Nationalist Leader Stands Down

After months of speculation, John Swinney, the leader of the Scottish National Party has resigned from the post. The 19.8% share of the vote in the recent European elections was the party's lowest since 1987 and was the final straw after a series of poor showings in Scottish Parliament and local elections. Swinney initially defended his position after the European results, but this week in a dignified and emotional press conference, announced that he would not seek re-election as party leader in September. Already, a number of candidates have thrown their hats in the ring to take over. Swinney had a hard job taking over from Alex Salmond when his more charismatic mentor suddenly stepped down in 2000. He was seen as a thoughtful and intelligent man who quickly grasped issues and argued eloquently. He is regarded as "a real gentleman" - rather than the firebrand that some sections of the party would prefer. 40-year-old Swinney joined the Scottish National Party at the age of 15 and became national secretary when he was only 21 as his organisational skills were recognised. It is sometimes argued that disillusion with the devolved Parliament in Edinburgh has turned voters away from the idea of an independent Scotland, but opinion polls suggest that today 26% of voters are in favour of independence - roughly the same as in 1997. SNP support has been eroded to some extent by the rise of the Scottish Socialist Party, with a strong left-wing agenda. In the 2003 Scottish Parliament election, SNP lost eight seats as the SSP increased their representation from one to six. That prompted a leadership challenge - which Swinney appeared to fight off successfully. But press speculation continued. Nominations for the new leader close on July 16 and the result of a one member, one vote ballot will be announced on 3 September.
Photograph courtesy of the Scottish Parliament © Web site.

Correction

While it no doubt did not affect John Swinney's decision to stand down, the SNP results of the European election reported in last week's Snippets were given as one seat instead of two. The shares of the vote were correct but the correct results were two Labour, two Scottish National Party and two Conservative members, while the Liberal Democrats won one seat.

Scotland - Rich Man of Europe

Recent tax rises in the UK has meant that government spending on health and education is set to rise still further. Scotland's government will receive another £4 billion over the next few years, taking this year's budget of £24 billion to £28 billion by 2007 - the date of the next election. As a result, government expenditure per head of the population in Scotland will be the highest in the European Union and spending on the health service will be the highest in the developed world. But if government departments thought this would mean a spending bonanza, they will have to thing again. The Scottish executive Finance Minister announced this week targets for efficiency savings. And the electorate is still not convinced that the money being spent is getting through to front line services.

New Parliament Building May Open in September

The latest report on the building project for the new Scottish Parliament at Holyrood in Edinburgh says that MSPs will be able to move into the building in September. But some finishing touches are being delayed until after the Queen performs the official opening on October 9. And as anyone who has moved into a new building will know only too well, there is likely to be "snagging" work to correct defects for many months. The budget for the building remains at £431 million.

Investment in Scotland's Science Centres

The Scottish Executive announced this week an investment of £5.1 million and further £1.9 million from Scottish Enterprise to help secure the future of four of Scotland’s science centres - Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh (pictured above), Glasgow Science Centre, Sensation Science Centre in Dundee and Satrosphere in Aberdeen. The four science centres jointly attracted 584,000 ordinary paying visitors in 2003 and a further 109,000 children visited these centres as part of school visits. It is hoped that in addition to the £7 million of government funds announced this week that further finance will be obtained from the Millennium Lottery Fund. The package was put together following a consultancy study which showed that the four centres would not be able to continue without further public funding. A fifth science centre, the Big Idea in Irvine, closed in August last year and has been held in receivership by the Millennium Commission.

Crisis for West Coast Fishing Fleet

The European Commission slashed the amount of haddock which could be caught in the Rockall fishing grounds in 2004 from 1700 tonnes to 500 tonnes in an effort to conserve stocks. But after less than six months, west coast fishing boats have used up all the quota for the entire year. Amazingly, it appears that non-EU vessels are free to trawl off Rockall and in recent weeks Russian vessels - using nets with mesh sizes much smaller than those used by the Scottish fleet - have been seen in the area. The boats used in the Rockall fishing grounds are amongst the biggest - and most expensive - in the Scottish fleet. Now they will be forced to trawl in the North Sea where, surprisingly, it is said there are plentiful and sustainable stocks of haddock.

Wind Farm Project Rejected

Over 1,000 submissions were lodged with Highland Council objecting to plans to erect masts to assess the potential for a future wind turbine development in Morvern and Ardnamurchan in the north-west of Scotland. This would have led to the creation of the largest wind farm in Europe. Councillors seem to have listened to the protests and turned down four out of five bids by Wind Energy Ltd. Highland Council's Lochaber planning area committee meeting in Fort William approved only one application - for an anemometer to be set up at the Glen Sanda quarry, in Morvern. Campaigners from Fairwind, a group opposing the development, welcomed the decision, calling it a "victory for common sense". There was great concern that areas of great landscape and natural beauty would be affected by setting up these masts.

Salmon is Good for You

A study published in January suggested that farmed salmon was so full of polluting chemicals that only one portion of the fish should be eaten every two months. That research, financed by a campaign group which is against fish farming on environmental grounds, painted a lurid picture and resulted in a drop in consumption of salmon in the UK by 20%. Now the Food Standards Agency, the UK's food watchdog, has published advice to consumers which recommends twice the previous maximum amount of oily fish that people can eat. It sets out the limits at which the health benefits of oily fish are outweighed by possible risks at four portions a week. It suggests lower limits for girls and women who may become pregnant. The industry group Scottish Quality Salmon said that the recommendations were a vindication of their earlier robust stance on the spurious criticism from anti-fish farming campaigners which misled the public. But the World Wildlife Scotland head of research disputed this and said the Food Standards Agency advice confirmed "the serious contamination of the marine environment and the food products that come from it."

£100 Million School Building Plan Approved

Councillors in East Dunbartonshire voted to approve a £100 million school building programme which will see Bishopbriggs High School and Thomas Muir High merging to create a new 1200-pupil joint campus. And Bearsden Academy (pictured here) will be replaced by a new building at the site of the former St Andrews College in the suburb on the periphery of Glasgow. A new building for Douglas Academy in Milngavie will be constructed on the existing site. Parents in Renfrewshire, however, were celebrating their victory in blocking council plans there to merge Gryffe High and Linwood High into a new 1450 capacity "super school" on greenbelt land in Houston.

£1 Bus fare to London

Megabus, a subsidiary of the Stagecoach bus company, has started a new service from Glasgow or Edinburgh to London and some of the seats will cost just £1 plus a 50p "booking fee". Tickets must be booked on-line and as the bus fills, the price goes up - but to a maximum of only £9 for the 400 mile journey. There is one 70-seat bus in the morning and another in the evening in each direction and the journey time is eight hours. The buses have reclining seats and come equipped with toilets. The company plans to extend the service to routes serving Dundee and Perth.

Bus Drivers Win Bumper Pay Deal

Aberdeen-based First Bus is the UK's largest bus operator, running 20% of the country's local bus services with 2.8 million passengers a day. In a bid to avert a crippling strike by drivers, the company has offered a pay deal which will mean that more than 2000 drivers will get an increase of at least 10.3% while mini-bus drivers will get parity with other drivers, resulting in a pay increase of 39%. The deal runs to April next year. However, the deal has to be approved by the union members - and some believe that they should still take strike action so that they get the increases back-dated.

Intelligent Community of the Year

It came as quite a surprise to the Glasgow City Council and Scottish Enterprise Glasgow when they found out this week that their bid to be named "Intelligent Community of the Year" by a New York think tank had been successful. The award recognises the use of digital technology by the US organisation that researches the impact that broadband internet access and information technology has on economic growth. In the judgement of the experts, the efforts of Scotland's biggest city to exploit the digital revolution for the benefit of its citizens and businesses merits the award.

"Don't Call Me Auntie" Says New Naval Commander

Commodore Carolyn Stait, the Royal Navy's second female to be promoted to that rank, took charge of the naval base at Faslane on the Gare Loch this week. She is now responsible for eight nuclear submarines, including four Trident nuclear missile vessels. She commands the biggest workforce and budget in the UK armed services with 6,000 personnel. Commodore Stait says she will offer a sympathetic ear to her new staff - so long as they don't call her "Auntie". Aged 47, Commodore Stait is tipped to rise still further in the Royal Navy and could become its first female rear-admiral.

Glasgow Going for Gold

Scotland's largest city is to launch a bid to bring the 2014 Commonwealth Games to Glasgow. It is estimated that the games would produce a £2 billion windfall for the local economy and would result in the creation of sports facilities and infrastructure which remain long after the event. But Glasgow will face stiff competition - not least from 45 miles away in Edinburgh. But the City of Glasgow Council believe that their city has the best stadia, transport infrastructure and hotel accommodation.

School Ban Threatens Irn-Bru

Barr's, the manufacturer of the sweet fizzy drink Irn-Bru (which wrestles with Coca-Cola for the best-selling soft drink spot in Scotland) must be getting worried as more and more local education authorities are moving towards banning the sale of fizzy drinks in vending machines on school premises. The aim is to improve the health of schoolchildren and Edinburgh City Council are implementing a gradual ban which will be completed by 2007. Glasgow is said to be considering a similar move. While children will still be able to bring in whatever drinks they want, the soft drinks industry see the moves as a "slippery slope" as the authorities take a tougher stance on "junk" foods.

Tambourine Man Takes a Bow at St Andrews

Folk and rock singer Bob Dylan appeared on stage at St Andrews this week. But although he was given an enthusiastic reception, he didn't say a word. Instead he bowed to allow the chancellor of St Andrews University to confer the honour of doctor of music and drape the ceremonial gown over his shoulders. Dylan arrived at the event in a vehicle with dark glass and slipped quickly into the building. TV cameras were barred but photographs taken during the graduation ceremony showed a solemn, unsmiling singer who made no comment during his visit. Later, he opened up - to wow an admiring audience at a concert in Glasgow with songs from his extensive repertoire.

£2 Million Needed to Restore Maid of the Loch

The paddle-steamer "Maid of the Loch" used to carry tourists and day-trippers for a sail on Loch Lomond in the 1950s to 1970s. But by the 1990s, it was heading for the breaker's yard, when a group of enthusiasts got together to save her and, it was hoped, eventually get her back to steaming up and down the loch. The ship was bought by Dunbarton District Council and placed in the care of a charitable trust in 1996. Since then, a team of enthusiastic volunteers has worked on repainting and renovating the paddle-steamer which is moored on the loch at Balloch. It now offers restaurant facilities on board and is available for hire for special events. But is estimated that it will need expenditure of around £2 million to provide boilers and other essential equipment before it can sail again. Meantime, it is an attractive asset to the Lomond Shores development and adds interest to the view up Loch Lomond from Drumkinnon Tower - as seen in the illustration above.

Another Battle to Save a Hospital

All over Scotland, the National Health Service is moving towards larger hospitals where specialist facilities and staff can be concentrated (and costs can be cut). But such moves can mean the removal of local hospitals and patients having to travel longer distances. There is always a concern in such situations that the extra travel time involved will endanger lives and of course relatives and friends also have to travel further to visit in-patients. Campaigners fighting to retain maternity services in Wick, in the far north of mainland Scotland, took their case to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh this week. It is claimed that the facility, which is run by midwives, is being downgraded and that expectant mothers will have to make a round trip of 100 miles to Inverness to give birth. The local Health Board approved the plan earlier this year and it is now going out to "consultation". If it follows the same pattern as other hospital closures, the consultation period will end and the decision will be unchanged.

Capercaillie Numbers Double

Experts had feared that the capercaillie, one of the largest wild birds in Britain, was heading for annihilation, as their habitat in the Caledonian pine forests declined. It was previously hunted to extinction 200 years ago but was reintroduced by the Victorians in the 19th century, from Swedish stock. Numbers had fallen by 95% since the 1970s, despite new pine forests being planted. Losses have mounted due to foxes and deer fences (half of all adult deaths are caused by birds flying at low level into fences). But a recent survey has shown that numbers have doubled to around 2,000 compared to a census taken five years ago. A number of initiatives have helped in the recovery, including the removal or marking of deer fences. There has also been controlled burning of undergrowth in the Abernethy reserve, to encourage the growth of blaeberry, a vital ingredient to breeding success in the spring as they are covered in caterpillars, a major source of food for healthy chicks. Good weather in the breeding season in recent years has been an added bonus.
The illustration above is a sculpture showing capercailllie in the Abernethy reserve - the real birds are rarely seen by members of the public.

Police Quackdown in Glasgow

Two police officers had to be called in to control the rush-hour traffic in busy Cowcaddens Road in Glasgow on Tuesday as it ground to halt as a duck shepherded her ducklings after they fell out of a nest on the roof of a nearby bar. The police quackdown led to the officers having to decide "waddle we do?" before stopping the traffic and guiding the duck and her eight offspring across the road to some bushes. The police officers said they were used to escorting unsavoury characters out of Glasgow public bars but their latest experience may lead them to being promoted - to the Flying Squad...

Weather in Scotland This Week

After a sunny start in a number of parts of Scotland at the beginning of the week which saw 5.7 hours of sunshine in Aberdeen on Sunday and 6.6 hours on Tuesday followed by 10.9 hours of warm (18C/64F) weather on Tuesday in Glasgow, the weather deteriorated on Wednesday and Thursday. An intense area of low pressure moved over Scotland on Thursday, bringing heavy rain and winds with gusts up to 60mph. The heavy rain (1.6 inches were recorded in Edinburgh in 24 hours) caused numerous problems - emergency services had to work hard to keep major flooding under control in the north-east. In Elgin, where the River Lossie burst its banks, local businesses were forced to let their staff go home early. Rail services were disrupted with several feet of water on the Aberdeen-Inverness line. Passengers had to be taken by bus from Huntly to Inverness. Friday saw a return to sunnier skies but that didn't last with rain again falling in most areas on Saturday.

This week's illustrations of current flora in Scotland are all of wild flowers, taken on a walk in the countryside just north of Glasgow on Friday - when the sun shone. Foxgloves - in various shades of pink and white - are becoming quite numerous in hedgerows as the summer progresses. Below are the flowers of the bramble (known as blackberry in many other parts of the world) augur well for the autumn when the fruit will be turned into home-made bramble jelly. This followed below by a wild rose. Many of these lovely little flowers will produce their red berries (hips) later in the year which can be collected and made into rose-hip syrup. Finally, the bee was enjoying the nectar from one of the many different varieties of thistle.

Kilmartin Museum Fights Closure

Unless finance is found soon, Kilmartin Museum in Argyll will close in September this year. The Museum is in the heart of the former kingdom of Dalriada, inhabited by the Scots who had emigrated from Ireland from around 400AD. Fort Dunadd, a rocky outcrop nearby, may have been the capital of Dalriada. The Scots eventually absorbed the Picts who were the inhabitants of the Highlands in those days and expanded south to create the country we know today as Scotland. But Kilmartin had been inhabited for thousands of years before that and there are burial cairns, standing stones and "cup and ring" carvings on rocks dating back 3,000 years. Kilmartin has a large collection of remains and artifacts found in the area and won the Museum of the Year Award in 1998. But it has had to survive on ticket sales and income generated in the shop and café and the number of visitors has not been enough to keep it going. Efforts are being made to persuade the Scottish Executive in Edinburgh and the local Argyll and Bute Council to step in and assist this important resource - so far without success. There have been calls for anyone interested in adding their voice to the campaign and to e-mail Frank McAveety, MSP, the Minister for Tourism in the Scottish Executive via frank.mcaveety.msp@scottish.parliament.uk and George Lyon MSP, the local Member of the Scottish Parliament via george.lyon.msp@scottish.parliament.uk. Perhaps if they receive e-mails from around the world they will waken up and take notice? For more on Kilmartin and Dalriada, see Places to Visit - Kilmartin and Did You Know - Dalriada.

Glasgow's Oldest Synagogue

The Garnethill Synagogue is the oldest in Glasgow and recently celebrated its 125th anniversary. Its history goes back even further, to 1825, when the Jewish community in the city rented a room for communal prayers. By 1875, the community had grown to 700 members and they purchased a site in Garnethill and created an architectural masterpiece, built in the Romanesque and Byzantine styles. It was formally dedicated in 1879 and recently underwent major renovations. According to the 2001 census, there are 6,400 Jews living in Scotland, with the majority of them concentrated in and around Glasgow.

Does Arrowhead Pinpoint Battle Site?

Archaeologists have found a 700-year-old armour piercing arrowhead at Bannockburn which they say may pinpoint the site of the battle of Bannockburn on June 24, 1314. During the battle, King Robert the Bruce defeated an army of King Edward II of England, ensuring the continuation of Scotland as a separate kingdom. The precise site of the battle has been the subject of intense debate, especially in recent years. Now the National Trust for Scotland has found the arrowhead - the cruise missile of its day - during excavation work near the Bannockburn visitor centre. It is the first-ever find of a weapon from the area (a broken stirrup was found last year). The arrowhead was not used for hunting but was used to penetrate heavy armour. It is unclear whether it is an arrow from an English or Scottish weapon although the small size suggests that it is Scottish, as they used shorter and less powerful arrows than their opponents. Many of the English archers actually came from Wales but they were driven from the field of battle by the Scottish cavalry.

King Arthur - A Scot?

Cornwall in the south-west of England has long claimed that the legendary King Arthur and his chivalrous knights with their round table lived there and that Tintagel was their base. But there have always been competing claims and not for the first time the case for Scotland is being made. Historians at the Clan Arthur society believe that they are descendants of King Arthur - or rather, Artur Mac Aeden, son of a Scottish king and a Welsh-speaking Briton from the kingdom of Strathclyde in the 6th century. It is claimed that there is more circumstantial evidence for Arthur being from north of the Border than in Cornwall, including heraldry, clan badges and there are about 40 places in Scotland with the name Arthur - including Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. A Welsh poem describes a sea raid on an island fortress and clues in the poem suggest a location near the Corryvreckan whirlpool, off the Scottish west coast.

Next Week in History

• June 27 1583 - James VI (aged 8) escaped from Castle Ruthven.
• June 28 1838 - Queen Victoria crowned at Westminster Abbey.
• July 1 1505 - Seal granted by Edinburgh Town Council to the Incorporation of Barbers and Surgeons to practice their craft. The organisation is now known as the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
• July 1 1543 - Treaty of Greenwich, between Henry VIII and Earl of Arran, Regent of Scotland, agreeing betrothal of Mary Queen of Scots (aged 6 months) and Edward Prince of Wales (aged 6 years). The treaty was repudiated by the Scots Parliament.
• July 1 1782 - Proscription Act Repealed, thus allowing again the wearing of tartan and the carrying of weapons (banned as a result of the 1745 Uprising in support of Bonnie Prince Charlie).
• July 1 1815 - Union Bank of Scotland opened.
• July 1 1836 - North of Scotland Bank founded in Aberdeen. It is now part of the Clydesdale Bank.
• July 1 1937 - The 999 emergency telephone service came into operation for police, fire, ambulance and coastguards.
• July 1 1999 - The Queen officially opened the new Scottish Parliament in its temporary home in the Assembly Hall on The Mound, Edinburgh.
• July 2 1266 - Treaty of Perth, Norway renounces claim on the Hebrides.
• July 2 1644 - Scots forces under David Leslie helped in the victory of the Parliamentary forces over the Royalists at the Battle of Marston Moor.
• July 2 1645 - Battle of Alford, Marquis of Montrose defeated Lieutenant-General Baillie.
• July 2 1903 - Birth of Lord Home of the Hirsel, Foreign Secretary and UK Prime Minister.
• July 2 1908 - Dumfries reached a temperature of 32.8C (91F), the highest recorded in Scotland - so far.
• July 2 1971 - Erskine Bridge over the River Clyde opened.
• July 3 1582 - James Crichton of Eliock, the original "Admirable Crichton", died in a brawl in Mantua. Soldier, scholar, poet and athlete, he was a graduate of St Andrews University and a tutor of King James VI.
• July 3 1728 - Architect Robert Adam born in Kirkcaldy.
• July 3 1883 - 124 people drowned when Steamer "Daphne" sank during its launch on river Clyde.
• July 3 1928 - John Logie Baird transmitted first colour television.
• July 3 1954 - Food rationing officially ended.

Scots Lawyer Joins Madonna on Stage

When Edinburgh lawyer Lorne Cousin got a voicemail message asking him to call the pop superstar Madonna, he was sure someone was playing a practical joke. But when he answered the call he was astonished to find that it was indeed the global icon and that he was being invited to join her in her five months long "Reinvention" world tour. Of course, it was not his legal skills that were required, but his abilities as a piper. Lorne Cousin is one of Scotland's top pipers and had been "talent spotted" by Madonna when he played at Stella McCartney's wedding on the Isle of Bute last year. After months of secrecy - during which media reports highlighted another piper being involved - Lorne has taken leave of absence from the legal firm of Turcan Connell, where he is a specialist in rural property. He is now accompanying Madonna on stage in front of audiences of up to 20,000 and says he is having "great fun". He will perform at 32 concerts in the US and Canada and another 15 in Europe. The tabloid press has been critical about the length of his kilt in the shows. But it appears that Madonna is a material girl who just likes longer kilts!

Highland Show Gets Off to a Damp Start

More than 150,000 visitors are expected to attend over the four days of the Royal Highland show at Ingliston, Edinburgh which opened on Thursday, just as heavy rain descended over most of Scotland. The 90-acre show ground has sometimes become a quagmire in previous years, when it has been subjected to heavy rain and all those feet - many clad in strong Wellington boots. There is a record number of animal participants this year - more than 4,000 sheep, cattle and horses. Over the years, the show has become more and more attractive to not just the farming community, but also the general public with a flower show, covered food hall, arts and crafts areas and of course the show animals are admired by farmers and the public alike.

Actor Switches from Burns to Mackintosh

Scots actor John Cairney has performed all over the world as Robert Burns in his one-man show and he has become closely identified with Scotland's national poet. He has also written a number of books about the bard. Now he is taking up a new role - as the iconic architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Cairney is appearing next week in his own play about the Glasgow-born genius, at the city's House for an Art Lover (illustrated here). The building was designed by Mackintosh but was not built until near the end of the 20th century. Cairney has previously performed as Robert Louis Stevenson as well as Burns and felt that he could tackle Mackintosh too. He has published a book "The Quest for Charles Rennie Mackintosh" after researching the artist. In the stage play he performs alongside his wife, actress Alannah O'Sullivan.

Boycott Threat for Film Festival

Three of Hollywood's biggest film studios are threatening to boycott the Edinburgh Film Festival this year - because they say that the city authorities are not doing enough to stamp out pirated DVDs at the Ingliston Market on the outskirts of the capital. Disney, Universal and 20th Century Fox claim that the sale of the counterfeits costs them £10 million every year in lost revenue and that Edinburgh has the worst track record of any area of the UK in tackling the problem. The companies provide major films for the festival, including UK premières. Officials from the studios are to meet officials in Edinburgh in an attempt to resolve the dispute ahead of the festival which takes place in August.

Record Breaking Bard in the Botanics

Running an open-air festival in Scotland is often a gamble due to the uncertainty of the weather. But the first night of the Shakespearean festival in the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow is a sell-out and 60% of the tickets for other productions are already sold. Now in its fourth year, "Bard in the Botanics" is adding a unique touch to the city's culture. Audiences are not just local but are coming from abroad as well - being featured on the National Geographic cable TV channel meant that information on the event reached a potential audience of 100 million in 50 countries.

Inverness Win Battle of the Thistles - Or Do They?

After weeks of wrangling and threats of legal action, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, champions of the Scottish First Division, went into extra time this week in their bid to persuade the Scottish Premier League that they should be promoted. They had failed to win enough support at a meting of the SPL a few weeks ago. But at a second meeting this week, called by Edinburgh clubs Hibernian and Hearts, Inverness were voted in by 10 votes to 2. Some clubs who had voted against Inverness at the first meeting said there had been incorrect information given about the legal position on the Inverness application to ground-share with Aberdeen. The Inverness ground does not currently meet all the SPL requirements. Partick Thistle, at the foot of the SPL at the end of last season, had gone to the Court of Session in Edinburgh in a legal move to stop the second meeting, but failed to convince the judge that they had a case. They were thus relegated to the First Division. The Glasgow club initially decided not to take further legal action. The Partick Thistle chairman dolefully commented that the "football will probably be better in the First Division." But later in the week, after the club had taken legal advice, it was announced (on the day that the new fixture list was published) that they would appeal to the Scottish Football Association over the decision. It is hoped that the SFA can meet quickly so that the whole sorry saga can be finally resolved.

Confusion Over Premier League Fixture List

When it appeared that the uncertainty over who goes up and who goes down had been resolved, the Scottish Premier League fixture list was published for next season - and immediately caused further confusion. According to the list, Aberdeen and Inverness, who are now sharing the Aberdeen ground, are playing some home matches on the same day. The SPL executive claimed that this was deliberate - and that one of the clubs will have to play on a Sunday instead. However, Grampian Police have complained that the extra policing required will strain their resources. Then Kilmarnock exploded when they saw that they were having to travel to Aberdeen for the New Year fixture - as Aberdeen travel south to Motherwell. Kilmarnock say that if the SPL don't sort it out, they will contact the other clubs and sort it out themselves. But that makes the official fixture list unreliable.

Scotland Manager Turns Down Lucrative Offer

There has been speculation that the manager of the Scotland football team might be sacked if Scotland's football team does badly in the early World Cup qualifying matches. However, this week manager Berti Vogts turned down a lucrative job offer from South Korea to become their coach at twice the salary he is currently earning. South Korea reached the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup so there might have been a better chance of success with them than staying with Scotland. But Vogts says that he is happy in Scotland and he is confident that Scotland will qualify for the next World Cup. Not many Scottish supporters share his optimism. But they will be able to see the matches live as BBC Scotland has secured live TV, radio and online rights to broadcast Scotland's World Cup qualifiers in Norway, Slovenia, Belarus and Moldova. Rights to the qualifier against Italy in Rome have yet to be determined.

Audit Report on Dunfermline Expresses "Concern"

Scottish Premier Division team Dunfermline Athletic ended their last financial season with just £1,594 in cash and had the club overdrafts with the Bank of Scotland, legally repayable on demand, amounting to £2.4 million. The club recorded a £3 million loss for a 15-month period ending in August 31 last year. The wage bill amounted to 115% of turnover - far above the 60% recommended by accountants. Total debts at the club soared to £8.8 million, though much of this is in the form of "soft" loans from directors. In February this year, Dunfermline underwent a financial restructuring which saw players being forced to accept a 30% cut in wages and a number of staff being made redundant. But the accountant's audit report records a "fundamental uncertainty" about the club's financial position and that it continues to trade only with the continued support of the club's bankers and creditors.

Saltires Win - At Last

The Scottish Saltires cricket team won their match against Durham dynamos last weekend - their first win this season in eight attempts. The win was thanks to a 78-run partnership between the Saltire's wicket-keeper Colin Smith and batsman Cedric English. The Scots were in trouble when their top batsmen crumbled at the start. The score was 44 for four when Smith and English got going to score over a century between them.

Royal Bank of Scotland to Sponsor Formula One Racing Team?

There were media reports this week that the Royal Bank of Scotland was on the verge of signing a sponsorship deal which would see the bank's logo on the Formula One racing cars of the BMW-Williams team driven by Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher. The bank refused to confirm or deny the speculation, saying that a bank of the size and international reach of the Royal Bank was always associated with major sponsorships, but did not comment on individual situations until a deal had been signed and sealed. It is being suggested that the arrangement is being fronted by Sir Jackie Stewart, who won the Formula One championship three times in 1969, 1971 and 1973.

Scottish "Grass" Exports to US

Only one senior football ground in Scotland has an artificial grass surface but Bonar Yarns & Fabrics based in Dundee has seen an increasing demand for its artificial turf products in the US as well as training grounds and schools in the UK. Some of the tees on the golf courses at St Andrews also use the artificial grass. The company has supplied its product to American-style football grounds such as Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks and has also supplied major orders to Chinese colleges and schools.