Adam holds up hands for error that pushed Dundee to the brink
There has never been any doubt about the depth and sincerity of Charlie Adam’s affection for his boyhood club – so it was an especially cruel twist of fate which saw him cast as the central figure of their all but official Premiership demise on Saturday.
It remains to be seen if the 36-year-old’s time as a Dundee player will come to an end this summer as they prepare for a return to Championship football next season.
Adam will always cherish having had the opportunity to wear the jersey of the team he loves in the latter stages of his illustrious career but will hope to banish the memory of his remarkable miscalculation which presented Alex Greive with the fourth-minute opener in St Mirren’s 2-0 win in Paisley.
“I take responsibility for the first goal,” said a clearly crestfallen Adam as he admirably faced the media to reflect on his botched attempt to find goalkeeper Harry Sharp in the penalty area instead of executing a simple clearance.
“You come away from home and in the first ten or 15 minutes you try to keep it tight.
“I have tried to be clever and play it back to the goalie but it was never on and I should have just cleared my lines.
“I accept what I have done. It put us under pressure so early on – especially with the
position we are in. You need to try and build confidence and so to then put your teammates under that pressure is difficult.
“I have to hold my hands up for it and it makes it so much harder for us.”
The defeat leaves Dundee six points behind St Johnstone at the bottom of the table with just two rounds of fixtures remaining, while the Perth club also have a superior goal difference of seven.
A close season rebuild
is clearly required at Dens Park, with manager Mark Mcghee’s position unclear, and Adam admits he is currently in limbo with regard to his own future.
“Will I stay on?,” he said. “It’s not my decision.
“This is my boyhood club and I would love to be here next season. But it’s not about me, it’s about what is best for the club moving forward.
“If that is for me to leave and give other boys opportu
nities then no problem. It’s been a great two years and I have loved it but it is up to the owners and whoever the manager will be what happens next.
“We will make that decision in a few weeks, it’s been a tough season for everyone on and off the pitch.
“It’s so tough to take. It’s not about me, I have had a wonderful career.
“I was lucky enough to get the opportunity from James Mcpake two years ago to
come in and help the team. I was able to do that and we won promotion.
“It’s not the way I would like to leave if that’s what happens, but we will need to wait and see. The next few weeks are huge for the club as a whole.
“To be honest I don’t think we have been good enough. We deserve the situation we are in.
“We huffed and puffed all season and have gone down with a whimper.”