FORMER Celtic goalkeeper Rab Douglas has been discussing his relationship with the ‘No Voting’ Inverness Caley CEO Scot Gardiner. Writing in his newspaper column in the Courier, Douglas gives an insight into Gardiner’s time at Dens Park when he had John Brown there as the Dundee manager. That did not end well for the former Celtic keeper.
The Courier of course is the local paper for Dundee and both sides there have had plenty of interest in the activities and arguments in the soap opera that is Scottish football over the past week or so.
Gardiner apparently called up the BBC in Glasgow and invited himself on their Saturday afternoon Sportsound radio show. He then revealed details of a WhattsApp discussion involving various clubs that he believed was proof that Dundee had voted no. Then in what appeared to be a co-ordinated campaign, the Rangers released a statement and that row between the Ibrox club and the SPFL continued throughout the week via a series of claims, allegations and statements coming out of the latest Govan club.
Dundee meanwhile apparently said to Gardiner that they were voting and had voted no, then the SPFL said they hadn’t received the Dens Park vote, then Dundee withdrew it, then there was a rumour they were voting yes, followed by another rumour they were going to stick with the no vote before they eventually voted yes and in doing so confirmed their nearest and dearest Dundee United as Champions in the Championship.
The concession that Dundee gained was via an agreement that the SPFL will look at restructuring for next season with Hamilton and Hearts Chairs put in charge of that. The likely outcome is four leagues of 14,10,10 and 10 so we’ll see both Brora Rangers and Kelty Hearts promoted – that is something quite extraordinary for Barry Ferguson and Bob Malcolm. The pair of them were shouting their mouths off about Celtic not deserving to be named as Premiership Champions despite being 13 points clear and having a 25 superior goal difference.
Kelty Hearts were just six points ahead in the Southern League having played a game more, as indeed had Celtic over ‘challengers’ the Rangers, who had already thrown in the towel ahead of the pandemic that they’ve used as a lifeline. Had they gone onto win the title, Kelty Hearts would have faced Brora Rangers in a play-off for a place in the Second Division but as a result of the decisions that have been taken and the restructuring of the leagues that will inevitably follow, Ferguson and Malcolm have been given a title they may well have lost and also avoided the challenge of a play-off for the right to play in the SPFL. Not bad for a couple of blue nosed Null and Voiders.
Dundee’s actions infuriated another blue nose, the Inverness CEO and also the Rangers but the relegated threatened sides all backed away from further dispute ready to work through the alternatives that Hearts and Hamilton will bring forward as soon as possible.
What would be delicious – ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS – would be if the 14th spot in the Premiership didn’t automatically go to the side second in the Championship,Gardiner’s Inverness Caley Thistle but instead was decided via a play-off between Inverness and DUNDEE, who were third in that league when the season was ended prematurely due to coronavirus.
CONTINUE READING – RAB DOUGLAS’ COMMENTS ON SCOT GARDINER ARE ON THE NEXT PAGE…
