Callum Davidson begs fans in Rangers ticket row as St Johnstone boss fronts up over PR nightmare
The McDiarmid Park club is braced for a supporter boycott but the manager is attempting to win them over.
Callum Davidson has begged fans to park their fury at the St Johnstone board and turn up to back the team against Rangers.
Anger at ticket pricing and being forced to switch stands to accommodate visiting supporters sparked a boycott for Saturday’s Scottish Cup showdown. Only a few hundred Saints briefs, costing £30 per adult, are sold – leading to fears of the lowest home attendance ever at McDiarmid Park. Under-fire chairman Steve Brown yesterday released a statement admitting ‘certain criticisms’ of his call to hand Rangers three stands, shunt fans from normal seats and hike prices had ‘merit’.
But the whole affair has damaged relations between Perth fans and their club. And it’s been an unwanted distraction for gaffer Davidson with his side suffering a shock slump in form since Christmas Eve. Davidson said: “In hindsight, different decisions and better decisions could have been made. I understand the frustration and anger from the supporters. I’m a little bit frustrated myself.
“I wanted both stands there for our supporters because I know how big the game is. This has happened, we need to deal with it and get on with it. For me, I’m hoping they come and support the players.
“That’s the big thing. The Scottish Cup has been good to us in the last 10 or 15 years. I just hope the supporters realise how big a game this is for us in our season.
“If they’re swithering about coming to the game or not, I kind of half-beg them to put it to one side and come and support the lads. They were brilliant last season when we were in trouble and we’re going through a wee sticky patch just now. The more they can get behind the team the better – I don’t think they realise how beneficial it is.”
Davidson hinted that chairman Brown has regrets over his handling of the episode. Since the December 30 announcement, Davidson has been repeatedly quizzed on the club’s actions.
But he hopes Wednesday’s club announcement leaves the way clear for his squad to concentrate on the clash between the last two winners of the trophy. Davidson said: “I sat down with the chairman for two or three hours on Monday. We talked about the football side and off-the-pitch stuff as well.
“He’s pretty flat about the situation. I think we all make decisions in life where we think it’s the best decision, then we think maybe it wasn’t. The chairman understands the situation, with the statement he’s released.
“I’ve known the chairman for years and he’s a St Johnstone fan. I don’t think it was a decision made for the wrong reasons. But, looking back now, he maybe thinks those decisions could’ve been made differently. It’s something, when it happens again, there will be a clearer picture. It’s not a situation where I want to be answering questions like these. I’m not part of the decision. I pick the team and the players.”
Saints have lost five straight in the Premiership since a six-game unbeaten streak. Davidson stressed any divide between fans and club wouldn’t help efforts to return to winning ways on Saturday. It’s Rangers again, at Ibrox in the league, next weekend before a trip to Motherwell and the visit of Celtic in a crucial phase of their up-and-down campaign.
Davidson added: “I’d rather our supporters were behind us as one. You get out of trouble by being one, not by being factions. Hopefully we get a result, give them something to cheer and go home with some positivity. played, assistant managed and now I’m managing. Supporters obviously mean a lot.
“When they back us, when we give them something to get behind, they’re very good. If they aren’t there, it’ll be a difficult atmosphere for the players. It’s about getting them to perform at a better level than they have been.”