With the Yes group taking a slim lead for the first time, Scotland faces a knifes edge in the upcoming referendum. And the anti-union momentum gathers steam. Most of the attention is rightly drawn towards economic dire straits being predicted by everyone from Paul Krugman to JK Rowling, ratcheting up the alarm. Billions of pounds were wiped out as investors dumped stock from firms with Scottish links and the pound fell to its lowest level in 10 months.
The battle, however has been fought a long time in the football trenches. Scottish football reorganizing on the lines of the EPL, finds itself poisoned by the high stakes and glamour of its southern neighbour, as their top division breaks records with their spending sprees with TV revenues that keep rolling in, like tidal waves now over £3bn. Meanwhile, the SPL receives a niggardly £15m. In scale, that is 1:150 in money love. To English broadcasters the SPL is only worth its TV money because of the Old Firm, a cause of much friction with the rest of the league. Over the years, since its 1998 inception, the SPL has seen six clubs enter administration because of accumulated debt and high wage turnovers. The Old Firm fell apart two years ago, as Rangers entered administration unable to pay £9m in unpaid taxes owed to the HMRC as their spending left them on the brink with debts of £30 million. Their woes continue to this day in the championship.
A wooden spoon, the spectacle of failed clubs, income inequality, and obnoxious Mike Ashley acquiring the naming rights to Ibrox for £1, have coalesced the disillusionment felt by many supporter groups into support for the Yes campaign. At the opposite end, the No campaign led by former footballers and managers such as Alan Hansen, David Moyes, Ally McCoist, Barry Ferguson amongst others, touting patriotism as well as support for the union. They were denounced as Westminster agents.
As Barney Ronay points out, the schism is done. William McGregor’s founding of the league to David Moyes’s dismissal as a fin de seicle moment. All that Scottish invention to the English long ball. Eighteen out of the last 25 top division titles. If both countries could personify football IP, Scotland would be Nikola Tesla and England, Thomas Alva Edison, a petri dish of borrowed ideas and embellished as its own. Yet, like Tesla, Scotland comes out poorer, much poorer. Frank De Boer, just recently bemoaned the state of Scottish football. In his view, Celtic and Rangers could be as massive as Man Utd if only they had joined the Premier League. This is destructive self loathing brought on by constant juxtaposition. Yes, there are concerns that independence could have a chilling effect on overseas player transfers if Scotland were forced to reapply to the EU. But breaking away from the union could also begin the healing. Concentrating on developing youth talent, keeping the money within the league buying and selling locally, and raising visibility through broadcasting prime time highlights. Scottish football could score two most important goals if they live within means and raise standards.