Sidelined Gordon wants pyramid, as he helps train Gala

The former Hearts and Sunderland goalkeeper has had first-hand experience of the game at East of Scotland League level by helping out his dad, Davie, who is a coach at Gala Fairydean.

Gordon, capped 40 times for Scotland, believes that the 12-12-18 proposals will be a breath of fresh air as it gives non-league clubs the opportunity of moving up to senior level.

The 30-year-old – currently sidelined with a knee injury – said: “The pyramid system has got to come in. There are clubs outwith the league system with big ambitions and the local area in the Borders could definitely support at least one lower league club.

“I think it will be a positive thing to allow clubs to have something to aim for, rather than just trying to win your league for the sake of it. Striving to try and get into the league would really add an edge to the competitions and it might interest some local people to invest and try and make that happen.

“I think that has to happen fairly soon in Scottish football and will definitely help the lower and non-league clubs.

“If reconstruction can make the bottom leagues more competitive it could have a knock-on affect on the top leagues as well and keep them on their toes. I think it would definitely improve the standard of non-league football and possibly the quality of the top clubs as well.”

Gordon joined Sunderland from Hearts in 2007 for £9 million – a record for a British goalkeeper – but left the Premier League club last summer after a succession of knee injuries, and is trying to battle back to fitness.

He said: “I am doing my goalkeeping licence and trying to become qualified as a coach. It is something I can look forward to and get my teeth into.

“Coaching is not something I have looked into too closely until my injury.

“I am still pretty young having just turned 30, but if I can get some coaching badges then I might give it a shot.”