former players.
Ally McCoist and Richard Gough, for example, had been allowed to use
the facilities to keep fit - but the arrangement was in danger of turning into a
farce when more and more former players started to ask for the same
access.
McLeish said - 'I thought it might be a good idea to allow legends like them
to be seen around the place by the young players. But things started to
get out of hand and lots of other former players were also asking for
the same rights.'
'It reached a stage where I had to say no. My focus has to be on the
future.'
This example of professionalism by McLeish must surely be welcomed by
all Bears.
Auchenhowie has not been opened to the paying public as it should
despite all the talk of the fans paying for it through schemes such as Ready
For The Future, Buy A Brick and the Rising Stars lottery.
Instead the facility was first visited by sponsors and corporate guests
before shareholders were 'given the chance' to see around it - but only
in a three week period when there were no players there. Presumably
sponsors and corporate guests are less distrssing for the players to see on the side of the pitch than normal fans.
The financing and touring (or non-touring) of Auchenhowie was yet
another example of the complete lack of understanding by paid functionaries of
the mindset of the fans. These functionaries seem to regard the club as their personal property rather than an organisation at least emotionally owned by the supporters.
The deeply embarrassing manner in which the title 'Murray Park' was
applied to the facility by other members of the Board perhaps sums up all that
is wrong with the self-seekers.
The removal of former players from Auchenhowie is a step in the right
direction - it is a place of work and not somewhere gossip should be
picked up and sold to the press.