Scottish FA are branded ‘incompetent’ by ICT chief in row over email
Scot Gardiner has hit out at the Scottish FA for “misrepresenting” Inverness Caley Thistle’s views in the row over whether the Championship should be brought to a halt.
Gardiner was reacting to the email sent to second-tier clubs from SFA chief executive, Ian Maxwell in the wake of football in Leagues 1 and 2, as well as the Highland and Lowland Leagues, being put into cold storage.
Maxwell appears to have acted following an interview given by Caley Thistle manager, John Robertson, in which he questioned whether the football authorities were placing TV revenue and commercial interests above the safety of players and their families.
However, Gardiner is adamant stopping the campaign was never on the agenda as far as Inverness were concerned.
He said: “It was a surprise to us to receive the email. We didn’t have any issue with the question being asked.
“I concur with the Scottish FA statement that there should be more consultation. If everybody was speaking, you’d probably get to a better place quicker.
“But when the email was sent to us, we were shocked. I didn’t think it was us, so I was wondering what club had stated that they don’t want to play.
“And then I started getting texts and calls from other people in football, asking if this was because of what John had opined on.
“It was just John’s opinion, and I think he echoed what Paul Lambert said during the week when he was saying: ‘If we’re just doing this for commercial reasons, is it fair? Is it moral?’.
“Certainly, it wasn’t the club’s position, and it wasn’t even John’s position. He was just ruminating during a press conference.
“What we take exception to is last year our name was taken in vain, our position was misrepresented and we got a lot of unwarranted abuse, to be honest.
“What happened, by including that line, everything just went crazy on Friday night and Saturday morning.
“My directors are super-principled people, who support the club tremendously.
“And the board take exception when they’re taking calls from fans of other clubs saying: ‘Why are Inverness wanting to stop the season?’.
“Nothing could be further from the truth.
“That one line, whoever decided to include that, it’s unfair, it’s unreasonable, it’s misrepresentation, and it’s incompetent. It shouldn’t be said.
“It’s not fair on Inverness to take John’s position during an emotional interview and say that’s the club’s position.”
The Caley Thistle CEO added: “I’m saying 100% our view always was to finish the season, and that’s what we’re hoping we do, and we’re hoping we’re in the Premiership next season.”
The Scottish FA had earlier moved to defended its request to tier-two clubs on suspending their season.
In a lengthy statement, they said: “The Scottish FA is acutely aware of the impact Covid-19 is having on the national game; on clubs and, even more profoundly, on individuals.
“One interview in the media prompted a wide-ranging discussion at the Joint Response Group meeting on the ongoing impact of the virus, specifically to those who continue to play and coach within the elite sporting exemption afforded to football. “It made people stop, think and take note of a heartfelt personal perspective.
“Given the need for the Championship clubs to undertake a considerable testing regime in order to continue, there was a strong view that Championship clubs should be asked to confirm, or otherwise, their willingness to play on during the initial three-week suspension. “This was predominantly to ensure those clubs and their staff did not feel that they have been thrown in to a testing regime against their will.
“It was an opportunity to consult; a process that industries including ours – and governments – wrestle with.
“The e-mail to Championship clubs was, above all, intended to demonstrate our willingness to listen and be responsive.”