This Leither's view of football has changed. After years of sitting behind the goals I have moved into the posh seats in the new stand at Easter Road. Unfortunately the only drawback is that I now have an unbroken view of the riff-raff in the East Stand, however, I will put up with it. Initially it took a bit of getting used to but it is great to actually be able to see the whole game rather than peering into the distance to catch a glimpse of what is happening at the other end. When players are viewed either running away from you or towards you it can be difficult to tell how fast they are so I now have a whole new sideways perspective on the game. Sadly this was cruelly demonstrated just three minutes into the first home game when Franck Sauzee was left floundering like an asthmatic pensioner as Kilmarnock's new striker raced past him to score the first goal of the 2001/2002 season. Our new players performed well and once they have acclimatised themselves to the frantic, headless chicken, hundred miles an hour style of Scottish football they will do fine.

Just how boring is the stuff about the Evil Empire leaving us becoming? Celtic, to demonstrate how good they are, defeated Manchester United and proclaimed themselves the best team in the world in the process. Even an appearance by the fabulous EricCantona in a United shirt could not salvage the game for them. It struck me as strange that, considering the frantic rate at which Celtic were buying players that week, they did not offer Cantona a contract. Wouldn't it be wonderfully ironic if the Old Firm were accepted into the English Premiership just before Scotland's bid to host Euro 2008 was accepted. This should of course mean that only Scottish clubs could benefit from the financial spin-off the tournament provides and good old Rangers and Celtic would be excluded as they were foreign teams playing in a foreign league. As usual all this nonsense is about money and you can bet the hordes who follow the Old Firm would be viewed with deserved distaste by the fans of Premiership clubs. It would be no surprise to anyone if the Weegie mobs received the same welcome in England as asylum seekers have been granted in Glasgow. The very idea that Rangers and Celtic expect to qualify for Europe while competing in the Premiership is, let's face it, laughable. There is more chance of our own foreign based team, Berwick Rangers, gaining entry to European competition by winning the Scottish Premier League.

It has been brought to my attention that Russell Latapy is searching for a new agent. Can I suggest that he asks Neil and Christine Hamilton to represent him in all future negotiations, after all they are his kind of people. I am now going to digress from football and do a small favour for my butler. He has asked me to use my not inconsiderable influence to insert an 'I Saw You' feature in this months column. He tells me he was driving the Bentley along Salamander Street on the evening of August 17th when he spotted a vision of femininity dressed in white stilettos, black leather mini skirt and lime green shellsuit top. As he drove past their eyes met and he was immediately smitten. Who is this woman? Was she out for an evening stroll? Was she waiting for someone? Was she, perhaps, looking for love? Obviously one would not expect to see a beautiful woman in a bleak place like Salamander Street but if you are she please contact me and I will pass your details on.

I will leave you with this thought. Did you know that if you stand on the Great Wall of China you are able to see the moon?