Football Years 1998/99: Rangers spend big in SPL debut season

STV focus on the money aspect of the first SPL season

It is the fourth episode of STV’s Football Years programme and it appears to be focussing on money. It certainly talks…but it don’t sing and dance…and it don’t walk!

1998/99 was the year when the SPL started, bringing with it the glorious era that Scottish football is now enjoying. Err, thats not quite right is it?

The 1997/98 was one of the most pivotal seasons in Scottish football history and will forever be remembered by Celtic, Rangers and Hearts fans. This was to be the season when Rangers overtook their rivals 9 in a row league titles but somehow, on a final day of drama, Celtic came out on top of a thrilling season when Walter Smith walked away from Ibrox with nothing – something he has since rectified.

Rangers were in need of a re-tune and Dutch boss Dick Advocaat was the man to do it.

The man to front the Celtic challenge never arrived until much later on in the close season, dampening his ability to impact on the club but the work of Dr Jo Venglos has been long hailed by Celtic fans, even if the media treated him disgracefully.

Still, that is unlikely to be the story of the show, it was the year of Advocaat and a massive expenditure.

Artur Numan, Giovanni van Bronckhurst, Gabriel Amato, Lionel Charbonier and Andrei Kanchelskis were amongst the summer signings. These were added to as the season progressed with names like Stefan Klos and Neil McCann coming on board.

The expenditure was seen as being worth it by the Rangers fans as they clinched the domestic treble and looked set to build the foundations for a serious assault on Europe.

History will judge Dick Advocaat in a chequered manner and his expenditure has been a major part of the current Rangers financial difficulties but Rangers fans loved the Little General in his pomp and prime.

It is easy to criticise Rangers for their expenditure but some of the purchases around Scotland were just as crazy and given the other clubs had less of a turnover from Rangers, possibly even more damaging for the health of they clubs.

Motherwell and Dundee were two clubs who spent, spent, spent in chasing the glory and in Dundee’s case, you have to think they haven’t learned a thing.

Not only did they have another financial blowout in the 2000s but currently the club is buying their way to the Scottish First Division title and they look intent on outbidding SPL clubs for players. You would have to hope that Dundee’s backer is sure of his money because there are only so many times a club can go to the well before they find out is dry.

The show is set to look into the discussion about whether Dundee should have only one club but is there really much debate? Fans of both clubs will say no, never…whereas many outsiders who don’t care for either club will see the benefits of the move.

Jim McLean, involved with both clubs and never short of opinion, is set to feature in this part of the show.

A season of new beginnings and money madness.

Who was your worst buy of the early SPL seasons?

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.