IT was encouraging to hear Pedro Martinez Losa say on Wednesday that Scotland can beat any of the other nations currently in the running to contest October's World Cup play-offs.
The previous night Ukraine beat Hungary 2-0 to confirm the near-certainty of Scotland being among the nine group runners-up. The other countries sitting second are Belgium, Switzerland, Iceland and Austria – all higher in the standings than Scotland – followed by Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Wales and Bosnia.
There will undoubtedly be changes by September 6, the date of the final qualifiers, as none of the groups have been completed. Unlike Scotland, who have only a trip to the Faroe Islands remaining, most of the other nations still have two games to play.
Nevertheless, Martinez Losa says he doesn't envisage huge changes. Four teams Scotland certainly won't face are Denmark, France, Sweden and Group B winners Spain, who are already through to next summer's finals in Australia and New Zealand – with England and Germany looking sure to join them.
The position of Group C leaders Netherlands is not so secure and there is a possibility they could drop down to second. Iceland who are two points adrift, play their game in hand against Belarus on September 2 before travelling to meet the Dutch four days later.
As for the play-offs themselves, the six lowest nations will be drawn to meet in three single leg first round ties. At this stage it doesn't look likely that Scotland can force themselves into the top three who will enter in the second and final round to play the first round winners.
Only two nations – based on their results in eight counting group games and the second round ties – will be assured of World Cup places. The third will have to travel to the southern hemisphere in February to take their chances in the inter-confederation play-offs.
THE new SWPL set-up will be enhanced by Friday's appointment of independent chair Mary Galbraith and non-executive James Murray. It was essential the chair was a woman, and Galbraith ticks all the boxes in terms of a firm and no-nonsense hand on the tiller.
Murray is the chief of staff at AC Milan and was previously involved in the rebranding of the Arsenal women's team. Christy Grimshaw, who is at the Italian club, quickly endorsed his appointment on social media.
Eight of the nine members of the new board are now in place, with the glaring exception being a managing director. The post is proving hard to fill, and Fiona McIntyre's interim role has had to be extended as she was due to return to her position as head of girls' and women's football at the Scottish FA late last week.
The fixture list was released on Thursday, but didn't include the grounds clubs have chosen to play at next season. Some will be at new venues, while there are issues to be resolved at three or four others.
The key, as far as the credibility of the new set up is concerned, is bringing more money into the leagues through title sponsorship and enhanced broadcasting deals. Time is running down ahead of the August 7 opening fixtures, but I understand there are grounds for optimism on both fronts.
IT was my privilege to interview Vera Pauw more than twenty years ago when she was the Scotland head coach. At the time I had no understanding whatsoever of women's football, but I came away from our encounter deeply impressed with the interviewee.
Pauw's depth of knowledge of football was comprehensive, and superior to any of the men's managers I have met. Although she left Scotland in 2004, and was replaced the following year by Anna Signeul, we remain friends and I have always held her in the highest professional and personal regard.
To say I was stunned by her disclosure on Friday evening that she was raped 35 years ago by a prominent official in Dutch football, and later sexually assaulted by two other men, would be an understatement. Everybody who knows her would have felt exactly the same.
Shamefully, and having decided that she could no longer keep her long-held secret from the rest of the world, it appears Pauw has not received the support and investigation that was required from the Dutch FA. Her statement on Friday said she has now reported the rape and sexual assaults to the police in her home country.
Her many friends in Scotland, and those who played for her between 1998 and 2004, will hope that justice prevails – and that Vera can finally find some closure and peace.
