Paul McGowan talks details of the falling out between Neil McCann and Celtic's Scott Bain

By David Walton

March 25, 2020

Dundee midfielder Paul McGowan has revealed the details of the falling out between Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain and then Dens Park manager Neil McCann.

Bain worked with McCann during the club’s time in the Premiership back in 2018, and started the 2018/19 campaign as McCann’s number one. He played the first 12 league matches of the season, but poor performances and results had them flirting with relegation (Transfermarkt).

The Hoops shot-stopper made his last appearance for McCann’s Dundee in a 3-1 home defeat to Hamilton in October 2017. A falling out led to him being suspended from first-team matters before being sent on loan to Hibs and then Celtic.

Scott Bain during his Dundee days (Jeff Holmes/Getty Images)

Bain hasn’t looked back whilst McCann was sacked in October 2018. And speaking about that game against Hamilton to Open Goal, McGowan has revealed details of the heated argument that took place:

“We were playing a game. McCann always wanted to pass it from the back. One got cut out and he (Bain) shouted over to McCann, ‘f*** off’. Neil McCann came in, he’s a hothead, and he said, ‘what did you say to me?’. We were getting beat 2-0, and Bainy was like that, ‘I told you to f*** off’.

“Instead of just lying, knowing what Neil McCann’s like…McCann was like, ‘you wit?’ and Bainy said, ‘I told you to f*** off’. We were all just sitting and McCann was like, ‘you told me to f*****g f*** off?’. He was right in his face. Bainy was just sitting there like, ‘aye’. He didn’t care.

“McCann asked for the sub goalie to go and warm up but he never put him on. After that it was just a mess. He left him out but it’s actually probably been the best thing that’s ever happened to Bainy in all honesty.”

McGowan clearly not part of the McCann fan club

You can tell with the underlying tone of McGowan’s comments how he feels towards McCann. He clearly didn’t think much of him given his temperament.

You can probably also argue that Bain was in the wrong too. Just turning around and speaking like that to your manager isn’t really the most professional action the Hoops goalkeeper will make in his career.

Neil McCann as manager of Dundee (Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

However, it’s like McGowan says – it’s the best thing that could’ve happened to him. Celtic were in need of a goalkeeper in January 2018 and brought Bain to Paradise. He took his chance and managed to win himself a permanent deal with the Premiership champions.

Since then, Bain himself has also commented on his relationship with McCann. He stated that both parties got what they deserved (The Herald).

McCann, however, was far too aggressive in suspending Bain if that was all it was for. Never playing him again showed a real lack of skill in man-management. Ex-Dundee star Kevin Holt previously had a pop at him for how he dealt with the situation too (Scottish Sun).

Regardless, two-and-a-half years on from that game against Hamilton, and things couldn’t have worked out better for the Celtic man.