Let's Hope For An Independent Board Member Who Truly Is Independent

THERE WAS a wee discussion on Facebook this week, following yet another good bit of old-fashioned journalism by big David Barnes of THE OFFSIDE LINE, who discovered that the SRU is actively seeking a new Independent Board Member – a mere 24 hours before the final day for applications.

I don't know where Barney (pictured left), found it, because it wasn't up on the Vacancies page on the SRU website. Some interesting names came-up on Facebook, few of whom, we feel, would be exactly welcomed by the current junta.

Given the make-up of the Board, with so many of the paid departmental directors having a seat, the role of the Independent board members has added importance – in that they have to ensure the voice of the stakeholders – the clubs is heard. There is anecdotal evidence this hasn't been the case of late, which, I believe, has led us to the present upsetting circumstances.

But, as I don't think I can say often enough – independent-minded board members looking after the clubs' interests is the last thing the junta wants.

I CAME across the following item, while reading the popular pro-Independence website 'Wings Over Scotland' yesterday. I wonder how this equates to the SRU's spend on “NDAs” (Non-disclosure Agreements).

“Just reading a BBC text service report that the Westminster Establishment have spent £2.5 Million on, “Commons Gagging Clauses”.

These are titled, “NDA’s”, (Non-Disclosure Agreements). and are used for what a House of Commons spokesman describes as, “Used to resolve employment disputes under certain circumstances.”

However, the truth is that there were 53 departing members of the House of Commons’ Service signing contracts that paid them not to disclose information about the Commons. That information is being used to silence them from disclosing the facts they were leaving the service after being subjected to bullying and/or harassment.

So, as usual, the elected members are getting away with criminal behaviour and the tax payer is being fined instead of the guilty persons.”

I should add, there is no evidence of criminal behaviour in any of the SRU settlements, although, there appears to be a clear case – given the report of Keith Russell's employment tribunal, that the Fat Controller and the Consigliore have been playing fast and loose with employment law. As with Westminster life, perhaps there is an element of absolute power and corruption, or at least, we have to ask, who polices the policemen, given the apparent lack of rigour by our board members and councillors.

Each of these 53 NDAs, by the way, equates to a payment of just over £47,000.

Alasdair Strokosh - has joined Edinburgh as an S&C Coach

IT IS good to see big Al Strokosh back from France and involved in Edinburgh, in his new Strength and Conditioning role. It is accepted in team sports that these guys – the S&C coaches, the physios and so forth can play an important role in building a good club ethos. Players will unburden themselves in the weights room or the physio's room to an extent they will not when dealing with the actual coaches.

Strokosh has been there, done that, and has a room full of the t-shirts and the DVDs – never mind the 45 Scotland caps. His experience will be great for the younger Edinburgh forwards to feed off, and I am sure he will quickly become a key man in the club.

A VICTORY over Argentine tonight will be more than welcome, however, I will not be spitting the dummy and chucking the toys out of the pram should the Pumas win. One of my main complaints about things such as the World Rugby rankings is that results in friendlies can impact – these, as has definitely been the case over this summer's series, are often “development” games.

In football, for instance, FIFA counts every international for ranking points, while UEFA only counts competitive games, which I think is fairer. But, that. In this instance, is simply an aside.

Gregor Townsen is trying things, seeking to see if new partnerships can gel, so, we should expect the occasional upset. Mind you, it seems to me, two paces forward, one back or to the side, has been Scotland's lot for as long as I can remember. What I would like to see, is a structured international team system, whereby players can train-on from the Under-20 team, perhaps via an Under-23 team and an A team into the full side.

The Churchill Cup, which used to fill this role, may have gone, but, there are international tournaments we could put an intermediate side into for the experience. England is able to provide end-of-season games for their shadow Saxons squad, and even their “amateur” England Counties side – why cannot the SRU do something similar.

The likes of a Scotland Under-23 team would, I am sure, learn something if pitted against some of the Tier 2 nations in Europe, or even further afield.

THE FULL SPFL fixtures for the new season were recently announced, and well-covered by the mainstream media. The SRU released the domestic Premiership and National League fixtures this week, and, apart from a somewhat grudging mention of the new “seven-figure” Tennent's sponsorship, in the Scottish papers – zilch.

Time was, these fixtures were released via a good old Press Day, but, these days are past and the club game clearly does not matter to the suits. Mind you, if I was a High Heid Yin at Tennent's, I think I'd be asking what was going on – where's my media exposure? Not good enough by either the msm or the Murrayfield media department.

The Scottish Cup draw also came out this week, again without an official press release. In case you haven't heard, the draw is:

Scottish Cup Round 1 (ties to be played on Saturday 24 November) 

Heriot’s v Edinburgh Accies Watsonians v Marr Boroughmuir v Melrose Ayr v Dundee HSFP

Jed-Forest v Selkirk GHA v Currie Chieftains Stirling County v Glasgow Hawks Hawick v Gala

Further Rounds

Quarter Final – Saturday 16 February 2019

Semi-Final – Saturday 30 March 2019

Final – Saturday 27April 2019

For the National League Cup, the story is:

National League Cup Round 1 (ties to be played on Saturday 25 August) 

Musselburgh v Biggar Glasgow Accies v Highland Carrick v Stewart’s Melville Kelso v St Boswells Preston Lodge v Hillhead Jordanhill West of Scotland v Murrayfield Wanderers Perthshire v Whitecraigs

Orkney v Dumfries Saints Ardrossan Accies v Aberdeen Grammar Cartha Queen’s Park v GHK Peebles v Caithness Newton Stewart v Haddington Gordonians v Kirkcaldy Lasswade v Howe of Fife

Byes – Falkirk and Hamilton 

Further Rounds

Second Round – 24 November 2018

Quarter Final – Saturday 16 February 2019

Semi-Final – Saturday 30 March 2019

Final – Saturday 20 April 2019

I will deal with the leagues in a future blog.