AlbionMan

Certainly useful additions to the squad, although without injuries in their positions I'd be surprised in any of them made the starting eleven. Given the fixture list in the next 7 weeks it won't be the quality of the first choice team that will see success or failure but the strength of the bench and back up players that will determine the prizes.

It could pointed out that Sctland's failure to qualify for tournaments coincided with the creation of the SPL in 1998 and the retention of any wealth in the Scottish game by the 'big clubs'. Those countries being cited as internationally successful by having B teams in their leagues have a top league of 18 or 20 teams. Perhaps that should be a route for Scotland to follow first to be successful internationally. The cheeks are looking at the wrong part of the template for Scotland to be successful.

Completely agree with this post, but to add the media are scum..anyone who dares to threaten the establishment e.g. Corbyn & Sturgeon is demonized ferociously by the BBC and other state brand. And the British public just lap it up. That'll be the same media that gives Sturgeon a free party political broadcast daily in the guise of a Covid briefing and a supine Scottish press which makes no attempt to question her utterances.

Does that means both leagues have to complete 18 games by 23rd, or would one league be able present their play off candidates and promoted and relegated clubs after 18 games and the other, without delays to fixtures, go to a split?

Stenny - Hibs might disagree.

Is it clear yet if there is to be a relegation play off from L2? If not the excitement generated by the games in L2 bottom 5 split will be off the bottom end of the chart. The luck of the draw for home games after the split could well determine promotion and play-off places. To the 20 clubs there may be a rational basis for the suggested split, but it hasn't yet been explained.

Was that not an announcement about a future announcement?

There is now the Brazilian mutation, which will need a further long period of deliberation before setting a new date for consideration of an easing of restrictions. Remember this is all in the interest of keeping us safe.

What's happening elsewhere has f... all all to do with SNP's wee domestic, a touch of green/blue whitabootery there.

Notwithstanding the excellent job the NHS has done in the pandemic, it would take a blind man not to see the it needs major reform. It has evolved into an inefficient bureaucracy to the detriment of its delivery. It's no longer the world leader it was when established, in large measure as result of the proliferation of management structures to the detriment of medical delivery. It's political leadership in Scotland has presided over ongoing abysmal performance. Paradoxically, I think the Conservatives are frightened to make the necessary reforms bringing it into the 21st century as a National Service

Any word on number of cases exported to the rest of UK and elsewhere between these dates?

You may have misread me, I didn't suggest that this would take place after the event, rather that predetermined responses would be in place for the league to implement if an eventuality took place. Current League position and potential gain or loss to individual clubs would not have been a factor. It would not have been limited to L2 but be in place for the whole SPFL Structure. SPFL council asked for a blank canvas on which to impose their ideas after the event had taken place.

I think you are missing some of the points that are being made. We are all living under restrictions imposed by dictat rather than our parliaments and have to live within these restrictions. I read that the BMA has now called for the near elimination of Covid before any significant easing of restrictions. The world lives with tolerated exposure to other infectious killer diseases. We will have to do the same with Covid. Our governments and others around the world are like rabbits caught in headlights, unable to move, waiting fearfully for the Covid truck to ether miss them or run them over.

Flying the EU flag on Scottish public buildings may have had relevance prior to UK's departure from that body, continuing the practice has reduced it to pointless symbolism now.

The SPFL board did indeed ask for power to make such decisions. Power would have been more likely to be granted if the board had issued a series of proposals determining actions to be taken under different foreseeable scenarios rather than ask for a blank cheque to make decisions.

You are sadly mistaken if you imagine that potical and economic stability has returned to the Balkans. Croatia and Slovenia are in the EU and have a measure of stability, the other republics are in dire straits under both measures. Nowhere in the other former Yugoslavia states including Kosovo is youth unemployment below 30% and in Kosovo it is 60%. Total unemployment in these states is 15% in Serbia, 20% in three others and 29% in Kosovo. Bosnia in particular is a political disaster area with little to stop it falling apart with or without violence.

The conversation between football and Scottish government should be about the management of risk. It seems to me that SFA/SPFL's risk management policy is only in place to safeguard their revenue streams, not to safeguard Scottish football against Covid.. Given their pronouncements, SG doesn't appear to be attempting to manage risk from Covid either, rather they are hoping to abolish any risk by a continuous resetting of restrictions, with no long term strategy. The daily sound bites regularly tell us how well the country is doing fighting Covid but despite that there is no end in sight. Among many other industries, almost all football in Scotland is at a standstill and unable to a find way ahead with neither football nor government apparently capable of joined-up tthinking.

For heavens sake just tell her to shelve the election, her current arguments indicate it will be a major risk in spreading of the disease.

They don't look good and the view with a near full house would be terrible, but with only 350 spread around it would allow a decent view for City's and visiting support. Not something that they could grow into though.

You have still to read Audit Scotland's opinion on the Scotland Health approach to Covid. That'll be a Unionist Tory Audit Scotland, I suspect.

Wishful thinking - Absolutely. Hands up anybody thinks that the season is likely to restart?

I think the SFA for all its faults had been heavily leant upon to announce the decision to spare the government's blushes.

When in doubt defer a decision and promise something for tomorrow, on which date there will be a further deferral and a revised benchmark.

Add to that - only Scotland qualified players under 21 eligible, then watch their concern for the development of Scottish players wither. As you recommend, NO is the only realistic choice.

Not single handedly, you're in a queue behind SFA, SPFL and wee Nicola. I think it's likely to happen and you'll be safe come May.