20/11/02.SPL chairman Lex Gold (left) confirms the resignation of chief executive, Roger Mitchell. (Photo by SNS Group via Getty Images)
Roger Mitchell has been reveling over Jim McLean’s assault on BBC Scotland reporter John Barnes.
The incident occurred in 2000 when the then Dundee United Chairman was interviewed over the future of under-fire manager Alex Smith.
McLean brought incredible success to Dundee United but his old school methods alongside Walter Smith wouldn’t last five minutes under current Employer legislation.
There was more stick than carrot from McLean as he ruled with an iron rod with young players terrified of going against the grain with some draconian punishments for those that fell foul.
In public McLean came over a dull, dour and dreich, almost a decade after stepping down as manager he couldn’t cope with a question about the future of an under performing manager.
This just shows how out of touch Roger Mitchell was with Scottish football when he was in charge with these incorrect comments about that interview. I suppose it just adds to his lack of credibility. https://t.co/R2UdpHzgUs
— John Barnes (@JohnBarnes01) December 14, 2024
That never happened Chris!
— John Barnes (@JohnBarnes01) December 14, 2024
In October 2020 The Herald reported:
JIM McLean, former chairman of Dundee United football club, was yesterday charged with assault following an incident involving BBC television reporter John Barnes at the end of last Saturday’s game against Hearts.
Tayside Police said that Mr McLean, 63, had been charged at his home in Albert Road, Broughty Ferry. His solicitor was present.
A police spokeswoman said a report had been sent to the procurator-fiscal in Dundee.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Premier League said it viewed the alleged incident ”with the utmost seriousness”.
A spokesman said: ”It would appear that Dundee United, by the actions of its director, may be in breach of the rules of membership of the SPL.
”The SPL has received written confirmation from Dundee United that Jim McLean has resigned as chairman, managing director, and director of Dundee United.
”Whilst the board of the SPL could competently appoint a commission to investigate whether there has been a breach by Dundee United of the SPL’s rules of membership, it was decided to defer consideration of such appointment whilst Jim McLean severs his ties with the club completely, as he apparently intends to do.”
It seems that the utmost seriousness quote was for show with the then SPL CEO quietly laughing at a club Director assaulting a reporter at work.
Now, 24 years down the line, possibly after a night indulging on his vino lake, Mitchell has revealed his true thoughts on the incident.
— Ewen Cameron (@EwenDCameron) December 14, 2024
Bite your tongue over what though?
A couple of examples please. If you can.
— Ewen Cameron (@EwenDCameron) December 14, 2024
Roger’s been on the sauce… again…
— Edinburgh Pandas (@EmbraZooPandas) December 15, 2024
It beggars belief that this guy was in charge of Scottish football.
— Craig R Morton (@crmpicco) December 15, 2024
You have to wonder how the SPL/SPFL manages to recruit such awful CEOs as Mitchell and Doncaster. Are they intent on self-harming?
— gordon simpson (@gordonbsimpson) December 14, 2024
Mitchell was CEO of the SPL when he waved through the token contracts given to Tore Andre Flo and Ronald de Boer as they moved from Chelsea and Barcelona to join Dick Advocaat’s Revolution!
Those contracts later led to a £2.7m ‘Wee Tax Bill’ but no action was ever taken by the SPL, SPFL or SFA over fielding ineligible players.
Those involved in the X/Twitter conversation can be expected to be blocked by Mitchell but he can’t do anything over all of the screengrabs.
Whatever else he may have been during his career, McLean was hideously embarrassed by that episode and in retrospect given the level of disinhibition displayed he was very likely in the early stages of the dementia that would ruin his twilight years and eventually kill him, so the shame is entirely Mitchell’s. It’s hard to believe someone who once held a position of responsibility would stoop that low. What a goon.
Remember the quadruple starts today,the FUDS in the Scottish press are all excited about the sevco revival.
Be afraid of the big Moroccan Puff Didi,he is the talk of the press room,with £15-20 million figures to be splashed in the headlines tomorrow should the new klub from ibrox win and he scores.
All of a sudden £100 million + worth of debt is no longer there at ibrox,and all is good and rosy in the garden,just ask wee Barry Dingle,he’s pure excited man,and if only he could put on his own boots again and let the rest of the team know what you need to beat Celtic.
Lol he would give shell suit Bob a run for his money.