Scottish football has to work harder at looking after our youth game.
, now owned by Gordon Mcdougall - a man with a genuine passion for the youth game, have had their request to allow their under-13 and under-15 sides entry into the Youth Initiative Programme knocked back.
It's utterly bizarre. Young boys denied the chance to play football at a decent level by those supposed to encourage them, despite the Livingston owner's assurance that the club would meet all costs involved for the criteria which have to be met at that level.
The decision was made by the Professional football committee.
They refused to allow the boys in to the set up after the recent winter break. This, mind you, is a league where no results are recorded and no positions are kept. It is there to give boys at pro clubs the opportunity to develop their skills.
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The did a great number called "Go on take the money and run" and in today's football world every young player should have it as their .
Rangers pair are the latest, but certainly won't be the last, to discover a yawning chasm between what they think they're worth and what their club thinks they're worth.
It's a battle of wills played out regularly at every football club in the land.
Every player is just one career-ending tackle away from professional oblivion. A fortunate few will have stashed away enough cash to ensure that football heartbreak doesn't equal financial uncertainty.
But a whole lot more, and particularly young players, will discover that if their football life ends tomorrow then the game just doesn't care enough about them afterwards when the bills have to be paid.
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As a football fan I enjoy a good rammy and I'm happy to roll with the punches in a football debate with anyone.
Most fans I know are the same, especially when you're a few pints to the good after a match where your team has been cuffed.
A good going argy bargy adds to the gaiety of nations and lets us all get a few things off our chests.
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The transfer window for players is a complete and is likely to fall at the first legal challenge.
However, things are what they are, not what we might like them to be. That being the case, why one rule for players and another for managers?
If players can only move in January and in the summer, maybe it's time to apply the same rule for bosses or scrap the rule completely.
The at present are that it levels the playing field and stops rich clubs strengthening when others cannot.
So why not keep the playing field level and insist directors stick with the man they originally thought good enough to do the job in the first place?
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They pay me to watch football and talk football. That’s some people's idea of Christmas every day. I can't deny it's mine too. I view the football world through a different lens from some journalists, because I live and work in Dundee. The Old Firm are interesting, but so was my breakfast this morning. There is a whole lot more on the Scottish football menu than the big two. From the SPL to the juniors, the game offers lots of dishes, and they all get my taste buds going.