McCann hits out at Saints boss Wright

NEIL McCANN has accused St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright of making a personal complaint to the SFA about the Dundee manager’s conduct in the ugly scenes that followed the Tayside derby last weekend. But Wright hit back last night, denying McCann’s claims and suggesting the Dark Blues boss was trying to deflect attention from his own behaviour. McCann has vowed to fight an

SFA charge of excessive misconduct after being summoned to Hampden on March 29 following his touchline spat with St Johnstone substitute goalkeeper Zander Clark, who faces the same charge. Television footage appeared to show McCann striking Clark on the face but the Dundee boss played down the incident and insisted he was provoked by the Saints player as tempers raged after his side’s 4-0 defeat at Dens Park. And McCann, who takes his team to Pittodrie for today’s clash with Aberdeen, has reiterated his innocence and vowed to contest the charge in person. McCann said: ‘I can’t say too much about it because obviously I’ve got a date at Hampden. ‘What I will say is that I believe Tommy Wright, personally, has put in a complaint against me for the incident at the weekend. ‘I’d imagine that complaint will be that I’ve put my hands on his goalkeeper. ‘What I’m prepared to say is that everybody who watches the footage will see who makes the initial physical contact. I think that’s quite clear. ‘That’s all I’m prepared to say at the moment. ‘I can confirm that I’ll be at Hampden to state my case. I’ll be there in person.’ Speaking before his side’s Premiership match with Hibernian last night, Wright dismissed McCann’s suggestion that he had complained about his fellow manager to the SFA, saying: ‘That’s not true. I think Neil should reflect on those comments. ‘I spoke to the referee about the situation. I didn’t say Neil McCann has to be done about this and I did not complain to the SFA. I think it is just another way of deflecting and apportioning the blame. ‘He has said that Zander Clark grabbed him around the neck and that’s not true.’