This summer's decision to base the team in Lennoxtown to avoid any transatlantic flights is a sensible one.

I can fully understand why the club has gone to lucrative tournaments in the United States and Australia in previous summer close seasons, but the financial reward for making it into the Champions League is far greater than any cash sums that will be paid out for playing a pre-season tournament.

Players will get the chance to properly rest and train without having to concern themselves about different time zones, jet-lag, dehydration and all the things that come with long-haul flights.

It is a sensible approach and shows just how seriously the club will take the qualifiers.

They are doing everything they can to ensure the squad is as fully prepared as they possibly can be.

Meanwhile, I have to say that I was delighted to see Craig Gordonreceive the Football Writers' Player of the Year award.

I bumped into his Dad when I was flying to Malta recently on business and Gordon's story really is quite unbelievable.

I know what it is like to try and come back from injury and make comeback after comeback only to then have to accept that it is not going to happen. Psychologically it is very difficult so to not only come back but to return to play at the level he currently is, it is quite phenomenal.