19 Aug 2026 07:30:30
Do we still have the pulling power in attracting players. has it dwindled, If so why?
Chopping change in managers or Has the Club has dwindled in stature. We seen as a basket case or peeps think all is ok.
Thoughts.
19 Aug 2026 07:48:52
Of course it has dwindled.
Reasons why:
1 title in 15 seasons.
No direct qualifying to European group stage.
Conference League.
Weather in Scotland.
Lower wages than other countries.
Standard of our league.
There will definitely be many more reasons, including players knowing they need to hit the ground running, and if they don't do that, they are hounded.
19 Aug 2026 08:40:21
Money talks, Gvb, and we can't compete with the crazy wages these days. Football has turned into a greedy business. Same as everything, I suppose, lots of greedy people out there.
19 Aug 2026 09:10:18
We are not the club we were in the 90's/00's. Coupled with SuperAlly points above, we are miles behind our rivals, unfortunately, and it will take years to get back to a level playing field. Even then, the Scottish League has no s*x appeal to attract major players here.
19 Aug 2026 09:51:32
Let's look at our neighbours down south. They don't attract some of the really top players & end up paying players ridiculous amounts, which has distorted it for everyone.
You just need to look at Hull & Coventry, the money they are spending; hope they have clauses in contracts, as both are likely to go straight back down. Should have included Ipswich.
19 Aug 2026 10:45:42
No, we don't and arguably did we ever really, during the late 80s when English teams were banned in Europe and we had Murray coming in bankrolling us. We know the end result of that.
When Sky pulled out in 2000s the bubble burst.
There is a ceiling we can attract to Scotland and Rangers (Celtic also), and unless it's a player looking for his final pay check we ain't signing any marquee player for the forseeable.
19 Aug 2026 11:39:38
We pay wages that can compete with most of European teams outwith the big boys and all the PL teams. I honestly believe the thing that makes us less likely to sign players is the lack of Champions League. If we started qualifying for it regularly again we would be able to start signing better quality of players imo.
19 Aug 2026 11:46:43
Unfortunately SPFL isn't that attractive an option.
It's why we pay over the odds for players, and then struggle to move them on as their weekly wage is too high.
But that's not to say we can't entice the right players with European football every season (hopefully) and a shop window to the big 5 leagues.