Milne calls for summit at Hampden
FROM BACK PAGE has requested face-to-face talks with the SFA and the SPFL in a statement in which he insisted fans all over the country have been left “baffled” by a flurry of farcical decisions made on Hampden’s sixth floor.
He said: “I very much feel there is genuine concern for the state of the game in Scotland at the moment.
“We simply must have consistency and transparency or we all, as clubs, the SFA and SPFL, lose significant credibility and risk losing the fans who have been baffled by several of the outcomes arrived at recently.
“Without supporters there is no game and they, as we all do, deserve far more clarity and transparency than we have at present.”
Dons were furious over the Betfred Cup debacle that saw them originally set to play Rangers at Hampden at noon on Sunday, October 28 with Celtic due to face Hearts there later that day.
A retrospective sending off for Scott McKenna’s foul on Celts’ Odsonne Edouard hot on the heels of a failed appeal over Mikey Devlin’s red against Kilmarnock also left them angered.
Milne said there are “so many positives in our game right now” but added: “Conversations and news headlines seem to be dominated by the several controversial decisions that have been arrived at, and we’re only just into October, without having a clear understanding of the process and the reasons these were arrived at.
“It’s imperative we get everyone with a vested interest together, sooner rather than later, in order that future decisions can be clearly explained to the fans who must always be the main consideration.”
The SPFL said: “We welcome this initiative suggested by Stewart Milne and are liaising with our colleagues at the SFA. We look forward to positive discussions with all parties to enable greater understanding of the SFA’s disciplinary procedures.”
SFA chief Ian Maxwell said: “We welcome any opportunity to talk to our member clubs and I intend to speak with Aberdeen to better understand any outstanding concerns about our disciplinary process.
“From there we will consider raising any open issues at the SFA’s Professional Game Board, on which Aberdeen are represented, or through another appropriate forum.”