In tonight's Evening Telgraph Ivano Bonetti was quoted at the press interview this morning:
"I have heard on the radio and in the newspapers the speculation about my future because of my family and, to me, this is a joke."
He went on to say his wife and baby, when it comes, will move to Scotland next season and be proud to do so.
Nice to hear Ivano's fighting words, he isn't a quitter and that certainly comes across in his press conference. He will run Dundee again next season, whatever the financial restraints, and this is good news for the fans.
The criticism he has received for the crime of wanting to get married and have a baby has been on the whole most unfair. Every father has that right and to criticise him for his timing is ridiculous, to say the least. How can you plan your marriage and the birth of your child around the close season? Good luck, Ivano, sure you'll make a first class dad. Hope it's a boy. And bring him up to appreciate Scottish football and especially F.C. Dundee.
Scottish football is faced with a crisis, not just Dundee, most of the 10 rebel clubs are in real financial problems, and most have asked their players to accept a cut in real wages if they are to continue to play next season. Hibs and Aberdeen will be badly affected.
It is my belief that Peter Marr has sent out a message to his players that those out of contract will not be re-signed. His words were that 13 of the 14 out of contract players will not be here next season. I think what he really meant was that 13 of the 14 (the odd one out perhaps being Speroni who they are in talks with at present to stay), are not in the plans on their present wages. If some accept a cut they might still be here next season. So don't bet on them all going.
Personally, I hope Walter Del Rio at least might accept a cut price deal as he's been an exceellent player this season and his history over the past few years has been nothing but moves from club to club.
The good news is that the talk of players like Lee Wilkie still being here balances things a bit as he's been brilliant since his return recently.
But what of the fans? At a time when season tickets are being renewed a lot might be in limbo about whether to bother or not. The touch football the underachieving team played was still intoxicating at times and a lot will be dismayed at the thought of possibly seeing us revert to a team more akin to the Jocky Scott management days turning out at Dens. Even though such a team will be more likely to confront our local rivals with more commitment than the present one.
So there is a dilemma for the most important folk of all, those who go through the turnstiles each game. I hope they'll understand the revolution that is happening in Scottish football and stick by their team.
I hope they'll stay loyal and give the Marrs and Bonettis a chance to drive the club further forward, albeit on a rather slanted position from what we would have considered a year ago.
I will always remember the last two seasons with pride and joy at the open football, the skill level of individual players, the amazing goals and the amazing artistry. The underachievement was the thing that has perhaps made the Marrs realise this was a lost cause. That, and the financial loss that came with the failure to make the top 6 and the downfall of SPL TV.
But I, at any rate, was in Heaven seeing the magnificent players I have been priveleged to see play in the Dark Blue and this era will be remembered with pride and joy for many, many years to come. They were entertainers supreme and we took them for granted. Ketsbaia, Canniggia, Nemsadze, Carranza, etc., will go down, justifiably so, as Dundee legends.
Keep the faith, I believe the next two seasons will be hard for all fans of all teams. We won't see what we'd wanted to see, we might have to suffer some abysmal performances. But in the end, optimist that I am, the light will shine.
Gavin Beath, Dave Mackay, etc., etc., the future of FC Dundee is now in your hands. Are you ready, guys? Take us to the promised land! It looks like the Scottish league is reverting to a more Scottish format again. Some will cheer this to the rafters.
I, personally, will mourn the loss of our foreign dream players, but I honour you and pray that you have the attitude and commitment to take us closer to that goal that we have dreamed of and been thwarted from reaching on so many occasions.