By Graham Barnstaple
July 31 2012

Motherwell make their Champions League debut tonight only two days after Rangers made theirs in the Ramsdens Cup, doesn’t see right!

A year ago Rangers were looking forward to winning the SPL as new owner Craig Whyte promised jam tomorrow, while at Motherwell John Boyle decided to stand down as owner leaving the future uncertain.

Now Rangers have been liquidated and are in division 3 of the SFL, while Motherwell are close to being owned by the fans through the Well Society and debuting in the Champions League tonight.

What does this tell us about Scottish football, it shows what can be done if a club learns from the lessons of the past. It is only ten years since Motherwell came out of administration themselves, and resolved to live within their means since then.

This meant the introduction of young players, and an emphasis on accepting they are a selling club. They have also recognised they have needed managers who know the transfer market in the lower leagues ofEngland. This has netted them Nicky Law, Chris Humphrey, Steven Jennings, Tom Hateley amongst others in recent years.

This is something Rangers could do with looking at as they try to progress the three SFL leagues. It seems at the moment they are still looking to bring in “big” signings, rather than looking for “value” players who will get them through the Leagues, in a similar way toGretnaandLivingston.

While Rangers fans may still be hurting at all of the SPL clubs at the moment, maybe they need to look at the journey Motherwell have taken in the last ten years and learn some lessons.