Former Dundee boss Jocky Scott has slammed successor Gordon Chisholm for criticising the fitness levels of the players he inherited at Dens Park.
Chisholm, after analysing results of sports science tests done before his arrival, claimed, “A lot of the players have too much body fat and poor times for endurance runs — it is not good enough from professional footballers.”
Scott was sacked in the aftermath of the 3-0 defeat to Airdrie United on March 20, with Chisholm taking control the next evening.
Scott has kept his own counsel since his departure, resisting the opportunity to give his side of the story as the Dens men sought promotion to the SPL — something that finally proved beyond them when they lost to Raith Rovers in midweek.
However, so incensed was the Dark Blues legend at Chisholm’s assertion over the standard of fitness that he contacted The Courier seeking the right of reply.
He insisted both he and assistant boss Ray Farningham had done their jobs properly getting the team ready for matches.
“I think what Gordon Chisholm has said about the lack of fitness is a personal insult, both to Jinky (Farningham) and to myself,” declared Scott. “I am not happy that he has come away with that and I take offence to those words.
“I would ask anybody to ask any player who has worked under me if they had a problem with their fitness.
“I would be confident about the answers and would be very, very surprised if anybody complained.
“Of course, I have been at other clubs as well as Dundee and there has never been a problem with fitness levels.
“Also, why, if they were so unfit, did the players manage to come back so strongly in the (Alba) Challenge Cup final against Inverness?
“More recently than that we stormed back to score twice in the last 15 minutes to draw with the same opposition (March 6).
“Can you do that if you are not fit? I don’t think so.
“When things don’t go well a manager should look at himself first, and I would remind people that Dundee were three points clear at the top of the league when I left.
“Also, normally a new manager comes in and there is a surge in the performance level, but I would ask why has there not been that response?”