Dunfermline Athletic chairman Ross McArthur insists it is Caley Thistle who have behaved in an “aggressive and confrontational” manner during league talks.
In a wide-ranging club statement issued on Sunday, the Caley Jags stated an SPFL board member, believed to be McArthur, had bullied and made threats against them on the matter of ending the league season and they were prepared to testify to this end.
However, McArthur has felt compelled to give his version of events, stating he relayed information to Inverness on April 10 on the potential consequences of their stance, doing so as Dunfermline chairman rather than an SPFL board member.
McArthur is embarrassed to have to respond to comments made by Caley Thistle chairman Ross Morrison and chief executive Scot Gardiner, which link to remarks about the Pars chief made in Rangers’ dossier against the SPFL.
He said: “It is not only regrettable but extremely embarrassing, that I have to provide this statement following the release of accusatory comments in a club statement made by the chairman and CEO of Inverness.
“The individuals have been very careful not to mention me by name, but their intended target is clearly apparent.
“It most certainly wasn’t a threat, simply a potential consequence of their action not to back the SPFL resolution currently put in front of them, in favour of a counter resolution which was being mooted at that time.
“In life, you stand and fall by your reputation and your actions, and I thank the very many people from other clubs who have contacted me since these ‘leaked’ WhatsApp messages first surfaced, to offer their support.
“Since the SPFL director’s resolution was first issued, a number of clubs in the Championship would confirm it is the behaviour of Inverness that has continually been aggressive and confrontational. However, no one felt it necessary to win points in public, as robust conversations take place in the normal course of a competitive business like football.”