It was, arguably, one of the greatest achievements in Scottish football history. Season 2019/20 would go down in history for reasons relating to what happened off the football field namely the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent curtailing of football seasons across the world. The following season was also affected, mostly by the absence of fans at games as the stay-at-home message was reinforced by government.
2021, however, was to prove memorable for supporters of St
Johnstone Football Club. For this was the year their club lifted not one but
two trophies – the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup. Manager Callum Davidson,
with one of the smallest budgets in the top flight of Scottish football, and in
charge of a club miniscule in size compared to the Glasgow giants of Celtic and
Rangers, had pulled off a quite astonishing achievement. He was already a hero
in Perth following his time as a player. Now he would secure legendary status,
an icon of Scottish football.
Fast forward just two years and Davidson was unceremoniously
shown the door at McDiarmid Park. A disappointing series of results saw the
Perth Saints hurtling down the league table and perilously close to the relegation
trapdoor. Despite Davidson previously performing miracles this wasn’t enough to
prevent the great man being handed his P45. What a way to treat a hero. But
Davidson wasn’t alone…
Since the beginning of 2023, several clubs in Scotland have
pointed their managers to the exit door. Aberdeen’s humiliating defeat in the
Scottish Cup to sixth tier side Darvel wasn’t deemed serious enough for the
club’s board of directors to sack manager Jim Goodwin. But a 6-0 thrashing by Hibernian
at Easter Road a few days later was – and the genial Irishman cut a sad figure
as he left Leith in the back of a car.
Across the capital city, Robbie Neilson was seen as having
probably the safest job in Scottish football. He had guided Hearts back to the
top flight following their enforced demotion due to the aforementioned pandemic
in 2020. He took them into the group stages of the Europa Conference and to two
Scottish Cup finals, albeit Hearts lost both of them. At the start of 2023
Hearts appeared to have overcome their horrendous injury problems with a 5-0
thrashing of Jim Goodwin’s Aberdeen and knocking city rivals Hibernian out of
the Scottish Cup with a convincing 3-0 triumph at Easter Road. But come Easter,
Neilson suffered a Gorgie crucifixion and paid the price for Hearts dismal run
of six defeats in a row. Neilson was fired, despite the fact he had signed an
extension to his contract at the start of the season.
Motherwell also sacked their manager Steven Hammell after a
woeful winless run but saw an immediate improvement in results with the
appointment of Stuart Kettlewell.
The reasons for so many sackings are numerous but can mainly
be traced to one underlying factor – money. St Johnstone’s unwanted flirtation
with relegation saw the potential financial repercussions evolve into a
recurring nightmare for the Saints board of directors. Callum Davidson may have
brought unprecedented success to the club but his ‘Saintliness’ wasn’t enough
to save his skin.
Similarly, Hearts apparent seamless cruise to third place in
the cinch Premiership and the subsequent place in the group stages of next
season’s Europa League and its £5m bounty began to sink following their dismal
run of defeats in March and April. Aberdeen’s earlier decision to sack Jim
Goodwin and replace him with reserve coach Barry Robson on an interim basis
until the end of the season saw the Dons embark a resurgence that would see
them race past Hearts and in pole position for that coveted third place. And,
of course, the millions of pounds that comes with it. The Hearts board, with
its supporters’ representatives, suddenly saw their yearned for riches – which they
already had a taste for this season – begin to run away from them. So, Robbie
Neilson had to go, with the Gorgie club emulating Aberdeen’s decision by putting
Hearts B team coach Steven Naismith in charge of the first team until the end of
the season. At the time of writing, Hearts had just thrashed Ross County 6-1 at
Tynecastle whilst the following day Aberdeen had put the final nail in the
coffin of Rangers title hopes by defeating the Ibrox team 2-0 at Pittodrie.
Goodwin, Davidson, and Neilson had previously glowing reputations
as football managers. Many would argue that all three men could have turned
things around had they been given more time. But time is not something afforded
to football managers these days – not when it means losing money.
Before this season ends, don’t be surprised if at least one
more manager has fallen victim to the sack race….
Twitter @Mike1874
