Sir Kenny Dalglish: Darvel’s stunning win over Aberdeen was a sign that SPFL 3 could work

There has been plenty of conversation surrounding the possibility of there being an SPFL League Three introduced next season.

The exact make-up of it is, as yet, unknown. It could be made up of teams from the Lowland and Highland Leagues, plus B teams from Celtic, Rangers and Hearts.

And if it clears the way for junior clubs to have a better way through the pyramid system, so much the better.

It remains to be seen if it will be rubber-stamped – but I quite like the idea.

If it allows a chance for youth- team players to make the grade at the Old Firm or Edinburgh club, it’s only right to explore it.

Scottish football has a duty to give our youngsters the best possible chance to succeed. We don’t want to lose any talented lads unnecessarily.

It’s been suggested that Celtic, Rangers and Hearts will not be invited back into the Lowland League next season, so they are looking at alternatives.

I’ll be interested to see how this all unfolds.

When I was a youngster at Celtic, I was sent out on loan to junior club, Cumbernauld United. Danny McGrain was at Maryhill and Vic Davidson was at Ashfield.

This was to toughen us up, give us a feel for playing beside some hardy men and let Jock Stein see what we were made of. I felt it gave me a good grounding.

There was no hiding place, and you had to think very quickly for yourself. If you hesitated you ran the risk of being on the receiving end of a hefty tackle.

I know the game has changed, and the Laws of the Game have tried to outlaw any robust tackles. I’m absolutely fine with that.

But if we need to find other ways to give young players a chance, let’s do it.

I think the talent is there to expand the number of senior leagues, and you only have to look at Darvel against Aberdeen last Monday night to see the standard in Scottish football’s sixth tier.

We now know that not only can the junior club’s owner, John Gall, make award-winning pies, he can also help build a very successful football club at that level.

Mick Kennedy and his players were very impressive, and thoroughly deserved their victory.

It was very evident that they were well coached and drilled, and knew exactly what they had to do, and the football they played was pleasant on the eye.

🗣️'The next 90 minutes will probably be the most important of your career' 👊

How about this for behind the scenes access! 🎥

Darvel manager Mick Kennedy delivers a passioate pre-match team-talk to his players ⤵️#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/5F78ABjbQs

— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) January 23, 2023

They now face Falkirk in the next round. John McGlynn and his men will not want to become the next high-profile victims in Ayrshire, and the Bairns will need to play very well to make it into the quarter-finals.

Despite Aberdeen’s poor run of results since the World Cup, not many would have predicted a defeat for them against Darvel.

Jim Goodwin was absolutely shocked, and labelled it “humiliating and embarrassing”.

Many expected him to be sacked the following day, but the Dons owner, Dave Cormack, and the board have given him another chance.

Jim knows the game, and knows how it works. Nobody will need to tell him how vital it is to start winning games, and the sooner the better.

Everybody in football loves to see a giant-killing. It makes for good reading and fairytale stuff in the cup.

But when you are on the receiving end, it is absolutely demoralising. Remember, I was in the Celtic side when we lost 4-1 to Partick Thistle in the 1971 League Cup Final.

You need to pick yourself up very quickly. That can be easier said than done, but you just need to find a way.

Darvel’s win is a warning that you can never take anything in football for granted. You need to be focused in every game.

That’s exactly why the likes of Ange Postecoglou will not be taking the SPFL Premiership title for granted.

Yes, Celtic have a lovely lead over Rangers right now, but there is a long way to go.

They will take another step towards retaining it by beating Dundee United this afternoon at Tannadice – but it’s not a case of just turning up. Ange will demand his players give it 100%.

This is no time for complacency to set in. That said, I can’t see Ange tolerating anything of the sort.