Former Rangers youth coach Ricky Waddell has slammed the SPFL system following the breakdown of league reconstruction talks, as quoted by the Daily Record.
The 39-year-old left Auchenhowie in 2019 to become manager of newly formed Lowland League club Caledonian Braves.
Kelty Hearts took that title when the league was declared finished in April and he insists it’s unfair that Barry Ferguson’s side won’t get a chance to move up to the SPFL.
A panel was set up to explore the idea of league reconstruction but talks broke down and Waddell believes that no progress will be made within the current system, as clubs will always put their own interests before the good of the game.
“I understand why people are making these decisions because they can’t do something that would put their club in jeopardy – but that’s where the whole thing is flawed,” he said, as quoted by the Daily Record.
“The best case scenario was the original 14-10-10-10 which would see Brora and Kelty promoted, and nobody would really be affected by that. This has completely shown up the whole system, in my opinion.”
“Ultimately with this system you’re not going to get a fair result. It will be the fans, the players and the coaches that suffer…It goes back to that traditional Scottish football thing; this is the way it’s always been done, so this is the way it will always be.”
Verdict
Waddell’s comments follow hot on the heels of a statement from Premiership club Livingston on Wednesday, which criticised fellow SPFL members for failing to see the bigger picture regarding reconstruction.
It was perhaps always going to be unlikely that an agreement would be reached on reconstruction amid the global health crisis, with clubs unwilling to risk any financial hits amid these unprecedented times.
The lack of changes has led to the likes of Partick Thistle and Stranraer being harshly relegated, with Hearts likely to soon suffer a similar fate.
Meanwhile, Kelty and Highland League champions Brora Rangers have been denied the chance to break into the SPFL.
Self-interest also undoubted played a role in how clubs voted on Rangers’ EGM resolution earlier this week.
The result of that vote ensures there won’t be an investigation into SPFL practice anytime soon, but it’s certainly hard to see the Scottish game progressing until there’s a level of independence around decision-making.
