Jim Farry: Reformer who belied antediluvian image

IN a 20-year period which saw Scottish football go from bust to boom, Jim Farry, who has died at the age of 56, was one of the most recognisable and influential figures in the game.

• Jim Farry at the press conference where Andy Roxburgh, Scotland football team coach, announces his resignation in September 1993

The former SFA chief executive will inevitably also be remembered as one of its most controversial as a consequence of his dismissal from the post in 1999 following legal action from Celtic over the registration of striker Jorge Cadete.

Farry's place in Scottish football history, however, extends far beyond the courtroom battle he lost with former Celtic owner Fergus McCann. From his appointment as Scottish Football League secretary in 1979 to his fall from grace at the SFA two decades later, Farry was a driving force in many significant and positive changes to the way football operated in this country.

The widely-held perception of Farry as an antediluvian administrator was one he could never shake off, but it was wholly misplaced. For behind his bumptious exterior, there was a reforming zeal within Farry which transformed the fortunes of the SFL as he explored commercial opportunities the previously stagnating organisation had instinctively shied away from before his arrival.

Farry cut his administrative teeth at the SFA whom he joined in a junior office role at the age of 17 in 1972. The son of a policeman from Govanhill, he had dabbled in landscape gardening before finding his true vocation within Scottish football's corridors of power.

Such was the impression he made at the SFA, his relative youth was seen as no barrier when, in May 1979, he succeeded Tommy Maule as secretary of the SFL, at just 25 becoming the youngest man to hold the position.

Football was experiencing serious financial difficulties at the time, as the pools income relied upon for so many years dried up. But within three months of his appointment at the SFL's then West Regent Street HQ in Glasgow, Farry had negotiated improved television and radio contracts and secured the first title sponsorship of the ailing League Cup tournament through Bell's Whisky. He would go on to revamp dramatically the competition's format, leading it to enjoy a halcyon spell of popularity as the Skol League Cup.

As the SFL celebrated its centenary in rude health in 1990, Farry was appointed secretary of the SFA in succession to Ernie Walker, another formidable administrative talent. It was a hard act to follow, but Farry soon established himself as an authoritative figurehead at Park Gardens.He oversaw the redevelopment of Hampden Park from a crumbling relic to the five-star Uefa stadium it is today.

Farry, again contrary to the impression many had of him, was also always open to exploring changes to the traditional structures and outlook of Scottish football. He instigated the 'Think Tank', or Independent Review Commission to give it its formal title, led by his predecessor Walker and the late Dutch coaching legend Rinus Michels, which sought to solve some of the problems facing the game.

While many of its recommendations were not implemented, it did succeed to a degree in refining the committee structure of the SFA, of which Farry often privately expressed his exasperation.

A single-minded individual, Farry was not always blessed with the greatest skills of diplomacy. This took his unpopularity with the public to a new level in 1997 when he initially opposed the rescheduling of Scotland's World Cup qualifier against Belarus to avoid a clash with the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. Farry, a product of a more stoical age, simply bore the brunt of a previously non-existent grief culture in Britain.

Scotland successfully completed that World Cup campaign, of course, with the 1998 finals in France still the last major tournament contested by the national team.

While Farry never kicked a ball for his country, it is worthy of note that his 20 years as a leading official saw Scotland appear in the finals of four World Cups and two European Championships.

His downfall began on the day Cadete was unable to play for Celtic in their 1996 Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers which the Parkhead club lost 2-1. McCann was incensed, accusing Farry of deliberately delaying the Portuguese player's registration. Farry remained adamant he had acted according to the rules he was renowned for knowing so well but, after a lengthy legal dispute ruled in Celtic's favour, he was sacked by the SFA for gross misconduct.

It was an ignominious end to his career in football but not one which should overshadow his earlier work. Peter Donald, who succeeded Farry as secretary of the SFL, is among those who appreciate a far greater legacy.

"Jim made a huge contribution to Scottish football," Donald told The Scotsman. "He was a good man, a very kind man. He was actually very gregarious and good fun to be with, but that never came across to the public. In football politics, it always seems to be the messenger who is regarded as the bad guy. But Jim was just implementing decisions of the organisation he worked for.

"When it came to business, Jim had qualities of determination, often stubbornness, which took him into areas of conflict and disagreement. But sometimes the game needs protection from itself and Jim was always willing to take on that role.

"I first met Jim when we worked together at the SFA in the mid-1970s.When he went to the SFL, he turned their fortunes around and he was also a considerable success at the SFA. I was deeply shocked to hear of his passing and I know he will be mourned by many former colleagues, both in Scotland and throughout the football world."

PEAT TRIBUTE

SFA president George Peat has expressed his sadness at the death of Jim Farry.

He said: "He was a renowned administrator in Scottish football, both for the Scottish Football League and the Scottish FA, and his work was respected in UEFA and FIFA circles. The thoughts of everyone at the Scottish FA go to his wife, Elaine, and his family at this time."