THIS column is about giving people the chance to say what they feel about Scottish football, and we certainly caused a stir by suggesting there might be an amnesty for clubs if they agreed to tell all that they know about corruption in the game.
Bill “Merlin” McMurdo is a trenchant commentator on Scottish football, and he responded by offering us his views which are themselves surely food for thought.
“The old adage that you should never meet your idols because you will discover their clay feet is very applicable to myself considering I grew up the son of Scotland’s top football agent and was afforded an insight into the inner workings of football beyond the experience of most.
“The introduction by Fifa of a required £100,000 bond as an entry fee for agents put paid to my own short career as an agent but even that brief time exposed me to the brown envelopes (white, actually) and biscuit tin mentality of some clubs.
“Recent comments made on my blog and elsewhere have brought a lot of attention and so I would just like to clarify my views on the matter of skulduggery in football.
“Firstly, let me say that the game in Scotland is no hotbed of vice and corruption. A more corporate approach by clubs in recent times has helped purge much of the dubious practice that was endemic previously.
“My comments were sparked by the EBT [Employee Benefit Trusts] fiasco at Rangers. It is well-known that I am no fan of David Murray but, although I think the use of EBTs was wrong and foolish, it did not constitute cheating. In fact, I think it was introduced to ensure that cheating did not take place.
“But let’s get real. Anyone who knows the inner workings of football knows that brown envelopes, offshore payments, undeclared taxable perks, bungs and “freebies” are all things that have been employed by many clubs to procure the services of desired players.
“It has gone on for years and, although Financial Fair Play and a more accountable business culture is helping to eradicate it, it is part of the game.
“In some countries the majority of money in football is ‘black’ money.
“As I said, Scotland is not nearly that bad. But anybody who is clamouring for everything to come out about how clubs may have paid players on the side or off-book – even unwittingly or unknowingly – is asking for a world of hurt.
“You really don’t want to take your big, self-righteous sledgehammer to Pandora’s Box.
“What is important is not to conduct a witch-hunt over historic corruption but to ensure that in the future our game is the very embodiment of probity and integrity in the fiscal realm. I think most clubs are signed up to that in their outlook these days.”
You can check out more about what Bill has to say at www.billmcmurdo.wordpress.com. Well worth a read, even if you don’t agree with him. And if you don’t, or have any other view on Scottish football, drop us a line at kickersnational@gmail.com.
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