Source: FOOTYMAD
Regan: Not One To Cut And Run
Having coped with a baptism of fire, Stewart Regan is looking forward to moving the SFA into the 21st century Stewart Regan never even considered walking away from his job as SFA chief executive during his first turbulent months in the post. He took over from Gordon Smith last October and was involved in one of Scottish football's most turbulent and controversial campaigns in his first season in charge. Despite the referees strike, controversies over officials decisions and other issues faced in his first eight month, Regan insists this is all part of his enjoyment of the job and he is looking forward to the future after his radical reforms for the ruling body won unanimous support at this week's AGM. Asked if he ever thought of quitting, Regan said: "Not at all, never. As daft as this might sound, I really enjoy the job. I think it's great. I love Glasgow, I think it's a fantastic city, I love the people and I've got some brilliant staff working for me. It's a really exciting future, with what happened on Tuesday and our new strategy now laid out. I've always enjoyed jobs with a challenge. I've always enjoyed jobs where change is at the heart of the job and you can put a vision in place and try to lead people towards that vision. That's the buzz I get."Looking back over the 2010-11 season, he went on: "It's been really challenging. I came in in October and, within the first month, we had a number of major issues. I had to deal with the disciplinary matter involving the Scotland and Rangers keeper Allan McGregor on my first day in the job. We then had referees withdrawal of labour, the Dougie McDonald incident at Tannadice in the Dundee United-Celtic match and we had the whole email scandal which resulted in parting company with a number of staff. It took my eye off the ball for a few weeks when I was constantly having to get involved in what I call putting fires out instead of allowing me time to look forward and try to put a strategy together. That first three months made me realise, and made me even more resolute, that we had to change. I said to the board 'We can't go on like this, this is crazy.' We were constantly on the backfoot and all the press coverage about the SFA was negative. It was all about the fact that people thought we were an out-dated organisation and the words 'fit for purpose' were used." At Tuesday's AGM, Regan's proposals to streamline and modernise the SFA's decision-making processes were unanimously supported by the 93 member clubs. A key part of the proposals is a complete overhaul of the disciplinary system which may clarify what the SFA can and cannot do. One of the controversies surrounding disciplinary procedures last season saw Celtic appeal against the length of manager Neil Lennon's two touchline bans, one of which was for an offence which took place four months earlier, because of legal dubiety over whether they ran consecutively or concurrently. Some have said that the SFA have rules for some and reserve special treatment for others.Regan said: "My relationship with Celtic has never been in doubt. I've got a good relationship with both of the Old Firm clubs. While there were differences of opinion, I think there was a mutual respect and a recognition that we all have to get things right and we've all made mistakes. We've taken those on the chin. We have certainly put in place our own plan and I'm very confident that we will be a different organisation going forward." Another issue which dominated headlines last season was the problem of sectarianism and the ongoing fight to eradicate it from Scottish football. Regan added: "I don't think I fully understood what sectarianism was, really, and I think there are many people in Scotland who don't understand what sectarianism is. I come from the north-east of England and I've seen many derby games. I've witnessed what I would call 'tribalism', with one set of fans winding up another set of fans. In Scotland, it takes on a whole different meaning when you add in politics and religion. There are still very grey areas around what exactly is illegal, what is unacceptable or discriminatory and what is sectarian in nature. We've got commitment from the government now to come up with new legislation, we've got commitment from the police to be much more clear on what behaviour is unacceptable and I think we will make progress. I think it will always be a difficult one to deal with because of the history and the fact that it's part of the west of Scotland culture but we recognise it and we've got to deal with it."
