At times such as these there will be three factions appearing. Those who support the Bonetti's and those who support the Marrs. The third will be those who just wish everything was settled one way or the other and they know who is running their team for next season, not too much to ask for a loyal fan, surely. A mental battle is going on in the minds of Dees fans as to who is apparantly telling the truth and who is not.
When Ivano stated recently he would most definitely be back at Dens in time for the pre-season training on 2nd July I believed him. The news in tonight's Evening Telgraph, if true, that Ivano had cleared all his personal effects from his office before going off on holiday has clouded that issue somewhat.
Add to that the many comments by Peter Marr that there was no disagreement between he and Ivano, and you have two individuals telling totally different stories. There most certainly was a big argument between the two, that I can say with knowledge, so Peter was lying here, what it was about I do not know. Your guess is as good as mine. Ivano's stay away holidays, fall outs with players or failure to make the top 6. I don't know. Or maybe just a personal disagreement of some kind.
I was told several days ago that Ivano had invested £750,000 in Dundee and was instrumental in buying Caballero for the club. He also had a deal in his contract that any players sold would result in a percentage of any profits for himself. I hadn't wanted to reveal these facts as they might have caused an embarrasmment to my beloved Dundee, but as a lot of them were revealed in the local press today it's of no consequence now. My informant also told me that some of Ivano's time in Italy was to try to sell on players with the full agreement of Peter Marr. Dundee wanted to pay him back what they owe him and this was the only way to do that. Once paid in full he would be off to pastures new.
No one more than I admired the players Ivano brought in, they were a joy to watch and he gave me, and I'm sure others will agree, a glimpse of what real football was all about, being used to the boring kick up the park tactics most Scottish teams excel at.
But if he is just being stubborn and staying on for his last season just to win a point or two in a personal argument, he'll lose any respect I had for him. Whether we like it or not the money won't be there for the Revolution to continue, and I just can't see Ivano working with the young Scottish players as opposed to bringing in experienced talent. He has no experience in this, it's not his fault the goalposts have changed, but they have.
Speculation in the press about the new Manager to replace him has also been full of double standards. The local press are adamant that Jim Duffy is the man in line, the Sun comes up with a completely different story today.
The Sun revealed an exclusive story that only they carry that Francisco Ocampo, who presently runs Paraguyan side Sol de America is the Dundee target for team boss. They say he is to form a "dream partnership" with former Dens hero Jim Duffy.
As a Dundee fan I find this hard to believe, especially as the Sun goes on to say he is reputed to be bringing with him Paraguayan internationalists Diego Gavilon and Jorge Campos who are playing in the world cup at present. He is also reported to be trying to entice Aregentinian Juan Azconzabal and two further Paraguayans Victor Quintana and Jorge Larramendi. If the Sun were right for once no one would be more pleased than myself.
If Ivano has to go sad though I'd be to see his demise I'd rather see him replaced by another foreign manager who can excite us and bring in quality foreign players rather than a Largs Mafia trained puppet on the lines of Jocky Scott and Alex Smith. Jim Duffy was one of the best and coolest defenders I've ever seen at Dens but some of his criticism of the team on TV recently was a disgrace and hasn't won him many friends among the Tayzurri.
Whatever is going on at Dens, as usual the club have been less than truthful to their faithful fans and seemed to be waiting for them to renew their season tickets before announcing the truth of the matter. The latest reports that only 1,500 tickets had been sold seems to suggest the fans are not so gullible as the club thinks and they are waiting to find out what is going on before investing their hard earned money. And it is a struggle for a lot of loyal fans with bairns to take to the games.
The truth will come out eventually, and we might have Jim Duffy at the helm or Francisco Acampos with Duffy helping him, with Temuri Ketsbaia as player/coach. Duffy alone I would not be happy with, but working with Acampos and Ketsbaia they might just pull off another coup that will have us chanting their respective names before long.
Whatever happens, if the Bonettis are the casualties, most Dees fans will be saddened. Those of us who spent 30 minutes singing his praises during the Hearts v. Dundee game at the end of season 2000/20001 didn't sing out of boredom, apathy or despair.
Though we were losing 2-0 we sang our hearts out because we thought a new day had dawned at Dens, the future was bright, the future was Dark Blue and the future was Ivano/Dario. We who were there that day will never forget it , one of those moments in life that happen spontaneously and take over your heart and jolts itself into your memory like a bolt from the great Dark Blue.
Just as those of us priveleged to see the Bonetti players, underachievers though they might have been, will live with them all our lives and never forget the craft and beauty they gave us. Ivano and Dario, that was "braw" lads. I salute you with all my heart and soul for the most joyful rollercoaster ride I've ever had as a Dees fan of 40 years. God bless, achievements apart, a personal thanks for giving me a glimpse of Heaven.