The state of our game

With players being released left, right and centre it is interesting to read what some players are having to do to find employment.

The following couple of items were reported in the gossip columns this morning:

Freed Hibernian keeper Graeme Smith has been offered the chance to train with Tony Adams' Gabala (from Azerbaijan) side when they come to England to train. (Daily Star)

Allan Jenkins says he reluctantly left First Division Morton because he could earn more money playing part-time with Ballymena United in Northern Ireland. (Daily Record)

Surely it is a sad day when someone has to consider somewhere from the back of beyond, and another moving to what is considered a much poorer League than ours, to make a forward step in their careers.

Gone are the days when there would be interest from clubs at some level in England (Smith himself was at Brighton only a couple of seasons ago after leaving Motherwell), or they would move about in Scotland.

Budgets have obviously been slashed so much that players who are being released are having to take whatever steps and travel wherever to find some decent money.