The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Campbell ready to quit dugout despite award
Dick Campbell is set to quit the dugout for good as the veteran boss prepares himself for a touchline ban.
Arbroath manager Campbell is up in front of an SFA disciplinary panel at Hampden today for going on the pitch at Somerset Park to confront referee Mike Roncone when he failed to award a penalty during the 4-1 William Hill Scottish Cup defeat by Ayr on January 20.
David Ferguson seemed to haul down Arbroath’s Danny Denholm with 17 minutes to go but the referee waved played on.
A furious Campbell marched on to the pitch to remonstrate with the official, who immediately sent him to the stand.
Now he is facing a fivematch ban when he reports to a hearing at the national stadium.
But, after nearly 30 years of prowling touchlines, the former Forfar, Brechin City, Partick Thistle and Ross County boss is ready to sit in the stand permanently.
He said: “I’m very embarrassed by what happened, especially after watching it back. You just can’t do that.
“You know what I’m like, I lead from the front and I’m in the trenches with my players. I have always been that type of manager.
“But I do apologise and I will certainly never do that again and I will apologise to the referee when I see him again.
“I’m seriously thinking about banning myself, never mind getting banned by the authorities.
“So I’m deadly serious when I say it will never happen again.”
Ironically, Campbell has just been named Ladbrokes League One manager of the month for January after leading the Lichties up to third in the table having won the League Two title last season.
He said: “Ayr United and Raith Rovers above us have aspirations far higher than I have but I feel we have come a long way.
“It was two years ago last Saturday that we took over and the team was bottom of League Two then.
“So it’s been a work in progress and a general improvement and I think it’s as good a team as we have had in terms of the part-time teams I have managed.
“We’re in there fighting and I have been very pleased with the way the players have worked so hard.
“The first goal was to stay up but the second goal is to do as well as we can. So to win the manager of the month is a good reflection of how well the team is doing.”