IT is not too long ago that Scottish football was riding the crest of a wave.

The Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers were regular competitors in the Champions League and attracted big name stars like Henrik Larsson and, going back even further, Paul Gascoigne.

However, the fall from grace of the sport north of the border at club level has been a big concern for the Scottish FA and one which they surely need to address.

The problems at Rangers have not helped and that is clear to see. Their demotion down the divisions for financial irregularities may have brought much-needed revenue for the clubs in the lower echelons but the Premier League has suffered as a result with Celtic having few main challengers in recent seasons.

The loss of the Old Firm game cannot be underestimated, either, with the TV revenue and worldwide exposure that brought to Scotland.

The fact Edinburgh’s two big rivals Hibernian and Hearts are also now in the second tier has been an added blow to the top-flight chiefs looking to promote their brand.

It may be worth their while to listen to the voice of marketing experience in the shape of Barry Hearn who was damning in his assessment recently at the inaugural Scottish FA convention.

The man at the top of Matchroom Sport certainly knows what he is talking about when it comes to marketing sport after years of involvement in snooker and also football as chairman of Leyton Orient in recent years.

Perhaps the biggest achievement, however, has been to turn darts from a once-a-year TV event to one of sport’s biggest success stories watched in big arenas by thousands of fans.

Scottish sporting chiefs are far from wet behind the ears – this year’s successful Commonwealth Games in Glasgow was proof of how they know how to put on a show.

It is now time to revolutionise football and get it back to those glory days of the 1980s and 90s when a healthy domestic game helped feed the national side with talent that went on to regularly grace World Cups and earn big moves south of the border.

There’s no doubt the opening of the European Union and talent from abroad has affected that but as Hearn says, rather than feel sorry for itself, Scottish football should be fighting back.

As Wanderers boss Neil Lennon proved when he was in charge at Celtic, success is possible, and at European level too – remember his side beat a Barcelona team including Lionel Messi just two years ago.

It may take a while to reinvent itself but the key to success will be attracting sponsorship and TV money.

I would keep Hearn’s number on speed-dial if I was in an office at Hampden Park.