The next Scottish Labour leader will be either Michael Marra or Joe Fagan, yet the vast majority of the Scottish public will have next to no idea who they are, or what they stand for.
Anas Sarwar, a well-known face to voters, still failed to convince them to make him first minister at May's election. He has since moved to the House of Lords, leaving Labour to search for a replacement.
Lack of Recognition a Serious Problem
Veteran MSP Jackie Baillie has a public profile but is not running. Monica Lennon, recognised for her work on period poverty, failed to win enough support from fellow parliamentarians to appear on the ballot.
It's not unkind to suggest that most Scots will have little idea who Marra or Fagan are. That's a serious problem that whoever wins the leadership will have to address, and fast.
Challenges Ahead for the New Leader
Come September, the new leader will face John Swinney at First Minister's Questions and undergo serious media scrutiny for the first time. It would help if they offered voters bold policy proposals.
Whoever wins must be on the front foot from the off, with eye-catching policies and a personality to match.
