News-March2000

BORN: 24.10.78 in Carlisle
HEIGHT: 5' 10
WEIGHT: 9st 5lbs
SIGNED: From Celtic Boys’ Club in August 1995
OTHER LEAGUE CLUBS: None
A strong running striker on the fringes of the Scotland under-21 and first-team set-ups. Elliot failed to add to his solitary first-team competitive appearance from 1996/97 under Wim Jansen, although he did appear as a sub in the Dutchman's last game in charge - a 2-1 friendly defeat to Sporting Lisbon.
Started this season as a member of first-team set-up in pre-season friendlies.

Due to the intense speculation surrounding Jocky Scotts future over the last couple of weeks I have decided to print an email received earlier this week.

I have written regarding rumours over Jocky Scott`s future.
I have been told that Jocky Scott does know he will be leaving at the end of the season.
Apparently a member of Jocky`s wider family, i.e. not immediate, admitted the fact. He said that it has been made clear to jocky that he does not have a future at dens after this season. As far as he seems to be concerned everything is done and dusted.

If this email is true it would tie in with the story from a very reliable source, that Peter Marr was seen parked in his car opposite the HSS shop at the bottom of Trades Lane talking to Steve Archibald.

It was also noted that on Sportscene last Friday Archibald stated that he did not have any discussions with Dundee regarding him taking over as manager.

My sources are claiming that Archibald is ready to buy into the club, buying Peter Marrs stake, however Jimmy will retain his shareholding. Archibald will install Bernt Schuster as manager with Eric Black as his assistant. However nothing will happen until the end of the season.

That aside, whatever happens at the end of the season, Jocky has done a miraculous job given the financial constraints that has been placed upon him, and I for one whilst not agreeing with everything he has done congratulate him on a superb job

Lets make Saturday the start of a rousing finish to the season - which will see us like last season finish above the Arabs

Craig Ireland will play against Hearts this weekend despite him receiving intensive treatment from the club physio all week. The player recently had an operation to his troublesome cartilage and it had swollen up making it impossible for him to train with the first team. But manager Jocky Scott last night hoped to have him back in action today as he prepares his side for the match against the Jambo's.

Another player crocked but ready to return to training is Nicky Banger. He's been missing since the game against Aberdeen in February where he tore his hamstring The player won't play against Hearts, I understand, but will feature at some point in the under-21's against Hearts next Wednesday. Jocky said that in hindsight, maybe the club shouldn't have played him as soon as he signed as he was short of full match fitness and that has led to his niggling injuries.

The SPL have confirmed that top striker Willie Falconer is banned for two games.

He now misses out against two of his former clubs, Motherwell and Celtic, and that could prove to be very costly indeed as he at last has recaptured the form that saw Dundee sign him in the first place.

The game against Aberdeen which is outstanding at the moment, has been arranged provisionally for Tuesday April 18, assuming Aberdeen don't have a Scottish Cup semi-final replay against Hibs to contend with.

New Argentinean striker Martin Hugo Prest has signed for Dundee until the end of the season. The player arrived on trail a couple of days ago, and is set to put pen to paper ahead of Friday's signing deadline.

Whether that's at the insistence of manager Jocky Scott or whether that's at the insistence of chief executive Peter Marr remains unclear, and that comes about as it will be next week at least before Jocky can see him in action.

He said: "While you can form an opinion on a player by what you see in training you need to see them playing before you know for sure if they are of the standard you require and unfortunately we don't have an under-21 game until Hearts come here next Wednesday." Prest is now the fourth player to be signed by the club's directors, and all that does is add to the speculation Scott will not get his contract renewed in the summer months.

Sky TV have told the SPL they want the Rangers v Dundee match at Ibrox on April 29 switched to Sunday April 30 with a 6.05pm kick-off. Clearly, the television company see this game as the night Rangers could clinch the title.

If Jocky Scott needed any more reasons to motivate the players to repeat their early season win at Ibrox, then this is it. Rangers win over Celtic on Sunday opened the way for the title push, and all broadcasting companies will want to be there when the flag is finally won. That aside, it's a game where Dundee will get some extra revenue they didn't expect.

Jocky Scott's future was once again up for debate as another trialist arrived at Dens Park, striker Martin Prest. The Argentinean player trained with the first-team players at Dens Park yesterday, and reports from Tayside are suggesting once again Scott was left in the dark as to his arrival. How Scott will react to this latest news is unclear, but if true, he will be very unhappy. Martin Hugo Prest is 21, and has signed until the end of the season from Spanish club Manchengo, and as he holds an Italian passport, he's eligible to play this weekend should his clearance go through. Now the rumours sweeping through Dens Park are claiming Steve Archibald and his former Barcelona team-mate Berndt Schuster are set to replace Scott when his contract is up in the summer. Archibald, meanwhile, is set to make his final offer for struggling Airdrie this afternoon.

Chief executive Peter Marr claimed from Spain no decision has been taken regards the future of Jocky Scott as Dundee manager. But he insisted that he and his fellow directors would continue to bring in players to allow Scott the opportunity to freshen up his side, although Scott would have the final say as to whether they stay or go, and whether they play for the first team. In many ways, it's an interesting concept that goes against what any manager likes, but at clubs like Celtic, Kenny Dalglish would buy players and hand them over to the coach to draft into the first team, and maybe Marr sees no difference in this case.

Patrizio Billio could return to the side this weekend. He's been out with a hamstring pull for a couple of months, and Jocky says if he continues to impress in training, will be included.

Jocky Scott claimed the defence have to stiffen up - especially as the half-time and full-time whistle is about to sound. He said after watching the side lose two goals at the hardest time to take as a coach: "It's disappointing to lose a game at any time but to lose goals in 30 seconds before half-time and the end of the game when we could have prevented them is very hard to take. "The two goals they scored were candidates for goal of the month but that's no consolation for us. After we equalised we seemed to give the initiative back to them but there were not many chances created by either team. "And the keepers really had nothing to do. We've had a lot of games this season when we've been in the position to take something from the game but ended up with nothing."

Defender Robbie Raeside has returned to second division Arbroath for a second loan period.

Robbie was at Gayfield earlier in the season and made the first appearance of his loan deal in opposition to former Dee Brian Irvine as the The Red Lichties lost at home to Ross County.

Commercial Director Jim Connor this week spoke about concerns of season ticket holders over the pricing for the reopened South enclosure and he told us "People who have bought season tickets for this year will most definitely be rewarded in the pricing structure for next season."

Steven Boyack has leapt to the defence of manager Jocky Scott, pleading for him not to be forced out of Dens Park.

According to Boyack, Scott has turned the club around since arriving, and he believes the only way the players can help to keep Jocky's job, is to put in the performances on the pitch.

He said: "When people write or say negative things about any of the players, management or anyone at the club we use it as a spur.

Boyack declared: "If that's what helps us win games then we'll just get on with it."

Scott has to take some credit for keeping the club afloat in their hour of need, spending far less than their League counterparts.

The 23 year-old continued: "If we can put together a decent run and finish in a decent position then the manager should get the credit. He's the one who's put the squad together."

All member clubs in the top league have been threatened with a writ from Raith Rovers should they bend the SPL rules over membership.

Raith's financial director Colin McGowan claimed Falkirk were tying to take an absolute liberty by asking the SPL to change the deadline set for applications into the top flight next season, and after taking legal advice, claimed he is ready to issue a writ on all the SPL member clubs to prevent such a situation happening.

He claimed: "Every member of the Raith Rovers board agrees with my thoughts and those of the legal counsel we have sought advice from. In the event of being obstructed from making the SPL we will move. Everybody has had to adhere to this March 31 deadline - why should Falkirk be so different? Falkirk are diabolical.

They are talking about buying a ground from under a club whose players are on half wages while their fans are collecting with cans to save Airdrie.

We've sacrificed players to make it, yet here's Falkirk coming in just days before the deadline."

Defender Lee Maddison has been pencilled in by Dundee manager Jocky Scott to face St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park this Saturday.

And if that happens, it will be the player's first competitive start for almost six months. The left-back has been out since receiving a pelvic injury in the Tayside derby against United way back last October, and since then, he has managed just a couple of minutes as a sub against Celtic.
But the player played in a closed-door match with Dunfermline yesterday, and Scott said: "Lee did very well and is certainly in my thoughts for Saturday.

I have no doubts he is fit again and whether he plays or not will come down to which tactics I want to use."

Aberdeen's defeat by Hearts last night may make Scott think again as he now doesn't have to go chasing the match.

Jocky Scott claimed he isn't thinking of a new contract, just winning games for Dundee.

Tuesday's win at Easter Road was his side's seventh away win of the season, a remarkable record that he wants to improve on this weekend, and he said: "Through all the talk about whether I would be getting a new contract or not I have been concentrating on the football side of things, and that is what I will continue to do.

"Things can change in the league with lightening speed and if we cab build on the result against Hibs then I am sure we can make good progress up this league.

"We have already defeated St Johnstone at Perth this season and we have everything to gain from this trip on Saturday. Win and we will be level on points with them with the advantage of having a game in hand."

Meanwhile, Steve Archibald, who supplied three players to Dundee without Jocky Scott's knowledge, claimed he wouldn't stab his old friend in the back regarding his job.

Dundee defender Robbie Raeside has been linked with a summer move to Bristol Rovers.

At the moment, the 27-year-old who is out of contract at the end of the season, is keeping quiet about the speculation.

Like most players who are coming towards the end of their of current deal, if a suitable offer is not received from their current club, they ask their agents, to find them a move.

Whether that's the case for the 27-year-old at Dens Park, that isn't clear, but Dundee would be well advised to keep as many of the players who are at Premier League standard at the club as replacements are very hard to find, as no doubt Peter Marr is finding out after his recent signing of three Spanish-based players, who agreed that only one of them had any potential after watching them in an under-21 game against Hibs at Easter Road last week.

Craig Ireland is fit again and could play against Hibs on Tuesday night in the rescheduled SPL match. And the return of the player despite him not having returned to training following a minor operation on his cartilage.

Manager Jocky Scott confirmed the news, saying this morning: "Craig should be back in training over the weekend and depending on how he gets on he could feature for us on Tuesday night.

"Cartilage operation nowadays are followed by far shorter recovery periods that used to be the case and Craig is already up to sprinting pace with the physio."

One player set to miss the game is former Hibs defender Willie Miller who has a recurring groin problem.

And he also missed this afternoon's bounce game where Scott was once again having a look at the three players bought by Peter Marr in Spain.

Italian midfielder Patrizio Billio is set to hand Jocky another fitness boost within the next week.

After the news that Craig Ireland could be ready to face Hibs on Tuesday, it has emerged that Billio is very close to full fitness again after his hamstring problems.

Jocky said "He will not be ready for the Hibs game, but he is due to start training with the squad from Monday, and that could put him in with a chance for the St Johnstone game next Saturday."

He also admitted that Billio's return would increase his options in the middle of the park.

"He has done very well since he came here and he perhaps gives us defensive qualities in there that some of the others don't have."

Dundee today confirmed that Season ticket prices for next season will be reduced, also adding that special deals will be available to encourage children and families.

In another bid to add to the noise of the home support and create a carnival atmosphere at Dens, the club is on the look out for football daft musicians who are as familiar with the Samba-style as they are the (Derry) Rhumba.

DFC would like to hear from any enthusiastic musicians (preferably a small horn section and big bass drummer) who would be happy to generate a lot of noise and spur on the team and home support on a Saturday afternoon. A spokesman for the club said, ''It would be a head-start to have a grasp of The Great Escape and a fondness for Viva Espana, given our new Spanish signings, as well musical knowledge of a whole host of soccer standards. ''Those who veer towards Love is in the Air or Beautiful Sunday need not apply,'' he joked. Successful applicants will be entitled to free entry to Dens Park on all matchdays and treated to the traditional half-time snack (a pie and Bovril in other words). Those interested should contact Dundee Football Club's marketing department, tel: 884450.

Please Note - Anyone taking part will be obliged to learn the JMB Anthem - STONE IN LOVE

Dundee fans are set to reclaim the South Enclosure for the rest of the season with news today that the club is to hand the Dens Road side of the ground back to the home support at greatly reduced admission prices. Until now, the enclosure has lain empty for all home games except the visits from the Old Firm. Even then, the stand was only available to away fans. But, starting with the home game against Hearts on Saturday, April 1, 2000, the enclosure become home territory once more. This latest initiative will give followers of the Dark Blues a chance to watch the game from the 1800-capacity stand for their final six home league ties of the campaign. Tickets for adults are priced at £5 and children will be admitted for just £1.

''It is going to be a tense run in to the end of the season and it is vital that the players have the maximum support possible for the remaining home games. ''There's no disguising that the team's home form this season has been disappointing, but opening up the South Enclosure to Dundee supporters, at cut prices, will hopefully generate the kind of atmosphere to spur the team on to success,'' said Commercial Director Jim Connor. Cut price viewing from the South Enclosure is an indication of DFC's determination to set admission prices at competitive rates.

Peter Marr said from his Spanish base that Dundee are right on target to where he wanted the club to be.

And as far as he and the rest of his directors are concerned, more cash will now be spent on getting manager Jocky Scot better players at his disposal.

Marr said last night: "I said when we came to the club in the summer of 1997 that I thought it would take us five years to get Dundee to where we wanted.

"And as far as I am concerned we are further on in that process than I would have expected at this stage.

"Looking at the overall picture, I think we've done really well. OK, we are still battling away on the field, but we've put up two new stands and commercially we've come on leaps and bounds."

The three Spaniards Mesas, Luna and Artero (pictured left with Jocky) as well as 20 year old Yugoslav' Goran Zujovic all completed their transfers to Dundee yesterday and took part in the 3-1 defeat at Under 21 league leaders Hibs last night. Luna set up John Elliot for Dundee's consolation goal. The three amigos have all signed until the end of the season while Goran put his name to an 18 month deal.

Hugh Robertson is the winner of BBC Scotland's Sportscene Goal of the Month for February. The competition was judged by presenter Gordon Smith and 'Shug's strike in the 3-0 win at Motherwell is the first time that a Dundee player has won the competition since the Dark Blues return to the Premier League. Interestingly Smith was quoted on the radio commentary of Dundee's match at Parkhead as saying of Hugh's goal against Celtic "That's even better than the one he scored at Motherwell" - back to back awards? - We'll find out in a month's time.

The question was : Who is the best striking partnership dundee can choose from at present?

	Votes	Percent
Falconer & Grady	35	57%
Grady & Annand	7	11%
Bayne & Falconer	7	11%
Falconer & Banger	4	7%
Banger & Grady	3	5%
Bayne & Grady	3	5%
Bayne & Banger	2	3%
Total Votes Cast	61

Despite the absence of new foreign stars Jocky Scott was still happy with the good test fridays behind-closed-doors game with Hibs provided.

The manager said: "We were up against strong opposition and that gave the likes of Lee Maddison, Robbie Raeside and Willie Miller a good test."

Francisco Luna was due to report for training today after failing to arrive yesterday morning.

Jose Mesas Puerta

and Javier Artero

couldn't play in a closed-door match against Hibs yesterday as their international clearance didn't arrive.

And that leaves manager Jocky Scott in the dark as to how good the players really are. Another player, Fransisco Luna, failed to arrive although we understand he's set to fly in to Dens Park this afternoon.

The bizarre bit of boardroom dealing has shocked the normally placid Scott who can handle most things with dignity, but Peter Marr's signing of three unknowns has certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons behind the Dens Park scenes.

The next opportunity the club can play the players is in a reserve match at Easter Road on Monday night. But that is under threat at the moment as Hibs don't know if they will be playing a cup replay or a game against the Dundee first team the following evening.

Yugoslavian midfielder Goran Zujovic is finally set to sign for the club following his marriage to a UK citizen. The player has been granted a temporary work permit and Dundee will get the necessary paperwork together and get the player available to play.

Meanwhile, the club has said it would back Rangers bid for an 18-team Premier League should they make that proposal a concrete one. Most managers in the game agree with Dick Advocaat's sentiments, although clubs' chiefs are not keen to lose two big-selling games every season that could cost the club where it hurts most - in their pockets.

A third player, Sporting Gijon striker Fransisco Luna who is a team-mate of Jose Mesas Puerta, is also on his way to Dens Park.

Luna arrived at the club alongside Argentinean Javier Artero, and all three have been fixed up by chief executive Peter Marr, who is based in Majorca. The players will have a chance to impress manager Scott in a closed-door game, and Marr claimed he had not undermined Scott in any way. He said: "There has been no hidden agenda. All we are doing is giving Jocky options. We have been given the chance through an agency involved in some of the top deals in world football to get some players who have performed at the highest levels in Spain and we have taken it. The question whether they play is down to Jocky Scott, there's no way we would interfere with that."

Scott said : "I will watch them in action and take it from there." Meanwhile, Hibs gave agreed to play the SPL match against Dundee on Tuesday at Easter Road.

Spaniard Jose Mesas Puerta, a centre-half, and Argentinean Javier Arteros, a midfielder, have arrived at Dens Park on trial. Chief executive Peter Marr, who is permanently based in Spain, has sent the pair for manager Jocky Scott to have a look at. Puerta at 32 years of age, a centre-back who plays with Sporting Gijon, is a bit older than most trialists. But as they say, if you're good enough, then age doesn't matter - just look as Jim Leighton. As for Artero, he currently plays with San Lorenzo and plays in the right side of midfield. And it's been hinted that three other players could be arriving at the club as Jocky Scott widens his search to bring in players to ensure the side remain in the Premier League. Actually, if Falkirk finish in the top three in division one this season, there will be no relegation as they can't qualify under the SPL rules and the other two in the top three would get automatic promotion to the top flight.

If Hibs don't have a cup replay with Falkirk, then they have agreed to play Dundee at Easter Road next Tuesday. If Saturday's game is a draw, then the replay would be that night, and Dundee have suggested the Premier League match should be moved to the following Tuesday. But the Edinburgh side are not keen on that situation, and if the clubs can't agree when to play the match, then the SPL will get involved. Dens Park boss Jocky Scott is very keen to get the match played next Tuesday as he feels his players are getting back to form and wants them in action again. But Hibs feel they may have too many games to play.

Jocky Scott said he's ready to give Eddie Annand a starting berth for the next match following his goal against Kilmarnock on Saturday. The player scored with his first touch when coming on as a sub, and at 26-years-of-age, is desperate to re-establish himself in Scott's plans.

Scott said: "Eddie did really well in the week while he was on on Saturday. In addition to getting the goal that started the comeback, he put himself about the place and could have had a second just at the death. His movement and sheer enthusiasm to play really impressed me and if he is going to give us that all the time, then he will spend more time on the pitch than sitting in the dug-out."

Dundee are trying to arrange a fixture with Hibs in the next midweek to keep the players ticking over.

Of course, being knocked out of the Scottish Cup means a free weekend for the Dens Park side, something manager Scott wasn't needing as his players start to get back to their early season form after two drubbings at the hands of the Old Firm.

Meanwhile, Scott has hinted that Willie Falconer may have to spend a degree of his time as a sub in the coming weeks as James Grady and Eddie Annand will take over the striking partnership in the games to come.

He's already had his say on Annand, and asked about Grady, he said: "James Grady has started the last four games for us after showing a hunger to be involved, and no doubt Eddie Annand has seen what can happen with enough enthusiasm shown."

Eddie Annand has admitted that yesterdays fighting 2-2 draw at Kilmarnock felt like a victory, in light of the Dee's recent Old Firm nightmare.

Annand and James Grady fired late goals and went some way to erasing the memories of 7-1 and 6-2 defeats to Rangers and Celtic respectively.

Annand said: "It really is a massive point for us. We looked finished and Kilmarnock were cruising."

ROBERT DOUGLAS has won the JMB Dark Blues February player of the month. There was a total of 104 votes cast.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote, there is now a new poll running for March.

	Votes	Percent
ROBERT DOUGLAS	25	24%
BARRY SMITH	23	22%
STEVEN TWEED	16	15%
GAVIN RAE	14	13%
NICKY BANGER	14	13%
SHAUN MCSKIMMING	5	5%
PATRIZIO BILLIO	3	3%
JAMES GRADY	3	3%
STEVEN BOYACK	1	1%
Total Votes Cast	104

Jocky Scott has real problems ahead of his team selection to face Celtic tonight.

There's no Sean McSkimming, Craig Ireland or new star Nicky Banger, and Rab Douglas is just back following a knee injury. And Patrizio Bilio also misses out tonight, with Barry Smith rated only 50-50.

No such worries for Kenny Dalglish and new/old coach Tommy Burns as they have a full squad to choose from - even Henrik Larsson at a push, but he won't be risked.

As Douglas plays despite being injured, Celtic can choose from three top class keepers, with Russia Dmitri Kharine getting the nod ahead of Jonathan Gould and Stewart Kerr, and up front, James Grady and Willie Falconer will play as Celtic decide on whether Mark Burchill will join Mark Viduka in the firing line. The Dee's have no home game now until April 1, but their form has been so bad at Dens Park they will be delighted to be playing away.

Dundee's match against Hibernian scheduled for March 12th will be postponed after Hibs beat Clydebank in the Scottish Cup tonight. The result means that Hibs will be involved in quarter final action against Falkirk instead of meeting the Dees that weekend.

Lee Maddison is named in a Dundee squad for the first time since October 17th as Dundee go to Parkhead this evening. The player is likely to be on the bench for the match. Robert Douglas will again start in goal despite still not being fully fit.

Craig Ireland, sorely missed in the Dundee back line in recent weeks faces a further spell on the sidelines. Ireland failed a fitness test before the Rangers debacle and Jocky Scott said of the injury "The physio thinks it is cartilage trouble and we expect him to have a scope. We'll know then what the extent of the damage is, but we looking at being without him for a few weeks. Nicky Banger will also miss the visit to Parkhead as will Pat Billio, who has been sent home to Italy to rest his injured hamstring.

Dundee boss Jocky Scott has told his players to keep their chins up ahead of Wednesday night's clash at Celtic.

The Dens Park manager is one of the games toughest characters, and he said as he prepared his side for the visit to Glasgow: "We can't afford to feel sorry for ourselves as that is one sure way heads will go down even further and that is a guarantee we will struggle even further.

"We have to learn the obvious lessons from the game against Rangers and emerge a better side. "And we have to take it on board very quickly as we have a number of important games coming up. The players heads were down at yesterday's training session but they can't stay that way."

Dundee will be without Sean McSkimming, Nicky Banger and Patrizio Billio for the trip to Glasgow, and Craig Ireland is set to see a specialist about his knee injury, and if it requires treatment, he will get that immediately.

James Grady will travel through to Celtic Park tonight determined to accomplish what he failed to against Rangers at the weekend -shut the opposition fans up!

Sunday’s 7-1 drubbing by the champions was painful for all Dundee players involved, but it was an especially unpleasant experience for Grady, who was barracked from start to finish.

The treatment, he believes, owed everything to a television appearance before the game in which his interviewer made a quip suggesting he had a soft spot for the other half of the Old Firm.

"I denied it because my only loyalty is to Dundee Football Club, but the damage was already done," he said.

"A good number of Rangers fans must watch the show as they were on my case all night. You get on with your game, but it can rile you after a while and I would have loved to have shut them up by sticking the ball in the back of the net.

"Stefan Klos kept me out with a fortunate stop with his elbow in the first half, but there was another chance late in the game which I really should have buried."

Grady, desperate to add to his two goals for the season, is unlikely to be singled out for much personal attention tonight, with the fans in the East End of Glasgow sure to be more concerned with the fact the fixture marks Kenny Dalglish’s first home game in charge of the team and the return to the fold of former star and manager Tommy Burns.

As he commented, that doesn’t make the job of silencing the massed ranks any less important.

"They always say that the key to having any chance of success at Celtic Park is taking the crowd out of the game and, to my mind, that applies more than ever in this game.

"It might be Dalglish’s first home game, it might be Tommy Burns’ first home game, but it is also the first game there since the Inverness Caley match.

"That result will still hurt those fans and, if we can keep it tight in the first 20 minutes, I really believe the doubts will start to creep in and the stands will become quiet.

"Caley did fantastically well to get the result they did with a performance that should inspire anyone who is due to play at Celtic Park.

"We have already beaten Rangers at Ibrox, so I don’t see any reason why, with hard work and a little good fortune, we can’t pull off the double."