lead to Ibrox for her other half?

So how do we choose which team to follow, or does your team choose you?