Stewart Milne has aimed a parting shot at Rangers and Celtic and claimed their reluctance to allow change has held Scottish football back.
The Aberdeen chairman will step down at Monday night’s Annual General Meeting and bring down the curtain on his 21 years at the Pittodrie helm.
Milne believes there needs to be a general shake-up in Scotland’s game but knows it is unlikely to happen because Glasgow’s big two will always put their own interests first.
He admitted: “If we had the courage to bring somebody independent in to come up with a plan and a structure for going forward eventually a lot of benefits would come through at national and club level.
“But it is difficult to see ourselves getting into that position.
“We have a particularly difficult situation in Scotland that we have two clubs that are so much out of line with the rest of the game in terms of their scale.
“Their needs and aspirations are different from the majority of other clubs but I do believe there is a lot more common ground that could be seized upon that wouldn’t be detrimental to them either.
“But I’m not sure it will ever happen.”
Milne has seen it all in his time in Scottish football from league reconstruction, to failed and botched television deals and breakaway threats.
He also believes the game would also benefit from having one body rather than the dual governance from the Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Professional Football League.
“I’ve said for a long time that if we had one consolidated body run by the right people we might start to see the game moving forward with a common agenda,” the property tycoon claimed.
“In many ways Scottish football has come through its most challenging period in the past 20 years that it has ever been faced with.
“There have been some good things done but I think there were some real opportunities there that we missed.
“One of the good things in America is that they’ve got a much stronger central control of the game.
“It’s clear that the environment of the clubs operating in that they are expected to deliver.”
The one positive from recent seasons has been the development of young talent and Milne knows that is the way forward for all Scotland’s clubs.
He stated: “But the good thing is we have been forced back to doing more on youth development going forward and we have started to see some of the benefits coming through at clubs.
“That’s the only way we can get back competing in Europe again as we are never going to buy ourselves into a position that so many other clubs are.”
Now correct me if I am wrong but didn't the SPL clubs, with us out of the picture, want to change the voting system to 10-2 or 9-3 but Aberdeen blocked change by backing Celtic to maintain the 11-1 voting for decision making? I am fairly sure I am not mistaken. Only yourself to blame Stewart, the opportunity was there and you dropped the ball.
The Aberdeen chairman will step down at Monday night’s Annual General Meeting and bring down the curtain on his 21 years at the Pittodrie helm.
Milne believes there needs to be a general shake-up in Scotland’s game but knows it is unlikely to happen because Glasgow’s big two will always put their own interests first.
He admitted: “If we had the courage to bring somebody independent in to come up with a plan and a structure for going forward eventually a lot of benefits would come through at national and club level.
“But it is difficult to see ourselves getting into that position.
“We have a particularly difficult situation in Scotland that we have two clubs that are so much out of line with the rest of the game in terms of their scale.
“Their needs and aspirations are different from the majority of other clubs but I do believe there is a lot more common ground that could be seized upon that wouldn’t be detrimental to them either.
“But I’m not sure it will ever happen.”
Milne has seen it all in his time in Scottish football from league reconstruction, to failed and botched television deals and breakaway threats.
He also believes the game would also benefit from having one body rather than the dual governance from the Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Professional Football League.
“I’ve said for a long time that if we had one consolidated body run by the right people we might start to see the game moving forward with a common agenda,” the property tycoon claimed.
“In many ways Scottish football has come through its most challenging period in the past 20 years that it has ever been faced with.
“There have been some good things done but I think there were some real opportunities there that we missed.
“One of the good things in America is that they’ve got a much stronger central control of the game.
“It’s clear that the environment of the clubs operating in that they are expected to deliver.”
The one positive from recent seasons has been the development of young talent and Milne knows that is the way forward for all Scotland’s clubs.
He stated: “But the good thing is we have been forced back to doing more on youth development going forward and we have started to see some of the benefits coming through at clubs.
“That’s the only way we can get back competing in Europe again as we are never going to buy ourselves into a position that so many other clubs are.”
Now correct me if I am wrong but didn't the SPL clubs, with us out of the picture, want to change the voting system to 10-2 or 9-3 but Aberdeen blocked change by backing Celtic to maintain the 11-1 voting for decision making? I am fairly sure I am not mistaken. Only yourself to blame Stewart, the opportunity was there and you dropped the ball.
Last edited: