Patient Duffy finally hits out

From the archive

30 Dec 1996

DUNDEE AGM

DUNDEE manager Jim Duffy yesterday spoke frankly of his frustration as manager at Dens Park during what has been a bad year for the club.

In a frank speech to around 300 shareholders at the ninety-fifth annual meeting, Duffy stated that he could not give a total assurance that he would still be in charge of the team this time next year.

Despite shareholders demanding assurances from the board that they would do everything to keep Duffy at the helm, the manager admitted that he had turned down previous offers of long-term deals at Dens for `` credibility'' reasons.

Duffy admitted to the shareholders and fans that the past year had been the most frustrating in his time at Dens Park.

In recent weeks, Dundee have been forced to sell Jim Hamilton to Hearts for £200,000 - ``a ridiculous fee'' - in the knowledge that none of the money would be filtered back into playing resources.

A failed greyhound racing investment has cost the club £800,000, and the annual accounts show losses of £172,000.

Confusion still exists over Canadian absentee chairman Ron Dixon, who has put the club up for sale, and has stated that he will put in no more money.

And less than 24 hours after watching his second-placed side thump East Fife 6-0, Duffy announced: ``The bottom line is that I do not know whether I will be here next year or not.

``I have accepted it before with the position with the chairman, Ron Dixon, but as a manager, I feel that my credibility is waning.

``I understand that the board members here might be slightly shocked to hear this, but I would be more liable to listen to other job offers today than I would have done three or four months ago.

``I have no real money to work with, and it seems like I am going round in circles.

``It's all to do with personal ambition and football credibility.

I've got to look and see whether I want to be going round in circles again,'' he said.

Earlier this season, Duffy was linked with the Hibs hot seat, made vacant by the sacking of Alex Miller, and may be tempted again should Jocky Scott fail to be appointed as manager.

Duffy has already turned down three offers from the cash-strapped board to stay on at Dens Park on a longer contract.

A position on the board has also been rejected by Duffy, who was linked to a possible buy-out of the club with vice-chairman Malcolm Reid last year.

His bombshell at the annual meeting raised many worries for fans, who voiced their appreciation as to how Duffy has coped on a shoestring budget, watching seven first-team players leave Dens Park since the club reached the Coca-Cola Cup final last year.

In a tense meeting, vice-chairman Reid attempted to stave off questions about the state of the club's future, admitting that the failed greyhound investment was a ``monumental disaster.'' Reid also stated that Dixon had ``no concern for his investment,'' stating that Dixon could be in any country in the world, and Dundee Football Club would not be in his thoughts.

But another headache for the Dark Blues was the revelation that the club, who have monthly operating losses of £20,000, will have to stump up a £53,800 Customs and Exise bill rung up by Dixon.

Reid explained: ``This was a misinterpretation of this country's laws by the chairman and I will guarantee that it will not happen again.'' Meanwhile, Duffy referred to the incurred penalty as another ``skeleton in the cupboard,'' stating: ``We've had to pay off a lot of debts which do not belong to us.

``Every year we are told that we are above water and no more players will have to be sold, then all of a sudden, we are having to find more money.''

Taken from the Herald