The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
United will be worthy winners, says Dixon
Former United defender believes Tangerines should be champions – but hopes League One fight goes on
Ex-dundee United defender Paul Dixon says his old club will be worthy winners of the Scottish Championship should the SPFL opt for an ‘as-it-stands’ conclusion to the season.
But the 33-year-old insists it would be wrong for Hampden chiefs to rule on League One, where his Falkirk side trail leaders Raith Rovers by just one point.
At the weekend Uefa appeared to wash its hands of decisions about the domestic game, leaving the Scottish authorities with one of the biggest calls in the history of football on these shores.
Dixon said of the League One: “It’s definitely not a league you could turn around and say, ‘Here you go’.
“Dundee United have won their league unless they have a cataclysmic blow-up. Realistically, it’s done and dusted in the Championship.
“I think the season will get finished either way. It’s like this all over the world and I don’t think we’ll ever see something like it again.”
Former Dundee United star Paul Dixon says he would have no problem with his old side being handed the Championship title.
Yet the League One trophy is a different story altogether for Dixon and his Falkirk team-mates, who are refusing to give up on their dream of topping the Scottish game’s third tier.
The Bairns are just one point behind leaders Raith Rovers with eight games remaining.
But the coronavirus outbreak, and subsequent suspension of football across the world, has left domestic matters mired in uncertainty.
At the weekend it emerged title, promotion and relegation issues were in the hands of the SPFL after remarks made by Uefa vice-president Michele Uva.
Dixon, 33, told The Courier: “At Falkirk we were feeling confident and we’d gone on a good run.
“We are right in the hunt, a point behind the leaders. Airdrie and Montrose are close at the moment as well.
“They’re still in touching distance, four or five points behind us.
“It’s definitely not a league you could turn around and say: ‘Here you go’.
“Dundee United have won their league unless they have a cataclysmic blow-up. Realistically, it’s done and dusted in the Championship.
“In the Premiership it’s done and dusted, although you can guarantee Rangers won’t be saying it’s over.
“I think the season will get finished either way. It’s like this all over the world and I don’t think we’ll ever see something like it again.”
The former Scotland international is enjoying life at Falkirk since joining in December 2018.
He has been a key player in David Mccracken and Lee Miller’s side this season, making 37 appearances in all competitions.
The Bairns, whose goal difference is 20 greater than leaders Raith, have lost just once in their last 16 league matches.
Dixon said: “We feel confident and we’ve had a good run. We’re right in the hunt, just a point behind the leaders.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to playing again.
“A few of the boys are cracking up at not being able to play and the guys are missing each other when it comes to the day-to-day banter.
“We have a laugh and then we have the competitive nature of training and games.
“It’s really difficult to go from that to absolutely nothing.”
The Covid-19 shutdown has left players across the world in contract limbo, with several stars’ deals due to expire before the 2019/20 season will have been completed.
Dixon, tied to Falkirk until next summer, admits it is worrying times for those involved in the game.
The married father-of-two said: “You’ve seen statements put out by Hearts and other clubs – financially they may struggle.
“It is a worry. It’s not great to see and footballers and managers are human beings at the end of the day, people with bills and mortgages to pay.
“We do live a nice life and we’re very fortunate to get what we get as footballers.
“But when it comes down to it, we also have bills to pay. You do feel the pressure.
“I’ve got a wife and two boys – the little one, because of this virus, finished nursery earlier than expected.
“If he doesn’t go back before summer, he’ll go straight into primary one and that’s a huge change for him.
“The oldest one has got schoolwork to do and, to be fair, he has a really good thirst for learning.
“You get a notification from the
We feel confident and we’ve had a good run. We’re right in the hunt, just a point behind the leaders.
PAUL DIXON
teacher to say the work is online and he’s on it straight away. It’s the little one we might need to crack the whip with!”
Uefa’s working group with league and club representation, set up to “examine calendar solutions” regarding the domestic game, is expected to discuss the situation again tomorrow.
Dixon, who came through the ranks at Dundee before going on to play for United, Huddersfield and Grimsby, added: “We all want to get back to doing what we’re good at once it’s the right time to do so.
“We’ve got the last eight games to play – let’s get a true ending to the campaign.
“Then we can switch off and think about next season.”