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Tom Devine is groping in the dark. A dozen years past the RC Church in England and Wales launched, 'Catholic Voices' - an organisation to tell the church's story in the media with clarity. Scotland's Cardinal, Keith O'Brien was a supporter of Scottish nationalism and he wanted a specific Scottish Catholic voice in the media. Tom was part of the new enlightenment. John Haldane, James MacMillan, Ronnie Convery,......... etc became the approved voices for all debates, phone-ins, comments, ................ etc. Alex Salmond courted the RC vote and heartily approved. Cardinal O'Brien preached family values, the above named all chorused similarly. Cardinal O'Brien was subject to claims of sexual intimidation from four priests, he entered a retreat in England and, never returned. The last four years of his life was spent in a church purchased house in Northumbria. He only returned to Scotland for his funeral. Tom, John, Ronnie, ........ etc all retreated from public comment. Tom decided not to tell the Cardinal O'Brien story with clarity. Keith O'Brien used Tom Devine, BBC Scotland and the overtly ambitious James Cook used Tom Devine in the same way.

Tom Devine is a vile, bitter old man who deeply despises Rangers football club and its supporters. And he thinks he can justify this hatred as an academic who thinks this makes him immune from any sort of accusation. His bigotry is acceptable, so he thinks. And his tactics are almost always the same: accuse the other side. The art of denial & deflection . Throughout my life(I’m in my mid fifties now) I’ve watched the likes of Devine and his ethnicity with much curiosity. I refer to them as ‘tartan Irish’ who claim to be Scots but antagonise their Irish ancestry to get a reaction which they often get. Then the accusations begin. Ive always believed these people want to turn Scotland into a ROI MK II, an anti-British state and now seem to have teamed up with our own homegrown SNP. But there are plenty who oppose it his & many within the Rangers support which seems to tip Devine and others over the edge periodically

Jack Ross appalled by Porteous abuse. Eleven days after the game, in the wake of two international matches and, less than 48 hours before Hearts visit Ibrox; Hibs boss, Jack Ross has returned to the subject of Ryan Porteous. Nothing to say about Dundee United's visit to Easter Road, no Jack's mind is focused upon, "potentially dangerous taunts via social media". BBC Scotland's BIG Jambo, Brian McLauchlin has nipped in before Alan Preston and Michael Stewart to put pressure on Saturday's Referee. He reports Porteous was sent off for a first half tackle on Joe Aribo when Hibs were leading 1-0. He quotes Jack Ross on a continuing injustice that sees the Hibs centre half banned for Hibs next two league games against Dundee United and Aberdeen, "We have to separate what happened on the pitch, it was a tackle and there are lots of different opinions on how bad a tackle it was. Was it a good tackle or a red card. It's done". Ross goes further, "In the aftermath he has received an awful lot of abuse that goes beyond the pale. In my opinion it was unacceptable. I've seen screenshots of sectarian abuse, homophobic abuse, people wishing him to die of tumours, I am shocked by the venom". The Hibee Gaffer was warming up, "I reckon some of the punditry surrounding the incident is a contributing factor. I cannot say for definite the language used by some who give opinion on what happened on the pitch has helped stoke things but I certainly don't think it helps" . Apparently, Ryan is a sensitive lad, "it's not been nice for the boy, we are fortunate here that our head of player care is a former Police Superintendent and we took guidance from him. It's an individual thing if you want to report such abuse in a criminal sense". Jack Ross finished by expanding comments on wider Scots society, "I don't think we can differentiate between different kinds of abuse in Scotland where sectarian abuse has never gone away and remains rife. Certainly, from what I've seen, it was sent to Ryan". Both the timing and the choice of BBC Scotland are deliberate, Jack knows he will receive full bang for running his mouth off. Wikipedia tells us that Porteous is a product of Dalkeith High School. I believe it to be a non-denominational school, the charge of sectarianism must be explained. Surely, it's too serious a topic to suffer claims that dilute? Reference the homophobic charge, there is no reason in today's society why Ryan should not proclaim his true identity. Say it loud, say it proud. I love the comment on Hibs head of player care being a former senior Copper. Tell me Jack, what did he say, in fact what did you say when Irvine Welsh was calling Alfredo Morelos, "a sticky bun" and advocating slicing him into pieces with a machete? All on Hibs TV too.

Definitely the best of all the away kits. Think they've missed a trick by not using the star but nevertheless a very tidy strip IMO.

While the style and collar are clever, you can’t say it’s a nod to the gallant pioneers and lump a Castore badge on it and not use the star. At £68 it’s a total rip-off. What is this, the 55th new top this season between the 3 playing kits, training tops, euro travel tops, euro training tops, match day warm up kits etc? I don’t buy any of them anyway so it’s not affecting me and it’s clear our marketing department is doing some great work, but I really sympathise with parents and young fans who are targeted in this way every other week. Imagine what it’s going to be like in the Spring when we are actually 150 years young, when all this has already been maximised for us just being in our 150th year.

Looks a bit like a semmit. The sort of thing Jock Shaw would wear under his real shirt.

Another fine article by @Rick Roberts:

A parcel of spalpeens in the nation.

Brilliant article. Thank you for that. I've said it before, time for Rangers to back the fans, not when they do something stupid but when the entire support are under attack. I used to admire Devine for his impartiality and was shocked and sickened to watch that interview.