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SPL December 2010
Scottish Premier League News December 2010: Refs On Strike
Ali Hannah
Celtic
It has been a turbulent month off the field in Scotland, with referees going on strike in protest at what they perceive to be a lack of protection from the SFA in the face of persistent criticism from sections of the game.
In what was widely believed to be a protest at comments emanating from Celtic, the whistlers downed tools for a weekend with the SFA forced to call in foreign officials to take over.
Referee Dougie McDonald was at the centre of the row and, after increasing pressure to resign after he admitted lying about a penalty reversal to Celtic, he stepped down from his post at the end of the month.
McDonald had been under serious pressure to step down after the admission that he lied about the penalty in a game against Dundee United last month. Celtic's chairman John Reid had called directly for McDonald's removal after the club's recent annual general meeting; the referee's position was widely regarded as untenable.
McDonald's exit came after a weekend in which the refs went on strike in protest at what they perceive as escalating abuse towards them and the questioning of their honesty.
Hugh Dallas, the Scottish Football Association's head of refereeing, also left his post on Friday. Dallas, who is known to be close to McDonald, had been under investigation for the alleged sending of an offensive email relating to the pope's visit to Scotland.
McDonald said: "My category one colleagues decided rightly to withdraw their services from matches this weekend in response to the outrageous way they have been treated by sections within Scottish football and, in my opinion, the lack of support they have received from the SFA general purposes committee in recent years.
"However, their united stand, and the position of strength they have established this weekend, has been clouded by one issue, namely the aftermath of the Dundee United v Celtic match on 17 October. I apologised for my role in that and want my previously unblemished 29-year career to move on."
"Now is the time for all of Scottish football to move on.
"My decision will therefore remove that issue from the debate and ensure that the next day of action - which, in my opinion, will undoubtedly come if the football community does not have a massive change of heart - will result in media coverage being concentrated on those who engage in referee bashing and those who condone it."
Celtic refused comment on McDonald's decision.
Neil Lennon, the Celtic manager, and the striker Gary Hooper are also due to appear before the SFA, in what will be the first test of the governing body's promise to get tough on those who are critical of referees. Lennon has been referred for disciplinary action following comments made after a defeat to Hearts. Celtic's manager claimed the officials would concoct a story as to why he had been sent to the stand during game.
Hooper said a disproportionate number of decisions were given against Celtic because they "are one of the biggest teams in the world". As Scotland recovers from its referees' strike, the SFA chief executive, Stewart Regan, said those who question officials will be more firmly dealt with than before. That stance has upset the country's Players Union. "We will be very tough on any player who challenges or abuses referees in a way that is unacceptable," said Regan.
Referees return to action next weekend but the strike issue may rumble on after claims the SFA misled foreign officials who had been brought in as cover with four Premier League games going ahead on Saturday. Polish referees backtracked on their offer to help after learning the reasons for the withdrawal of labour and two of their Portuguese counterparts did likewise upon arriving in Glasgow on Friday. The Israeli referee Eli Hacmon, who took charge of Kilmarnock's win over Aberdeen said afterwards: "We did not know the reason before we came on Friday. If we knew it before, we would not have come here."
Rangers
Scottish tycoon Craig Whyte's bid to buy Rangers remains on course and a takeover could yet be completed by Christmas. Whyte is set to hold further talks with current owner Sir David Murray, although it is understood that no date or venue has yet been confirmed for that meeting.
Reports suggest the 39-year-old, who made his money as a venture capitalist and is now based in London, is expected to travel to Scotland to meet Murray. The heavy blizzards that brought Britain to a halt delayed further talks.
The complex and lengthy due diligence process is ongoing and, when completed, Whyte will decide whether to make a formal offer for the Scottish champions. It is believed that everything is going as expected and a takeover could still be completed by Christmas or early in the New Year.
Whyte, a Rangers fan, confirmed in a statement to the stock exchange last month that he was considering making an offer for Rangers and was in talks with Murray International Holdings. It is believed Whyte would take over 75 per cent of Murray's shareholding, with London-based property developer Andrew Ellis becoming a 25 per cent partner.
Ellis was previously involved in a failed bid to buy the club earlier this year. It is understood that Rangers' debt will be wiped out and significant funds made available for new players if Whyte succeeds with his buy-out of the club.
A sum of around £25m could be made available over five years for investment in team development, although Walter Smith, the manager, is unlikely to be given a massive transfer kitty in January even if a deal is concluded by then.
The club's debt, which stood at £27.1m on 30 June, would be paid off and an additional £5.5m would be offered to shareholders.
Meanwhile, striker Nikica Jelavic hopes to return for Rangers in time for the 2 January Old Firm derby with Celtic. The 25-year-old Croatian, who signed for £4m in August, required ankle surgery after being injured in the 2-1 win at Hearts on 2 October but is now stepping up his rehabilitation.
Jelavic said: "My injury is getting better and better and I hope that I can be fit again in January so I will start to play. I have only been walking with the physios recently but very soon I want to be running again and get back into serious training.
"Normally, you should not play for three months after an operation so, with this being the case, the Celtic game will probably be my target.
"Right now I still need time but it would be nice to be back in the squad for this game. Whatever happens I just want to get back playing. I want to help my team-mates as quickly as possible because they helped me settle in Scotland and that has helped me so much. "From the first game I think I showed that I can play for Rangers and that I can score a lot of goals but I want to prove myself more and more here."
Aberdeen
Aberdeen have parted company with Mark McGhee after a string of woeful results have left the Dons looking at relegation for the first time in their history.
A 9-0 wolloping at the hands of Celtic was followed up by a string of defeats and the Pittodrie board finally reached the decision that McGhee had to go.
Billy Stark, currently in charge of Scotland's Under 21 team, is the early favourite to succeed McGhee. Stark's arrangement at the SFA is on a relatively modest annual salary - believed to be less than £100,000 - and on a basic staff rather than football manager's contract. Little, or possibly no, compensation would be due for his services.
Financial matters are pertinent at a club which spent about £1m on parting company with Jimmy Calderwood, hiring McGhee and his assistants and sacking McGhee and his backroom staff.
Aberdeen's net debt stands at £12.9m, which has hardly been helped by dwindling crowds.
If Stark is appointed, he is likely to turn to his former team-mate Jim Leighton, the legendary Aberdeen goalkeeper, as his assistant, a man who was sacked by McGhee early in his reign at the troubled club.
Others linked with the vacant post include the out of work John Collins and John Hughes, with the latter having publicly expressed interest in the post. Steve Clarke, the former Chelsea and West Ham coach, held talks with Hibernian recently when they were seeking a manager and will be quoted again.
Gordon Strachan has been touted in certain quarters but those close to the former Celtic manager have insisted he has no desire to make a swift return to Scottish football. Paul Hartley, the Aberdeen captain, has formed part of an interim coaching team.
The Aberdeen director Willie Miller will head the hunt for McGhee's successor. He said: "We don't want to put a time on it, but we'd like to get it done as soon as possible. We have to go through the procedure of building up a shortlist of potential candidates and we've set up a little sub-committee to do that.
"We're looking for applicants, building up a list of potential candidates ourselves and we'll take that process through as quickly as we possibly can. Mark's worked hard over the period he's been at the club, but eventually, as at any club, results dictate the future of any manager. The decision was made by the board that we wanted to make the change at this moment in time to give us a bit of time to try to build up momentum and get some points."
Only goal difference separates Aberdeen, who have lost six league games in succession, from the foot of the SPL.
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