The Road Ahead!

[Stumpy1949]

1 hour ago, Widge said:

Except McClelland was a McLean signing coming up from down south, via Chelsea's youth set up. Can almost guarantee he isn't on back up wage, more likely he's earning more than the other two you've mentioned.

He is out of contract he has been offered the chance to train with us in preseason so I don’t think he will be earning much. 

[Linky]

Motherwell need a new manager. Would they look at Simo maybe?

[rik2304]

24 minutes ago, Linky said:

Motherwell need a new manager. Would they look at Simo maybe?

Can't see it. Maybe if we have a storming promotion but not at the moment.

[garydavidson]

A third of teams in the premier now looking for a new manager. Glad we aren't fishing in that same pool right now.

[Tricky6]

4 hours ago, Linky said:

Motherwell need a new manager. Would they look at Simo maybe?

Hopefully Motherwell, Killie and Dundee unsettle our probable division rivals with potential manager appointments.

Edited May 23, 2025 by Tricky6

[Linky]

Griffith says he’s staying

[Kat71]

2 hours ago, Linky said:

Griffith says he’s staying

Hopefully he can repeat his first performance on a regular basis.

[RandomGuy]

Valakari discussing Kimpioka and him refusing discussions over a new deal early into last season...

 

“There were two reasons it had an impact.

“The first was that we didn’t get any money for him, which we could spend on another striker.

“And the other reason was it was almost as if Benji left in January even though physically he was still here.

“That affected the chemistry in the dressing room.

“It affected the chemistry on the field as well.

“So it was a double blow.”

“When he was exploring his options, I could have put a deadline on it.

“And then, when I saw that mentally he was not with us anymore and had left us in his head, I could have removed him.

“But we were short of numbers, and he was our top scorer.

“I took a gamble that maybe, maybe he could do something on the field.

“It didn’t turn out that way.”

[GORDON76]

Could not lace the Lord John Brogan's boots. 

[Graeme S]

7 hours ago, GORDON76 said:

Could not lace the Lord John Brogan's boots. 

Indeed, Brogie would never have gone on strike, downed tools and refused to play for Saints....... Oh, hang on 😂 (for those old enough to remember...).

[Willie Peat]

35 minutes ago, Graeme S said:

Indeed, Brogie would never have gone on strike, downed tools and refused to play for Saints....... Oh, hang on 😂 (for those old enough to remember...).

You're right, he did. As did Derek O'connor one year.

[Graeme S]

24 minutes ago, Willie Peat said:

You're right, he did. As did Derek O'connor one year.

A bit wooly, but, as I remember, did he not go on strike for a couple of months? Can't remember if it was wages, bonuses or a transfer, but, boy, did we miss him when he wasn't there. 

For those "youngsters" reading this, it was pre Bosman, and the clubs basically owned the players. The clubs decided if and when they'd allow the player to move to another club - basically the club held the contract, not the player, so all decisions were made by the club. 

Whilst it's now gone the other way, and players have all the power, I can't help but feel that it's led to the demise of "club men" with Agents looking to move players on after a couple of years for "more money" and better prospects. Great (maybe not for Benji whose agent seems focused on cash) for players who want to travel. Saints have benefitted post Bosman because it was a happy, close club and players wanted to be here and stay here and there was a core of players. 

I think Simo's job now is to try and get back a settled core and feel good factor amongst a new group of players quickly. 

Again, days gone by, but Jim McLean's ethos of all players living within 9 miles of Dundee meant they all socialised and formed bonds, leading to them looking like a team and fighting for each other on the park. 

[GORDON76]

Oops, forgot that about Brogie!! 

[Strawman]

Did Steve Maskrey not also go on strike or had some kind of dispute with the club at some point ?

My memory is it was the season after we had the two semi finals at Celtic Park v Rangers, think he played in those while not fit.

[Northern saint]

All the more reason to look at the player and "his agent" as one.  If the agent is a disruptive influence, always moving players on, give the player a miss.  

[GORDON76]

I do remember Derek O'connor having a go at the bench when he was subbed at Boghead. Went to Hearts shortly after U think. 

[Cagey]

2 hours ago, Graeme S said:

A bit wooly, but, as I remember, did he not go on strike for a couple of months? Can't remember if it was wages, bonuses or a transfer, but, boy, did we miss him when he wasn't there. 

For those "youngsters" reading this, it was pre Bosman, and the clubs basically owned the players. The clubs decided if and when they'd allow the player to move to another club - basically the club held the contract, not the player, so all decisions were made by the club. 

Whilst it's now gone the other way, and players have all the power, I can't help but feel that it's led to the demise of "club men" with Agents looking to move players on after a couple of years for "more money" and better prospects. Great (maybe not for Benji whose agent seems focused on cash) for players who want to travel. Saints have benefitted post Bosman because it was a happy, close club and players wanted to be here and stay here and there was a core of players. 

I think Simo's job now is to try and get back a settled core and feel good factor amongst a new group of players quickly. 

Again, days gone by, but Jim McLean's ethos of all players living within 9 miles of Dundee meant they all socialised and formed bonds, leading to them looking like a team and fighting for each other on the park. 

Correction, Agents have the power.

[pezza70]

I like the honesty in the explanation  by Simo, the player and his agent might not.

I still don’t know if he is the right man for the job or not but I like the explanation.

[Gekko]

3 hours ago, Strawman said:

Did Steve Maskrey not also go on strike or had some kind of dispute with the club at some point ?

My memory is it was the season after we had the two semi finals at Celtic Park v Rangers, think he played in those while not fit.

I can't recall a dispute, but I'm sure he didn't play in those semi finals.

I was at them both and I remember him walking on the pitch in a suit, while the rest of the players were warming up.

We were all fed up he wasn't playing.

If memory serves, he'd had a two footed tackle by Bobby Glennie at Raith Rovers which put him out for a while.

[Tattie-bogle]

Not sure about the replay but 100% was injured for the first game. Was sitting right in front of me in the stand 

[GORDON76]

He played in the replay but clearly wasn't fit. 

[garydavidson]

18 hours ago, RandomGuy said:

Valakari discussing Kimpioka and him refusing discussions over a new deal early into last season...

It is great that these things are actually coming out now, a lot of people were blindly critical of the situation at the time so its good to hear the managers thoughts.

[GMac]

Deep down he inherited a right old sh#tshow.    Hopefully the balance will now be redressed. Upwards and onwards.

[RandomGuy]

Dunfermline officially announce Neil Lennon as their new manager.

Were rumours yesterday that Dundee had approached him, but when it came to talking money it fall apart because Dunfermlines wage offer "blew away" anything Dundee could offer.

Dunfermline have a new millionaire owner who's reportedly giving Lennon a budget the equivalent of a top 8 Premiership side to spend to get them up.

[CAH]

57 minutes ago, RandomGuy said:

Dunfermline officially announce Neil Lennon as their new manager.

Were rumours yesterday that Dundee had approached him, but when it came to talking money it fall apart because Dunfermlines wage offer "blew away" anything Dundee could offer.

Dunfermline have a new millionaire owner who's reportedly giving Lennon a budget the equivalent of a top 8 Premiership side to spend to get them up.

Is our owner a millionaire?