Email abuse not to blame for MacKinnon leaving Dens

Published on Friday 21 November 2008 21:09

DAVE MacKinnon last night scotched suggestions he is leaving Dundee because of a email hate campaign launched by a small section of fans.

Dens Park chairman Bob Brannan announced a fortnight ago at a public meeting that MacKinnon was considering his position because he was dismayed at receiving abusive emails from supporters who had got hold of his online account address.

However, MacKinnon, who tendered his resignation as chief executive yesterday and will leave at the end of the month, laughed off the thought that the negative reaction from a tiny but vociferous group of supporters are behind his desire to walk away.

MacKinnon will now focus on other business interests and is satisfied he has done a good job at Dens so will leave having built a great relationship with the vast majority of supporters. He said: "It's true I got a some abusive emails from fans, about 20 in all, but that's absolutely nothing to do with my decision to leave.

"I've got a good relationship with the Dundee fans and, of course you are not going to please everyone all the time, but I think the vast majority saw what we were trying to do at the club and were supportive.

"I don't read these fans' websites and I certainly wouldn't pay attention to anything that's said on them.

"If people want to hide behind anonymous emails – and that's what they were – that says everything about them.

"If folk had come out from behind their keyboards then they'd be more than welcome at Dens for a coffee and chat with me.

"I've had similar meetings with loads of fans over the years and every time they ended very amicable.

"I've got nothing but respect for Dundee's fans, they're massively important to the club and I hope there's some success for them to cheer in future because they deserve it."

MacKinnon has worked hard during his tenure to phase out the need for a chief executive and had called on the money saved on his wages to be redirected into manager Jocky Scott's January transfer budget.

"I think I've put enough structures in place so we don't need a chief executive anymore," he said

"In Jocky we've got a manager with vast experience and a huge amount of contacts so the football side of things will take care of itself. We've also got a fantastic staff behind-the-scenes and a solid management structure.

"I hope the money the club are saving will be reinvested back in the team."

MacKinnon, who will be taking a more hands-on role at a sports management company he sits on the board of, admits it will be a wrench to leave Dundee but is excited about working with the likes of Olympic superstar Chris Hoy and talented young golfer Marc Warren in future.

He added: "I've had a great time at Dundee and it will be a wrench to leave Dens.

"I have a few other business interests, including being on the board of a sports management agency which has the likes of Chris Hoy, Stephen Hendry and Marc Warren on the books. I will be focusing more on my role there and hopefully helping to expand that business."