For some there is a Light in the North, one which never goes out. The title is a reference to Alex Ferguson’s first autobiography and such tomes have certainly been much discussed of late.

Growing up in the late 1970s and early ’80s, as I did, it is sometimes hard even after all these years to think of Ferguson as anything other than the manager of Aberdeen.

It’s an odd thing to contemplate given the deluge of success he achieved with Manchester United and how much the 71-year-old imprinted his character into the wider public conscious across Britain.

But it cannot be overlooked that none of this would have occurred without his magisterial eight-season stewardship of the Dons.

You see, Ferguson was an enormous character even back then, a force of nature as a football man. Consider that with Aberdeen — a provincial side which had won the title just once before he arrived — Fergie led them to three more championships and seven other major triumphs.

At this very moment they may well occupy second spot in the Scottish Premiership, but don’t let that fool you — they have never really recovered at Pittodrie, taking just three honours in the 26 years since he departed.

The conditions had been ripe for the great man to build his empire in the Granite City. Billy McNeill departed to Celtic after a single season in charge, bequeathing his successor a good side.

A progressive board were happy to let their new man get on with his job. The players at Aberdeen, and he was not all that much older than the elders of the squad, soon nicknaming him Furious Fergie.

There is another Ferguson from this period though. It is worth remembering that — under the dark cloud of grief — he took on a not insignificant role before arriving at Old Trafford.

He was in charge of Scotland at Mexico ’86 in the wake of Jock Stein’s sudden death. Elevated from the position of assistant manager to a role he felt quite unprepared for, Ferguson dropped Alan Hansen from the squad, operated without the injured Kenny Dalglish, and left Graeme Souness on the bench for the brutal encounter with Uruguay.

There was much to question in this period and Ferguson has never hidden from that.

In fact we can clearly say that the key to the man has been his ability to learn, in order to eradicate mistakes. Think of the way he took the blame for the 1980 League Cup final defeat to Dundee United before quickly moving onwards and upwards.

There is wisdom here for all in sport, no matter their level. Given that Ferguson has a little spare time I’m sure Derek McInnes, now running the show at Pittodrie, wouldn’t mind a word or two of encouragement ... if the old master would oblige.

Stricken Hearts can only hope for a brighter future as saga drags on

The hardest thing must be the waiting for Hearts supporters and I’m not talking about the run-up to tonight’s League Cup quarter-final against Hibs.

Much more serious is the question of the club’s future and their ability to exit administration — tout suite.

Readers less well versed in the ups and downs of this story may rub their eyes in disbelief when I say the future of “Glorious Hearts” has been pinned on the decisions of a Lithuanian court judge.

Thankfully fans group Foundation of Hearts is ready in the wings to provide the necessary life support, but it has been stymied of late by a complicated legal case.

The Gorgie club ended up in the sticky stuff after their parent company in the Baltic — the banking group UBIG — went under and are now set to be liquidated.

A decision on this was meant to take place last week and infuriatingly postponed for a further 24 hours on Monday.

Worrying times indeed, for even after the court reconvenes and formally makes a judgement it may take another month before the name of the liquidator becomes public knowledge.

Be warned this may lead to a further delay that fans in Auld Reekie could well do without.

For the moment the Jambos must simply keep their fingers crossed and hope their team cheers them up on the park.

Eilidh Child rewarded for strength of character

Eilidh Child has had a wonderful season. There’s no need to take my word for it — the 26-year-old has been named Scotland’s Athlete of the Year and deservedly so.

Not only did she take bronze in the 4x400m relay at the World Championships in Moscow, Child also came home in a highly respectable fifth spot in the 400m hurdles.

These achievements, coupled with some notable successes in the same disciplines on the indoor circuit, have demonstrated a welcome transition in the Perth-born star in recent months.

Child, who had some real competition for her latest award, frankly, had a pretty poor 2012, making it no further than the semi-final stage of the hurdles in the London Olympics.

That must have been an immensely frustrating experience and it shows real character to turn things around in a relatively short space of time.

Child has done that and more — and in the process made a name for herself on the world stage in top-class athletics.
 
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