
Thirty years ago Scottish football was riding high, producing many world-class players and regularly qualifying for international tournaments. But the social landscape was changing fast with a new political doctrine placing money above everything - resulting in one fifth of the work force in Scotland losing their jobs, fracturing the industrial communities that supported many of the football clubs. The game badly needed modernisation and a new direction. Emerging was a new breed of leaders with new skills, with the ability of keeping one eye on the ball and the other on business.
Thirty years ago Scottish football was riding high, producing many world-class players and regularly qualifying for international tournaments. But the social landscape was changing fast with a new political doctrine placing money above everything - resulting in one fifth of the work force in Scotland losing their jobs, fracturing the industrial communities that supported many of the football clubs. The game badly needed modernisation and a new direction. Emerging was a new breed of leaders with new skills, with the ability of keeping one eye on the ball and the other on business.
Football had become a global brand and Scotland was keen for its share of the action, and the cash. But the new money came at a price, top players demanded higher wages, kick-off times were changed and TV now called the shots. Clubs desperate to compete in this new world were vulnerable to hare-brained schemes, mavericks with deep pockets and ego-driven illusions. Almost overnight the dual drivers of money and media transformed the game - but left Scottish football struggling to forge an identity that would carry it into the future.