FORTY-SEVEN-year-old Bobby Geddes is in line to be named as a substitute for Dundee this afternoon, after the Dens Park club suffered a goalkeeping selection crisis.
Manager Alex Rae has been left with no fit goalkeepers to face champions Hamilton Accies today after regular number one Craig Samson and understudy Ludovic Roy pulled out with groin injuries, while under-19s goalie Michael White is suffering from a s
houlder problem. Rae tried to sign former Dundee goalkeeper Rab Douglas on a short-term deal from Leicester yesterday but despite being given emergency permission from the Scottish Football League, the Scottish Football Association blocked the move because it would be classed as a cross-border transfer outside the transfer window.
Dundee then tried to secure players on loan from the Scottish Premier League for one game but their hopes of doing that collapsed when the authorities demanded they make any contract last 28 days, despite the fact that Dundee's league season ends at 4.45pm today.
Rae then made a desperate appeal to the SFA for special consideration but was stunned when the Hampden administrators suggested he scour the local junior clubs for someone to pitch in as a trialist.
Rae objected to that idea so will now pitch in teenager White, who has not made a top-team start and who is rated no better than 50 per cent fit, and will put 47-year-old coach Geddes on the bench – 18 years since he last turned out for Dundee.
"We had a guy lined up but he would be coming cross-border so the SFA said we can't do that," said Rae. "The Scottish Football League said it wouldn't be a problem, but the other organisation have killed it off, which was nice of them.
"It is amazing that one will give us special dispensation but the other won't.
"I would be interested to see what would happen if one of the Old Firm came chapping at their door in the same circumstances.
"We then attempted to get someone from the Premier League but were told the 28-day rule would have to be invoked even at this stage in the season. I just wish they would do something to help clubs.
"We spoke to them to see if there was anything we can do but I was told: 'Why not get a goalkeeper from the juniors?' I thought we are meant to be playing a professional game.
"So now we face playing young Michael in goal despite him being only 50-50 as regards fitness, while Rab Geddes could be the back-up."
Striker Mickael Antoine-Curier, who has netted nine goals since joining on loan from Hibs in January, will play his final game for the Dark Blues this afternoon but may be back for next season if Dundee can thrash out a deal.
Antoine-Curier is due back at Easter Road on Monday and will hold talks with Hibernian manager Mixu Paatelainen before deciding on his future.
The full article contains 515 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
