Eddie Barnes: Sir Alex back home

Sir Alex Ferguson was in Glasgow last night at a glitzy sports awards event, organised by Sportscotland and the Sunday Mail paper. He received a lifetime achievement award from his close friend Walter Smith, and spoke well afterwards about the importance of ambition in the pursuit of sporting excellence.

The table arrangements at the affair told an interesting story. First Minister Alex Salmond was seated at the top table alongside Sir Robert Smith, the chair of the Commonwealth 2014 games, and a member of Salmond's council of economic advisers. But Fergie - the undoubted star of the night - was seated not there, but on the table behind, alongside Labour's Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy and Labour supporter and Fridge Magnate (I love that joke) Willie Haughey.

I wonder why? All we can say is this: planning the seating arrangements for family-at-war wedding receptions is as nothing compared to the secret loathings of Scottish public life.