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Former Aberdeen striker Billy Dodds: reconstruction only way to right ‘morally wrong’ ending to SPFL season

Billy Dodds nets in the 1995 Coca-Cola Cup final.
Billy Dodds nets in the 1995 Coca-Cola Cup final.

Former Aberdeen striker Billy Dodds believes reconstruction is the only way to right the “morally wrong” way the Scottish season has been finished.

Hearts, Dodds’ old club Partick Thistle and Stranraer have all been relegated with games still to play, which has created rancour among those clubs.

Jambos chairman Ann Budge is on the SPFL’s reconstruction group but Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack revealed nearly a fortnight ago that Premiership clubs did not feel it was the right time for reconstruction.

In Dodds’ eyes, that would mean the decision remains an injustice.

He said: “I would have loved to have seen the season finished but as time goes on, I understand it’s more difficult. The way it transpired, I still feel it’s morally wrong and things could have been done differently.

“The only thing that could rectify it is reconstruction but I don’t think that’s going to happen. So it’s going to stay morally wrong. There’s nobody on earth will ever tell me it’s right to relegate Partick Thistle with a game in hand. I don’t care what their reasons are.

“To right that wrong; I understand the SPFL have got to do what’s right for Scotland, because they need revenue coming through the gates. But the only way is reconstruction to save Hearts and especially Partick.

“Everybody talks about these unprecedented times and that’s right. But even now, they’re still showing self-interest. Clubs go back to that. They can’t give an inch. So what’s right is not going to happen.

Dodds was assistant manager to Jim McIntyre at Ross County.

“If you’re wronged, which Thistle and a lot of teams down the bottom are, it’s human nature you’re going to hold a grudge. When things do happen – as they have done down the years in Scottish football – are Partick Thistle or Hearts or anyone that feels they’ve been wronged, going to come together and help everyone out? It’s a long shot that it will happen.”

For Aberdeen, where Dodds won the League Cup in 1995, it was a satisfactory campaign, with a run to the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup and qualifying for Europe for another season.

He added: “Aberdeen would have wanted to finish third but it’s not a disaster finishing fourth. I don’t think anybody else could have any real grumbles.

“They will be pretty satisfied. Their remit at the start of the season would have been a good cup run and qualify for Europe. They’ve done that. Finish third or fourth in the league – no lower than that as they’re one of the bigger clubs – and they’ve done that. Every box has been ticked, even if it’s not always been straight-forward.

“If you’re third or fourth it’s acceptable. If you go fifth, sixth or seventh it’s not. Derek (McInnes) might say otherwise but they had a few coming up below them as well. They’ll be quite happy because the way their season has gone; they had their bad run and Derek came under a bit of pressure.

“Satisfied is probably the word.”