A hat-trick of near misses as big clubs eyed Ronnie
Many managers will be hoping to add to their squad over the last few days of the transfer window.
We all know that discreet enquires are made behind the scenes to see if a player is keen to join a different club.
Not every move works outs, as Ronnie Robb found out in 1977.
The Brechin City winger was a man attracting a lot of attention after scoring 21 goals for the Second Division side the previous season.
The back page of The Sunday Post 45 years ago featured the news that Aberdeen and Dundee were rivals for his signature.
Two former Celtic players – Billy Mcneill, the boss at Pittodrie, and Tommy Gemmell, in charge at Dens Park – had spotted his potential to be a top-flight player.
However, as Ronnie recalls, a couple of factors were outwith his control
He said: “There was a closed-doors game organised between Brechin and Dundee, where they might have taken a look at me.
“But I injured neck muscles in my job as a mortician, and was unable to play.
“I remember Albert Kidd did well in that match after not having done a lot at Brechin. He got a move to Arbroath, and went from strength to strength.
“I was a Dundee fan, and would have been over the moon to join them. But I never heard anything.
“There was definitely interest from Aberdeen because Dick Donnelly, the well-known journalist and radio broadcaster, came to my work, and asked if I would be interested in going full-time with Aberdeen.
“I wasn’t sure, but he then told me that Billy Mcneill was proposing a two-year contract, with the option of another two years. I was happy with that.
“But Brechin manager Charlie Dunn heard that I’d been tapped and took exception. He said I wasn’t going anywhere and kyboshed the move.
“I really don’t know what happened after that because I didn’t hear anything else.”
This wasn’t the first time Ronnie had been close to a big transfer. He had been on trial at Aston Villa a few months earlier.
He said: “I was at Villa when they drew the League Cup Final with Everton in March 1977.
“I took part in a penalty competition at the training ground, where we took kicks against John Burridge and a young Nigel Spink.
“Gordon Cowans and me were the last two who hadn’t failed to score.
“He then hit the post against Spink, and I sent Burridge the wrong way.
“Ron Saunders, the manager, stormed off because his protégé hadn’t won.
“Villa asked Brechin if I could play for their reserves against Everton, but Charlie Dunn wouldn’t allow it.
“I played for a team against their third side, and scored a hat-trick in a 4-4 draw. I remember my shock at having to play in a tangerine strip – not something a Dundee fan wanted to do!
“In the end, Villa wanted a big guy, and took another Second Division striker, Allan Evans of Dunfermline.
“He was then converted to a centre-back, and won the European Cup with Villa in 1982.
“Dunfermline had previously offered £3,000 for me but that was rejected.”
Ronnie eventually left Glebe Park for local rivals, Forfar Athletic, at the end of 1979.
He went on: “The highlight of my time there was scoring against Rangers at Ibrox.
“We were ahead for six minutes in a game where Rangers took four penalty-kicks.
“Stewart Kennedy saved Sandy Jardine’s first attempt. He got to retake it, and hit the post.
“Alex Miller and Colin Mcadam scored with the others as Rangers won 3-1.”
Ronnie went on to spend a number of years playing and coaching in junior football.
Now 66, he still works as a funeral director with Affertons of Dundee, a job that always prompted interest during his football career.