BBC Scotland are guilty of the most blatant editing in their bid to present Kevin Muscat as the next Ibrox saviour.
Most folk know that he has recently been following on from Ange Postecoglou at various clubs.
He has had success around the world, following the former Celtic boss at Melbourne Victory and Yokohama Marinos.
Currently he is in China with Shanghai Port, on his own, not following up on the back of Postecoglou. Muscat has been successful there, winning last season’s title and in contention to retain in. With four matches left to play Port are two points clear at the top of the table, they are also in the Asian Champions League.
Muscat has an impressive CV, no one can deny that.
THE SINT TRUIDEN SILENCE
But there is one area that BBC Scotland don’t want to go near. A five month spell in Belgium in charge of Sint Truiden. It was grim, which is why he only lasted five months there. His only experience of managing in Europe.
Most successful managers have a real blip on their CV. It is no big deal. Fans see it in context, the good outweighs the bad.
BBC Scotland, under two different reporters profiling Muscat refuse to even acknowledge his 14 matches in Belgium.
There are a variety of reasons for that, none of them fitting their public service remit.
After the hurt of Steven Gerrard walking away BBC know that morale among their core audience is low. They are treading very carefully, there are still open wounds out there.
THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Kenny Macintyre was reported to be in a state of high distress on Saturday night. He wasn’t getting any support from Alasdair Lamont, Tom English, Steven Thompson or Jane Lewis. They were all struggling.
Gerrard’s rejection however has opened a door to Neil McCann. One of those pundits that BBC Scotland specialises in. Like Billy Dodds, Andy Halliday and Steven Naismith. As reliable as it gets.
McCann is part of the Muscat package. The former Dundee boss might even get a month long trial as the main man. BBC Scotland and Sky Sports will be well connected if McCann has the brogues on in the home dug-out on Saturday when Dundee United visit Ibrox.
Reviewing Muscat’s record, Head of Sports News at the BBC, Chris McLaughlin reports:
So no mention of 14 matches at Sint Truiden, his only European experience. It isn’t difficult to find, Transfermarkt is your friend Chris, you don’t even need to pay a licence fee to view it.
After the lead article Nick McPheat tags along. McPheat normally produces the live match blogs such as the recent ‘4 points behind Celtic As It Stands’ update during Russell Martin’s last match.
He took a deeper dive into Muscat’s CV, but not deep enough to cover the Belgian episode.
And again the July to December 2020 period is overlooked. Almost as if it is state censorship to cover up the bad news about their next incoming hero.
Over 14 matches Muscat won just two games. Drawing five and losing seven.
THE NETWORK
Having been rejected by Gerrard and been scared off by the fans reaction to Danny Rohl options are running out for the Ibrox club.
They seem determined to overlook Derek McInnes even though most bears not admit that he is the best candidate for the job.
With two training sessions to go youth coaches Steven Smith and Brian Gilmore have been taking training ahead of the Dundee United match. Next Thursday Captain Disappointed and the Lads are away to Brann Bergen in the Europa League.
Going into any club in the autumn is a huge task for any manager. With fan power/anger in control at Ibrox the job, even with a £1m-a-year salary carries little appeal.
The images of Martin being smuggled out of Falkirk were carried far and wide as another casualty fell.
With the expectations of the fans and an infrastructure dominated by Kev Thelwell, his son and various ex Everton scattered around it is a set up designed to fail.
But you won’t hear or read that on BBC Scotland, funded solely through people paying them £13 a month.
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