There's a light at the end of what has been a very long, dark tunnel.
Let’s just hope it’s shining brightly enough from Hampden to be seen at Holyrood.
With Covid numbers falling, pressure on the NHS easing, jabs being plunged into arms and lockdown restrictions eased, we may not be out of it yet but we’re getting there.
Now with the Euros looming we’ll soon see if the government will let any of us get there.
And with an election looming is it really too cynical to assume that Mrs Sturgeon, as John McGinn called her the other night, will see it as an opportunity to woo potential voters.
Nah, me neither.
But this shouldn’t be about electioneering, although if that’s what it takes to get bums on seats inside Hampden, we’ll accept it. Quite simply, it’s nonsensical that south of the border there could be tens of thousands in Wembley for England v Scotland on June 18, while 400 miles north, Hampden could host our national team against the Czechs and Croatia either side of that match, with only a smattering of fans.
April 7 is the date by which UEFA have demanded to know how many fans the 12 nominated cities, including Glasgow, are prepared to allow into their stadia.
Chiefs in Nyon are looking for an average of 50 per cent capacity, with some grounds exceeding that and others, like Dublin’s Aviva Stadium perhaps being allowed 25 per cent.
As yet, Scotland has given no indication of how many the Government would be prepared to let through the gates.
It’s highly unlikely, with the situation improving, that Holyrood will risk losing the Euros by telling UEFA that no fans will be allowed to attend the four games at the National Stadium.
But chances are they’ll try to get away with the bare minimum to satisfy the organisers.
If only 5000 or so are allowed in it’s better than nothing but nowhere near good enough.
By June indoor shopping malls and cinemas are likely to be open. Before the summer is out, Liam Gallagher is going to headlining one of the three days of the TRNSMT festival in front of thousands at Glasgow Green.
So surely there’s scope for allowing a sizeable, socially-distanced crowd into Hampden.
Make no mistake, this event is going to give the country a massive lift after what will have been 15 months of hell by then. The Scottish government has to recognise that and do everything in its power to persuade UEFA not to pull the plug.
Can you imagine the outcry if they don’t? Scotland reach their first major finals in 23 years and have two games at home but aren’t allowed to compete there?
Holyrood might have given the impression so far that football is bottom of the food chain, but they know what the reaction would be.
If we can watch Liam Gallagher in September, why can’t we watch Declan Gallagher in June?
Will it happen?
I said Maybeee.
