Dundee boss John Brown has performed a dramatic U-turn and withdrawn his threat to leave the club following late-night talks with club chief executive Scot Gardiner.
“Bomber” had promised he would turn his back on Scottish football if he was punished for comments he made about the officiating in the Dark Blues’ contentious draw with Aberdeen last Sunday that sent them back down to the First Division.
Brown also launched a verbal volley at Dons winger Peter Pawlett for the dive during that game which earned his side their fateful penalty with the Scotland Under-21 player now having accepted a retrospective two-game ban for his actions.
Dundee also received a notice of complaint from the SFA against Brown on Wednesday afternoon with the manager being given the chance to accept a one-game ban, a threat of punishment that should have triggered his principled stand, resulting in him heading for the Dens Park exit door.
However, Brown has now had a change of heart following lengthy discussions with Gardiner, the man who was instrumental in bringing him in to the club to replace the sacked Barry Smith.
The CEO said: “When we got the charge through late on Wednesday afternoon I let John know. He was pretty passionate and he did say he intended to resign but I told him to think about it.
“I said I wouldn’t accept it and it would be the same if he put it in writing. He’s got a two-year contract and a lot of people are relying on him now. He felt the pain because he knows there are players leaving that we could have kept had we stayed up.
“He felt the pain for everyone and said what he said. He believed it because he said to me ‘That’s me finished’. I said we’d come through so much together in a very short space of time and I wouldn’t accept it.
“I told him the board were behind him 100% which is why they have just given him a two-year deal and he has to think about the bigger picture now and focus on the club and he accepted that.”
Gardiner added: “I haven’t had anything in writing and I’m not expecting it.
“The reason the team has gone on the run we have is because he’s extremely focused and only knows how to work one way which is full on at all times.
“But sometimes straight talking isn’t ideal because we’re now in a situation where he’s on a charge for speaking honestly and openly but we feel that’s wrong which is why we’ve appealed.
“His immediate reaction was ‘I’m gone’ but we spoke at length more than one conversation on Wednesday night, in fact because he felt so strongly about it but once we got to the end of the evening, I was more relaxed going to bed.
“John understood the board’s position that people are relying him, fans and players, to keep doing what he’s doing and make sure we come back up because that’s what he’s here to do.
“In fairness, he was true to his word in doing what he said he was going to do. I’ve got no fears for the future whatsoever. John understands why he’s here which is to make Dundee win games and he’s done a great job of that so far.”
Brown admitted that his threat to quit the Dark Blues if he was punished for his comments was made in the heat of the moment. And he insists he is determined to be at the club long-term and to make some of his critics eat their words.
He said: “I am manager of Dundee Football Club but I know that a number of journalists and ex-professionals would love it if I was to walk away.
“I got quite a lot of stick when I came in here and I think some of those who dogged me at the time would feel a lot easier if I wasn’t on the scene.
“But I have a duty to Dundee Football Club and the fans who have been fantastic to me and I will be here long-term.
“So I am going nowhere and we are going to fight this decision and have launched an appeal. I am not going to let down people like Scot Gardiner and the board of directors who have brought me in here.
“I had a good chat about things with Scot but if you look at the past history of a lot of managers, they come out with statements in the heat of the moment.”
He added: “I felt we were hard done by last weekend and the player has been dealt with by the authorities. I am just surprised by the decision about myself.”
Dundee may be preparing for life in the First Division but Brown admitted that there could be a twist in the tale if financially-stricken Hearts were to go into administration and be docked points which would send them tumbling out of the SPL.
He added: “There are rumblings at Tynecastle too so you don’t know what’s going to happen. All we will do is to put points on the board and take it from there.”