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.

Scot Gardiner

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.

Dundee FC managing director John Nelms

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…

Big Rab Douglas remains a popular figure on Tayside. And he pulls no punches in his assessment of the Inverness CEO and talks about the dispute he had with the Dens Park club when Gardiner was there and had as his manager John Brown, the former Rangers defender.

But Douglas, who describes himself as a ‘Dundee man’, opened his column by congratulating worthy Championship winners Dundee United on their title success.

“I want to say congratulations to Dundee United on winning the Championship. I’m a Dundee man but United are worthy of their title. Well done to Robbie Neilson and his backroom team, and I also want to mention Lawrence Shankland who has been outstanding,” the former Celtic goalkeeper stated. No talk of ‘Tainted Titles’ in the City of Dundee then.

It’s what Big Rab had to say about Scot Gardiner that really caught our eye. Here’s what Douglas has had to say, as reported by The Courier.

“A couple of things haven’t sat right with me since last Friday’s vote. I just didn’t understand the wee WhatsApp group chats that were going on. Chairmen and chief executives should look after the interests of their own clubs first and foremost and you should be able to expect that your vote will remain private until they’ve all been cast,” Douglas stated. “That didn’t happen and it’s been a bit strange.

“On Saturday, the Inverness Caley Thistle chief executive Scot Gardiner was in the middle of it all on BBC show Sportsound. That didn’t surprise me. I didn’t like how it all played out.

“I had dealings with Scot Gardiner at Dundee, where he held the same position,” Douglas revealed. “I think one of my emails to him years ago must have hit the famous firewall as well. I remember being at a function and telling one of the directors that I’d been trying to get hold of him all week.

“The director tipped him off and suddenly, when he showed up at the function, the email came through.

“I wasn’t allowed to train at that point after a fallout with John Brown. My dealings with Scot Gardiner weren’t pleasant.

“When I fell out with Brown, he (Gardiner) certainly wasn’t concerned about the welfare of Rab Douglas. I’m not surprised he appeared to be spearheading the ‘no’ campaign.”

INVINCIBLE by Matt Corr

Meanwhile The Celtic Star’s very own Matt Corr – who you may also know as a Tour Guide at Celtic Park – publishes his first Celtic book, titled INVINCIBLE – early next month. This beautiful hardback book will be the definitive story of Celtic’s magical2016-17 season – it truly is wonderful, a real joy to read, and brilliantly written by Matt.

If you have been reading Matt’s contributions on The Celtic Star or indeed in the Matchday Programme and the Celtic View you will know just how talented a Celtic writer he is. The book is published by The Celtic Star and you can pre-order below.

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