First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
In his statement Mr Sutherland accuses Dundee United of using the media to unsettle ICT players and that he is "very disappointed" with our conduct.
We are totally bemused by the statement released by ICT Chairman David Sutherland.
It has been fairly common knowledge for some time that these players were of interest to our Manager and, indeed, the subject was discussed with ICT as long ago as last January. In the interests of a good relationship, we agreed to a 'gentleman's agreement' not to make an approach for these players until after the end of the season. Importantly, we upheld this agreement fully.
Since the end of the season our Manager, Craig Brewster, has been in regular dialogue with Graeme Bennett, Director of Football at ICT, regarding the players. Only as recently as this weekend did further face to face discussions take place in a cordial attempt to break the impasse.
Formal written bids for all three players have been made, in accord with the request of Mr Bennett and only yesterday Mr Bennett informed us that despite a reluctance to sell, "every player has a price". Graeme has proved very adept at these type of negotiations in the past. He has also, as everyone knows, proved very adept at using the media to suit the purposes of ICT and we can't blame him for that. It is however a bit ironic for ICT to now accuse us of the very same thing having done it so often themselves, particularly as we assumed that the players had been kept fully informed of our interest.
In a fresh attempt to resolve the matter, it was decided to submit three separate bids today. We now understand the players have indicated that they wish to listen to what we have to say. The issue of today's news release from Inverness Caley, however, does not augur well for future dialogue on this subject. Nevertheless, we remain available for discussions at any time.
We are totally bemused by the statement released by ICT Chairman David Sutherland.
It has been fairly common knowledge for some time that these players were of interest to our Manager and, indeed, the subject was discussed with ICT as long ago as last January. In the interests of a good relationship, we agreed to a 'gentleman's agreement' not to make an approach for these players until after the end of the season. Importantly, we upheld this agreement fully.
Since the end of the season our Manager, Craig Brewster, has been in regular dialogue with Graeme Bennett, Director of Football at ICT, regarding the players. Only as recently as this weekend did further face to face discussions take place in a cordial attempt to break the impasse.
Formal written bids for all three players have been made, in accord with the request of Mr Bennett and only yesterday Mr Bennett informed us that despite a reluctance to sell, "every player has a price". Graeme has proved very adept at these type of negotiations in the past. He has also, as everyone knows, proved very adept at using the media to suit the purposes of ICT and we can't blame him for that. It is however a bit ironic for ICT to now accuse us of the very same thing having done it so often themselves, particularly as we assumed that the players had been kept fully informed of our interest.
In a fresh attempt to resolve the matter, it was decided to submit three separate bids today. We now understand the players have indicated that they wish to listen to what we have to say. The issue of today's news release from Inverness Caley, however, does not augur well for future dialogue on this subject. Nevertheless, we remain available for discussions at any time.
