THE growing number of Scottish exiles plying their trade in England can only be good for the game north of the border.
Steven Fletcher and David Clarkson this week became the latest Scots to head south, leaving Hibs and Motherwell for Burnley and Bristol City respectively to join others such as Ross McCormack, Christophe Berra, Craig Gordon and several others in England.
Their departures may have weakened their former clubs on the pitch, but it has helped boost their finances off it.
In turn it is also a welcome addition to the coffers of our national game.
While some may lament the loss of some of our most talented players, I can only see the positives.
In days past it was always the case that clubs sold players to England and at one time it seemed as though every top club down south had two or three Scots in their ranks.
The knock-on effect was substantial.
For example if Aberdeen sold a player to an English club, they in turn would buy from a St Mirren or Falkirk, who would then buy a player from Stirling Albion, who then go to Alloa, and on to the junior game.
The Old Firm were not immune to this process either, with the likes of Kenny Dalgleish being sold for huge money and then Celtic investing in players from Scotland.
The cash goes right through the system and everyone benefits.
At a time when the television money has evaporated, it is now more important than ever for clubs to produce players who are sellable.
The more money that comes into our game the better and it will, hopefully, mean that we can get back to the days when we were self-sufficient rather than reliant on television or at the mercy of any other external influences.
Some people may scoff because our players are no longer operating in the top tier in England.
In the past there were Scots playing for Liverpool, Manchester United and Leeds United, now it is Burnley, Watford and Cardiff City.
A lot of these players are still young, however, and I do not think it will be long before they start to explode the myth they are not good enough for the Premier League.
Players such as Fletcher, McCormack, at Cardiff, and Berra are improving every season and I have no doubt they will make the step up.
The important thing is the production line gathers pace back home, and the signs are good.
It is no use going to the supermarket and buying a nice bunch of flowers when you do not have the money.
You need to invest in a good gardener to sow the seeds.
After the profligacy of the nineties, when our game was flooded with sub-standard foreigners, were are now beginning to reap the rewards of a return to home-bred players.
Lets hope the Tartan invasion of England continues.