Jackie has the Final say after United U-turn
JACKIE McNAMARA will take his place in the dugout for the Scottish cup Final after Dundee United withdrew their appeal against his touchline ban. The Tannadice club contested the punishment last week after McNamara was hit with an immediate three-game ban — with two more matches suspended — after a touchline spat with St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright. That allowed the United manager to oversee his side’s semi-final victory over Rangers at ibrox but, with five games left in the Premiership season, the appeal risked delaying the former celtic player’s ban until the May 17 clash with the Perth club. United are not the first Premiership side to appeal a decision this season, which freed up a player or manager for a crucial game, only to
drop it shortly afterwards. Sportsmail understands this is a loophole the SFA intend closing in time for the start of the new season. A club statement read: ‘We firmly believe that there are solid grounds to appeal the sentence imposed. ‘However, having given the matter further thought and as no hearing date has yet been fixed, we now believe it is in the best interests of all concerned to accept the sentence imposed and withdraw the appeal.’
“The players will have taken confidence from Ibrox”
McNamara (right) was found guilty of misconduct by the ‘repeated use of offensive, insulting and abusive language’ while Wright was given a suspended one-match ban for ‘leaving the technical area in the absence of special circumstances and by adopting a threatening and aggressive attitude towards an opposing member of team staff’. Meanwhile, McNamara insisted yesterday that tomorrow’s league visit to Perth should not be considered a dress rehearsal for the Final. The United boss, who will now watch the game from the stand, said: ‘It is important for us to get three points and I don’t think we should be reading anything in this game as
regards the Cup Final. ‘It is a different stadium and pitch and it will be different to what the Final will be like. ‘We just have to go there and try to get the win that we want. ‘Having a couple of players with knocks, it will be a case of wait and see how we play things. ‘If others have to come in, then they will have to do so; we have used the squad all season. ‘I think the players will have taken confidence from Ibrox. ‘There is a feelgood factor because we have a Final to look forward to.’ Meanwhile, United defender Calum Butcher’s season is over after breaking his toe. McNamara said: ‘Calum broke his toe in an Under-20 game the other day, which is frustrating for him and for us. ‘That rules him out for the rest of the season.’