Worrying times ahead for Scottish

Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor fears Scottish Premiership sides will be forced to go part-time unless more money and fans can be attracted to the game.

The Staggies chief discussed his fears for players and clubs as well as the SPFL's inability to attract a title sponsor during the first two seasons of operation.

A new ?5.14bn TV deal with Sky and BT Sport was announced for the English Premier League on Tuesday.

With 504 English games to be broadcast over the three years, it works out that the broadcasters pay just under ?10.2m per match. In comparison, the Scottish domestic deal is thought to be worth ?15m per season for 86 televised games.

MacGregor outlined his worries to a number of national newspapers.

"The number of full-time players in Scotland is diminishing the whole time," he said.

"You?re going to see part-time football in the Premier League within two or three years. That?s coming.

"It?s straightforward economics. The fan-bases are just not there any more. And if you don?t entertain, eventually the quality will get less and the finances worsen.

"Increasingly, the players of talent will either play for the biggest clubs in Scotland or, primarily, go to England.

"I think that scenario of part-time teams in the Premiership is where it?s heading if, as a football nation, we don?t get attendances through the gates and get our act together."

However he was quick to rule out County moving from full-time status, adding: "I don?t think it works here ? this needs to be a full-time club.

"Our link to the academy system is right and it is giving youngsters in the Highlands the chance to be a full-time footballer.

"But I think we have probably neglected some of that in our ambitions to get to where we got to. We had to re-address that.?

MacGregor on lack of title sponsor
Asked why he felt the SPFL had been unable to attract a title sponsor for the 2013/14 or 2014/15 seasons, MacGregor pointed partly towards the continuing financial mess at Ibrox.

He replied: "There have been a number of causes. The [increased] financial discipline of clubs has affected the brand and you can see that in the way we can?t even get a sponsor.

"My own belief is it will still be difficult to get a sponsor as long as Rangers behave the way they have been. We?re not projecting ourselves as businesses that can self-manage ourselves."

Hearts have identified where they went wrong
MacGregor, who is head of the Global Energy Group, does see some signs for optimism in the game, in particular the Ann Budge revolution at Tynecastle.

The County supermo feels the Scottish Championship leaders have been transformed since administration, adding: "There are great shoots, too, when you look in certain quarters

"Hearts, for me, are one club that have gone and identified where they got it wrong and then rebuilt.

"All the benefits of rebuilding last year have really given them momentum, especially with the younger players this year.

"So out of all the bad, sometimes comes good. I think we?re developing more players in Scotland than we?ve ever done because clubs have simply had to do it.

"But I think the number of players involved in football is reducing and will keep reducing amid the players? need for financial security.

"With a wife and family, are you going to take a year?s contract and earn ?1,000-a-week or are you going to take a job and earn ?1,000 a week and then ?500 in part-time football wages?

"Part-time players are now training four nights a week and are athletes, so I think the football model is changing."