His measure of success would appear ill advised and if applied to the forthcoming referendum would mean his Government could claim a successful outcome even if it falls far short of independence.
The successful merger he refers to is now an institution containing five different sets of terms and conditions for staff doing the same job, teaching staff who are rightly unhappy and support staff who are now entering a dispute situation.
There are some happy staff, sorry that should be former staff, those who left at senior management level more than happy with their pay offs, not least principals who are no longer required.
In the same issue The Herald also has a job section, posts advertised with salaries, in among them another merger for Stow, North Glasgow and John Wheatley colleges seeking a principal and chief executive designate, this advert however simply states "a competitive salary".
Why can we not see what salary a principal will earn? The real costs of these mergers have to be examined in the public domain.
Questions are already being asked in other sectors regarding the cost of losing staff and they also have to be asked in further education.
The sector that I have served for 25 years is not a happy place. Mr Russell, please consider your view of what is successful and what is not because success on paper is easy to fudge.
Stephen Henson,
Glasgow.
This letter was published in The Herald - Monday 27 May
