Who really wanted a bank holiday after Scotland’s World Cup opener that will cost the NHS £60m?

The farcical decision to deem Monday June 15 a national bank holiday to mark the nation’s World Cup return will cost NHS Scotland £60million.

That is a massive, self-inflicted, financial hit at a time when NHS Scotland resource are stretched to the max.

Scotland will kick-off their first appearance at a World Cup since 1998 when facing Haiti in Boston on Sunday morning.

First Minister John Swinney initially proposed the bank holiday to commemorate the return to the World Cup, and it was confirmed by King Charles through a Royal Proclamation.

The game against Haiti kicks-off on Sunday at 2am and finishes around 3.45am.

That is almost 29 hours before 9am on Monday morning when most people start work.

So does anyone really need Monday off?

I would argue no.

Especially not when it will cost be so costly to NHS Scotland.

Excitement is rightly building for Scotland’s return to the World Cup after a 28 year absence.

I can’t wait for the Haiti clash and I am confident Steve Clarke’s side will win to kick-start progress from the groups to the knock-out stages.

But I don’t need a day off to celebrate a win, commiserate a loss, or just mark our involvement in the World Cup.

Sunday is more than enough time to celebrate the return to the world footballing elite, and recover from any festivities.

Many of the Tartan Army will drink alcohol before, during and even after the game.

If you can’t recover in time for work on Monday, then maybe lay off the bevvy!

We didn’t need an extra, expensive, bank holiday more than 24 hours after full-time that no-one was even asking for.

The Scottish Government revealed an estimated financial impact of the bank holiday across NHS Scotland, including staffing costs associated with maintaining essential services, will be £60m.

A corresponding reduction in elective patient activity is estimated at approximately 15–20% compared to a standard week.

It is not worth it for a day off work and school.

There is also the hit and inconvenience at local level.

While public sector employees and Scottish Government staff were automatically given the day off, individual councils had to decide whether to recognise the holiday,  or not.

Aberdeen City Council is one of only five out of 32 authorities in Scotland to confirm staff will get a public holiday.

The other 27 saw sense.

Aberdeenshire Council rejected the proposal of a bank holiday for the World Cup because it could not justify the estimated £220,000 cost associated with it.

Yet Aberdeen City Council unanimously agreed to give staff time off to celebrate the nation’s return to the World Cup – and it comes at a cost.

Aberdeen City Council will reportedly have to pay out up to £30,000 in holiday pay for essential workers who can’t take the day off.

That jars with me.

Particularly when vital services have been cut.

It is also left to individual employers to grant the bank holiday, and many have declined.

Yet schools in Aberdeen city are closed on Monday which raises child care issues for people that have to work, when their kids are off.

My opposition to the bank holiday shouldn’t be misconstrued as a lack of enthusiasm for the World Cup.

I will be cheering on Steve Clarke’s side, in my Scotland shirt, with beer in hand.

But I don’t need a holiday to celebrate it, or recover from it, more than 24 hours after the final whistle has been blown.

Aberdeen rebuild ramps up

The signing of towering centre-back Dan Happe will ideally be a step towards fixing Aberdeen’s damaging defensive vulnerability at set-pieces.

Conceding goals at free-kicks and corner kicks cost the Dons last season.

At 6ft 6in should deliver an aerial presence when defending deliveries into Aberdeen’s box.

The 27-year-old has also spent his entire career to date at Leyton Orient in the English lower leagues.

He was a key figure in their rise from the National League to League One so the physicality of the Scottish Premiership should be no shock.

Aberdeen secured Happe on a free as his contract with the League One club had expired.

All four of boss Stephen Robinson’s signings to date have been free agents.

Kilmarnock duo Brad Lyons and Lewis Mayo were signed after their contracts at the Rugby Park club ended.

Midfielder Alexander Briedl was also secured after his deal ended at FC Blau Weiss Linz in Austria.

To get four on frees is great business by the Dons.

And they are set to seal the signing of Colorado Rapids midfielder Connor Ronan once the transfer window opens on Monday.

Former Dons roll back the years

Congratulations to Graham Watt for organising the Craig Brown Cup to raise funds for the Russell Anderson Foundation.

A host of former Aberdeen players donned their boots again in the charity match at Cove Rangers’ Balmoral Stadium on Saturday.

It raised valuable funds for a fantastic charity – and also brought back memories for players and fans alike.

[Source: Press and Journal]