Former Celtic goalkeeper Rab Douglas has slammed Scot Gardiner after his much-publicised alternative plan to end the SPFL league season, The Courier reports.
The Daily Record reported earlier this week that Gardiner, currently Chief Executive of Inverness Caledonian Thistle, had been working with Hearts and Rangers on a plan that would effectively null and void all four divisions in the SPFL.
That’s a move that could have denied Celtic a ninth successive league title.
Although Inverness furiously denied the report, Morton chief Dave McKinnon would later publicly back the paper’s version of events.
Then, at the recent EGM vote, Inverness were left voting alone in the Scottish Championship for an investigation into the SPFL.
Douglas didn’t hold back with his criticism of Gardiner, stating in his Courier column: “He and his opposite number at Morton, Dave MacKinnon have got very different versions of events regarding whether there was or wasn’t a proposal to null and void the leagues coming out of Inverness – and I know which one I believe.
“I worked with both men at Dundee. In fact, I’ve worked with a lot of chief executives over the years and the only one I’ve fallen out with is Scot Gardiner.
“I found it staggering that he would go on the radio and say what he said a few weeks ago and it doesn’t look like he’s learned his lesson. Inverness Caley Thistle were always the sort of club that nobody had a problem with. Now look at them – they’re slap bang in the middle of all the controversy.
“The most telling thing for me is that when it came to Tuesday’s vote, Inverness were on their own in the Championship. Not one other club was on Scot Gardiner’s side of the argument. That’s as clear a picture as you can get.”
While Inverness and Gardiner appear to feel like they’ve been misrepresented by The Record, it’s fair to say there is enough out there in public for people to form their own opinions on what went on.
Morton’s McKinnon claims to have notes from meetings that back up his version of events.
Douglas is clearly not a fan of Gardiner regardless and from my perspective, he’s right to suggest that Inverness have been left looking a little foolish in the midst of all this drama.
Thankfully the null and void plan was always a non-starter and Scottish football can begin to move forward in the most constructive way possible.
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