Stuart Bathgate: Meanwhile, a good news story from the SPL

AMIDST all the gloom which has enveloped the SPL in recent weeks, we are perhaps in danger of overlooking some of the modest yet undeniable improvements which have occurred at a number of clubs this season.

By their very nature, these improvements are not attention-grabbing – would a story headlined “Team plays a wee bit better than last season” get you reading? – but, in the longer run, they could be just as significant as the calamities and crises which have claimed so much coverage. So, while the league are looking for a new sponsor, Dunfermline are shutting a stand, Hearts are downsizing, Hibs are looking for another new manager, Rangers await their tax hearing and Celtic face two inquiries, let’s look on the bright side.

It’s not that difficult if you’re a supporter of Motherwell or St Johnstone, St Mirren or Kilmarnock, where some young or at least relatively inexperienced coaches are bucking the downbeat trend and producing teams who play positive football. And let’s add Dundee United to that list. Peter Houston would take umbrage if you called him young or inexperienced, but, after a summer in which a lot of talent left Tannadice, he has remained true to his principles and encouraged his team to keep playing good football. The same goes for Stuart McCall at Motherwell, Derek McInnes and now Steve Lomas at St Johnstone, Danny Lennon at St Mirren and Kenny Shiels at Kilmarnock.

McCall, in particular, is doing a remarkable job keeping his club in touch with Celtic in second place on a fraction of the budget. Of the others, two or even three could take their teams into the top six come the split.

These teams are among the smaller in the top flight, with United the only ones who might be included in the biggest half-dozen in the country, and that has lessened the economic impact in the form of bigger gates that their improved form has had. But the lack of resources only makes their achievements all the more deserving of praise.