Give stars a break before Italian job

Published on Sunday 21 October 2007 01:03

AN UNLIKELY alliance of football lovers ranging from Alex Salmond and Denis Law to Jimmy Hill and Tommy Docherty last night demanded the postponement of a weekend of SPL games.

They spoke out in support of Scotland manager Alex McLeish's plea for the nation's top sides to put country before club and cancel all SPL fixtures the week before next month's Euro 2008 qualification decider against Italy. After losing to Georgia on Wednesday, Scotland must now beat World Cup holders Italy at Hampden Park on November 17 to qualify for their first European Championship since Euro 96.

At present there is a full programme of SPL fixtures scheduled for the weekend before the winner-takes-all clash, and McLeish believes they must be postponed to help the national side win a game billed as the most important in a generation.

"This is sensible approach by Alex McLeish," said First Minister Alex Salmond, who believes everything should be done to help the national side in its bid to qualify for Euro 2008. "It's essential that the squad is fully prepared for one of the most important Scotland games ever. Alex knows his players, and knows what he needs to win the match."

McLeish is particularly wary of the tiredness and injuries that undermined Scotland against Georgia. He is hoping the Scottish Football Association accedes to his request to suspend the programme, therefore allowing the players to have a break before the Italy game.

Even then, some of his most influential stars, such as Everton's James McFadden, Sunderland's Craig Gordon and Manchester United's Darren Fletcher, play in the English Premiership and will almost certainly be involved in games south of the Border. As England don't play their game against Croatia until the following Wednesday, and will probably be out of the competition by then anyway, there is virtually no prospect of any postponements south of the Border.

McLeish's idea has already been given the backing of the Tartan Army, who have started an online petition that has more than 600 signatures so far.

Another high-profile figure supporting McLeish is Wendy Alexander. "Scotland have done incredibly well so far," said the Scottish Labour leader. "Whatever happens against Italy, the team deserve our congratulations. Alex McLeish knows his players and the type of preparations they need for the game. We should take any steps which Alex thinks would help Scotland beat Italy next month."

Football fever is currently running so high that the SFA have already been able to declare that stocks of the infamous maroon away strip used against Georgia have sold out.

Legends from the world of Scottish football have sensed the mood and yesterday they lined up to support McLeish's call for a postponement.

"It is a terrific suggestion. I just hope that the SPL goes along with it," Scotland legend Denis Law told Scotland on Sunday. "I remember in the Sixties when we played Czechoslovakia in the play-offs and we lost four men on the Saturday beforehand and we ended up losing 3-2 and not going to the World Cup finals in Chile.

"It is vital that we get to the Euro 2008 finals. We are playing the current world champions and the fact that Scotland are at home gives them a great opportunity to go through."

Former Blackburn Rovers and Scotland star Colin Hendry echoed Law's sentiments. "I think everyone would like to see it [a postponement]," he said. "This game is so crucial. It is the difference between qualifying and not qualifying.

"This type of scenario is not going to happen every year and if it is granted, it will give the manager the best possible opportunity to try to create a winning side and qualify."

Former Scotland centre-half Gordon McQueen said it was a "great idea". He added: "I'd say: 'Well done to Alex for even thinking about it'. It is our most important game in years and it should be done for the well-being of Scottish football. If we qualify, just look at the financial implications for the SFA. It will help the country's game right down to its grassroots."

Even that famous old curmudgeon, ex-Scotland boss Tommy Doherty, fell into line with the football zeitgeist when he said that he supported any plan that gave the country a better chance of qualification.

"There is far too much football played these days and anything that helps Scotland can only be a good thing," he said.

Perhaps the most surprising supporter of McLeish's proposal is a Tartan Army hate figure whose sexuality has been questioned in virtually every ground in the country after his description of David Narey's goal against Brazil in 1982 as "a toe-poke".

"If I was manager of Scotland, I would be asking for the same thing," said the former Fulham and England international Jimmy Hill. "If it gives the country a better chance of qualifying them it would ridiculous not to bring this about.

"You hear about athletes picking and choosing their meetings in order not to overdo things but there is no comparison between running 400m and playing 90 minutes.

"This is a vital game for Scotland and everything should be done to help Alex and his team."

Hamish Husband, spokesman for the association of Tartan Army clubs, said it was vital the change was made: "This match is so important for the national game. There is an online petition to support this and it is getting more and more backing all the time.

"This is a one-off. A chance for Scotland to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals from a group which included the current world champions, Italy, and the former world champions, France. It is too good an opportunity to miss."

Neither the SPL nor SPL television rights-holders Setanta, whose agreement would be required for a such a postponement, were available for comment yesterday.