Scottish Fitba Media needs Reality Check

I have forged a reputation as the mild-mannered member of the Beyond the Cliche production team. That is about to come crashing down to the ground after I spotted something I didn't much like on a train to Almondvale. An unnamed Scottish newspaper (OK it was The Daily Record) decided that Rangers' SPL title win was worthy of 16 pages of today's rag, under the title of "2 Good for Everyone". At best, this is gutter press. At worst, it is a fine example of the disease that afflicts Scottish football - namely the media's infatuation with the heavenly Old Firm, telling readers who don't know any better that they are the proverbial "Dog's Bollocks".

As a lower league fan, it is part of my psyche to hate both Celtic and Rangers - some would call it a balanced opinion. I bear no grudge against Rangers for winning the SPL, they were slightly less average over the course of the season than Celtic. However, 16 pages of headlines like "Bougherra says 'Walter made me a Winner'" do nothing for the image of Scottish football outside of Ibrox or Parkhead. Madjid Bougherra is not a winner because of Walter Smith. He is a winner because there is a ceiling to his talents which have been reached at the best club in a very uncompetitive and poor quality league. Call it lack of ambition, call it limited ability - nobody better will take him, so why not win trophies whilst being mediocre?

And what have these two frankly mercenary clubs contributed to the wider Scottish game? Other than taking on the best young Scottish players from other clubs and benching them, pretty much nothing. Can you name a single current player produced by the Old Firm who has gone on to better things after leaving? Don't you dare say Alan Hutton or Barry Ferguson. You wouldn't see any of their players leaving and then being subject of a £4 million bid from a club like West Ham (had to bring that up, it's not often a guy pops up at Almondvale the same day he's the main headline on the BBC Sport website!). Again, don't say Alan Hutton or Barry Ferguson.

While our press continues to fawn over the Big Two, Scottish football will go nowhere. Year on year, they have gone into Europe and embarrassed themselves and their nation. It is a big fish, small pond mentality which is so short-sighted that it has begun to rub off on the players involved - they appear to actually believe that being a member of what is probably the worst SPL winning team (certainly the poorest) of all time is the pinnacle of their careers. Sadly, it probably is. There is simply no competition in that league to justify 16 lines, let alone 16 pages. For 4 games a season there can be genuine interest, but anybody who has watched/suffered these "special occasions" this year can testify against the quality of football on offer.

OK rant over. Well done Rangers, but please don't get carried away - celebrate as you would winning the luxury hamper at a school fair raffle. That should be sufficient for the actual level of your achievement

RM