Club slams talk of row
Stirling Albion has rubbished a report in the Daily Express on Saturday claiming manager Dave Mackay had held‘showdown talks’ with chairman Stuart Brown over alleged interference by consortium member John Neill in playing matters .
The report suggested ex-professional footballer Mr Neill had been taking part in pre-season training sessions and “doing transfer deals with Stuart Brown”even though members of the supporters’trust, which owns the club, has yet to vote on the takeover offer from Mr Neill’s consortium.
Dave Mackay said his relationship with the club board remained cordial.
He added:“I attended a board meeting on Thursday to discuss many things, all of which involved the playing side: from recent signings to potential signings and budgets etc. These types of meetings are usually pretty regular occurrences during transfer windows.”
He said the claim that John Neill was signing players and taking training sessions was “completely ludicrous”.
He added:“Myself and John have regular contact regarding potential signings.
“He will speak to some agents and put some names towards me to see if they are of any interest but I can categorically say that any signing that comes through the doors at Forthbank will do so by my decision and my decision only. To think otherwise is extremely insulting to me. Why would I sign players on the say so of someone else when it is my career that is on the line? I would rather walk from a position I love than be dictated to on footballing matters.
“John joined in the first couple of pre-season sessions after asking myself if this would be okay. Considering these were mostly running sessions his presence would have no effect whatsoever on the players taking part or the sessions that myself and (assistant manager) Frazer Wright had prepared. That’s as far as it went and will go.”
A club spokesman said: “Dave Mackay has sole authority with regards to all playing matters, including management of his allocated playing budget.”