Revealed: Alex Salmond"s pep talks to Scotland"s football and rugby teams

This newspaper used the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) Act to obtain Mr

Salmond’s correspondence with Scotland’s recent national football and rugby

team managers.

The Scottish Government initially failed to release the letters but eventually

agreed after being contacted by the information commissioner, who is charged

with ensuring public bodies comply with the FOI legislation.

In August 2009 Mr Salmond wrote to George Burley, Mr Levein’s predecessor as

national football team manager, just before a crucial World Cup qualifying

match against Norway.

Mr Salmond, a Hearts fan, wrote: “I am confident the team can secure a win

which would take Scotland a step closer to the play-offs for the 2010 World

Cup.”

However, Scotland was thrashed 4-0 in Oslo two days later and they ended up

missing out again on the tournament. Mr Burley was sacked as manager in

November that year after winning only three out of his 14 games in charge.

Mr Salmond wrote to Mr Levein in March 2010 offering his “warmest

congratulations” at winning his first game in charge, a 1-0 victory in a

friendly against the Czech Republic.

“It was tremendous to see the spirits of the players and spectators lifted as

Scotland fended off the Czech Republic team and the confidence of the team

clearly grew as the game developed,” the First Minister wrote.

“I am sure you and the team are delighted with the result and I hope it spurs

you on as you prepare to meet the Czech Republic again in October for the

Euro 2012 qualifiers.”

The latter was the match when Mr Levein’s reign started to unravel after he

fielded the infamous formation without a striker.

But Mr Salmond lauded him again in February 2011 following a 3-0 victory over

Northern Ireland in a friendly tournament.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the whole team performance but I have to highlight the

third goal from Kris Commons, which is one of the finest I have seen from a

player in a Scotland jersey, which involved exceptional team passing and

movement,” the First Minister wrote.

He said the performance had “set the benchmark” for the team’s next matches

but Scotland failed to qualify for European Championships and Mr Levein was

sacked in November 2012.

Mr Salmond then wrote to his successor, Gordon Strachan, in January 2013

congratulating him on his appointment as manager and lavishing fulsome

praise on his record as player and manager.

The First Minister offered similarly flowery compliments to the new head

coaches of the rugby team – Andy Robinson in June 2009, Scott Johnson in

December 2012 and Vern Cotter in June 2013 – with his letters detailing

their previous careers in the game.

If anything, Mr Salmond’s commentaries on the rugby team’s performances were

more detailed. In 2012 he infamously compared a BBC official to a Nazi

bureaucrat for refusing to allow him on television to comment on a Calcutta

Cup game between England and Scotland.

In a letter to Mr Robinson dated June 2012, he delivered his analysis of a

“fabulous win” against Australia at Murrayfield. “The terrible conditions

were no doubt familiar to a squad brought up playing through many Scottish

winters but it was nonetheless a performance of extraordinary grit and

determination,” he said.

“I was hugely impressed by the manner in which great skill was combined with

resolute defending.”

He said the squad had “great promise and I am sure this win will inspire them

to greater heights.” However, Mr Robinson resigned in November that year

following a series of disappointing results.

Mr Salmond also wrote to Kelly Brown, the team’s captain, following a 34-10

victory over Italy in last year’s Six Nations. He said: “It was absolutely

fantastic to see the backs cutting loose and scoring in front of a home

crowd.”

But, advising the players about their next match, he warned: “The Irish will

be formidable opponents and, although they will be missing some of their

first choice players, they will undoubtedly provide a stern test.”

Article source: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ulster-rugby/rory-best-ulster-rugby-for-life-29847989.html

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Revealed: Alex Salmond"s pep talks to Scotland"s football and rugby teams