Former Inverness Caley Thistle boss brands comments from Ross County manager Derek Adams on the standard of Scottish football as 'disrespectful'
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FORMER Inverness Caledonian Thistle interim manager Neil McCann has branded comments from Ross County boss Derek Adams on the standard of Scottish football as disrespectful.
The ex-Inverness boss made his views known on BBC Scotland show Sportscene last night after Adams launched a scathing attack on the standard of Scottish football after watching Ross County lose 1-0 to Dundee in Dingwall on Saturday.
Adams, who was appointed as the manager of Ross County for the third time in his career last month, criticised the standard of football in Scotland as 'shocking' when he spoke at the after match press conference yesterday.
He also claimed that his former club Morecambe, who he left to return to Ross County, and are currently in eighth place in English League Two, were '100 times better' than Ross County.
Adams said: "The standard since I’ve come back to this country is shocking. We’ve got to have a better product.
“Today, if I’m a paying customer, I don’t come to watch this football match.
“The standard has got to be a lot better. The way we pass the ball, create chances – it has to be better – and that’s for both sides.
“Ross County Football Club has to be better. Today I’ve seen some good play, but over the afternoon I’m standing on the touchline thinking ‘what a job you have got on here’.
“I’ve left a club that is 100 times better and we had the lowest budget in League Two. I just see some of the things that happened and think ‘seriously?’
“It is so disappointing. I’m so annoyed, just at the way the game is.
“Even the opposition. You want someone to show up and produce some entertainment. I’m not seeing anything.
“I don’t see any entertainment. If this is the best we’ve got in the country, what are we going to do?"
Speaking on Sportscene last night, McCann, who was interim manager for Inverness between February and May in 2021, disagreed with Adams' comments.
He branded them disrespectful and believes when he looks back will regret what he said and was caught up in the emotion of losing a match in injury time.
Speaking on the BBC Scotland show last night, McCann said: "I think he might have a few questions from his chairman.
"I totally disagree with a lot of his statements, it has to be emotion. I have come out and said cheeky things after a game myself when you're caught up with emotion.
"But that seemed pretty measured. His analysis of the game is wrong as when you look at the stats, Dundee have topped out in all the stats and they should have won the game.
"His analysis of Scottish football is wrong as well. The fact that he has thrown in Morecambe are 100 times better than the teams up here is pretty disrespectful and I think he will regret it."
Former Scotland internationalist James McFadden, who was also a panellist on Sportscene last night, also disagreed with the comments from Adams.
McFadden said: "If you are going to come out and criticise your own team fair play, you're the manager, you can almost say what you like.
"But to have a broad swipe at the standard of football up here, I think Derek Adams is miles off it.
"We have a good product up here and have some good players in the league. If he is unhappy with his team, that is fine, stick to your team, don't bring everyone else into it.
"We had a brilliant week of European football, Aberdeen beat Eintracht Frankfurt, Celtic beat Feyenoord and Rangers beat Real Betis in Seville, which teams don't do, and win their group to qualify for the last 16 of the Europa League.
"On a day when Hearts go to Celtic and win, we have a good league here and I agree with Neil.
"His Morecambe team might beat Ross County, but Morecambe wouldn't come up here and be competitive in the Scottish Premiership.
"I think Derek is hugely emotional after the game and I hope he can reflect on that and say he has made a mistake and he shouldn't have been as broad on the league.
"Say what you want about your own team, but we have a good league, some very good players in this league and I think he will come to regret that."
Former Caley Thistle manager and Ross County assistant manager Billy Dodds, who was a panellist on Radio Scotland show Sportsound last night, said the outcome of yesterday's game may have added less substance to Adams' claims, rather than if it was after a match Ross County won.
Dodds said: "I have seen League Two games in England and some of them aren't good either.
"I wouldn't undersell our product, yes in the Scottish Premiership, or dipping into the Championship, they are not the best of games, but that happens in every league.
"I was at the Ross County v St Mirren game and Ross County scored late and won 1-0. I wish he said it then because it might have had a bit of substance about it."
