The big Dens Park postponement question that no one dares to ask
Soccer Football - Scottish Cup Final - Celtic vs Motherwell - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Britain - May 19, 2018 Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell (2nd L) and Independent non-executive director Dermot Desmond (C) in the stand Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
On March 17 the match between Dundee and Philippe Clement’s side was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Postponements at this stage of the season are a particular problem, this weekend April 13/14 is the end of the traditional season with the Premiership split in two for the five remaining rounds of fixtures.
With an international break coming up the first viable date for the rescheduled match was Wednesday April 3, should there be a continuing problem with the pitch the SPFL had April 10 as a back up to ensure that all 33 rounds of fixtures were completed on time.
For reasons that were never given but which many fans predicted the SPFL decided to overlook April 3 and puts their eggs in the April 10 basket, yesterday they paid the price.
It’s Crazy that Rangers called the game off last week and now they are Bitching about tomorrow. https://t.co/zhyuoVzKBA
— Gerry (@GerryKeogh_) April 9, 2024
Every cynic in the world knows that the SPFL, led by Neil Doncaster getting paid £400,000 a year with a 24 month notice period on his contact with 14 years of secrets, opted to give Clement’s side a full week of preparations before facing Celtic on April 7. It was a calculated risk, high risk. Costly.
On Tuesday Clement started bleating about the timing of the fixture, even before it was postponed for a second time there were voices wanting the match relocated away from Dens Park.
For their own reasons the SPFL ignored playing the match on April 3 and now have to deal with the fall out.
Dundee are one point above Hibs and three ahead of Motherwell who play each other on Saturday while Dundee go to Aberdeen.
A win for Tony Docherty’s side at Pittodrie guarantees them a top six place but if they draw and Hibs win or lose and Motherwell win then the Dens Park side will drop out of the top six knowing that they need to take something from the re-arranged match on April 17 with angry Clement and his squad.
Doesn’t matter who you support it is a disgrace that an SPFL club has allowed this to happen yet again, SPFL really need to be holding that club to account and fining them for this shambles.
But enough about Rangers refusing to play it last week when the pitch was playable. https://t.co/VczIsfiDQE
— 4 Tims and a Podcast (@PodTims) April 10, 2024
Who is the least trusted referee in Scotland?
Beaton- a back catalogue like no other
Collum- has never had his eyes on the ball
Dickinson- the dangerous rising star
McLean- nothing will beat the Caley Thistle semi
Robertson- Tynecastle was an all-time low
Walsh- Utterly compromised by the day job
