Caldwell plays down turmoil at Firhill
● Manager insists off-field issues won’t have negative impact on Thistle squad
PARTICK
V DUNDEE UTD
you get on with it. Is it easier if we’ve got a team bus? Yes it is. But in the modern day we probably do too much for players and sometimes they have an easy life when things are put on a plate for them.
“We want players at this club to makedecisions–beresponsible and accountable – so if they have to drive a car to a stadium then so be it; they will do it. Ultimately, it doesn’t affect the result. The performance last week wasn’t poor because we didn’t go to the game in a bus. The players know that and are responsible enough to take that on board.”
Caldwell also insisted that the turmoil in the boardroom will not filter into the dressing room. “I don’t think it’s that difficult because the players don’t get involved in the storm that surrounds us in the media world and the social media world,” he said. “As long as they know they’re playing and that they’ll be paid at the end of the month then they don’t concern themselves too much with the politics of the football club.
“My own perspective is that I’ve got a massive game to prepare for and I need to make sure that the team is ready to win on Friday night.”
While admitting that losing the team bus was “not ideal”, Caldwell claimed that the club are in rude financial health.
“I’m lucky to have been involved in board meetings here and the finances of this club – from what I can tell with my limited knowledge of balance sheets and numbers – are very good,” he said. “But that’s not my side and I can’t concern myself with that; I need to concentrate on making us successful and getting promoted.
“So, from what I’ve seen, the finances are good but it’s not my responsibility to decide what that is. I just have to use it as best I can.” 2 Gary Caldwell does not believe Partick Thistle’s results will be affected by losing the use of a team bus for away games, with the manager also claiming the club’s finances are ‘very good’.