Neil McCann: Tommy Wright lodged SFA complaint but I'll defend myself

Neil McCann believes it was Tommy Wright who lodged a complaint with the SFA. Picture: SNS Group

McCann has vowed to defend himself against an “excessive misconduct” charge when he attends a Hampden hearing on March 29 following his clash with Saints goalkeeper Zander Clark.

The Dens Park boss denied slapping Clark last weekend following his side’s 4-0 home defeat, claiming he had caught the substitute while trying to free himself from the close confrontation.

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St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright. Picture: SNS Group

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s trip to face Aberdeen, McCann said: “There’s not much I can say about it just now until I go to the hearing down in Hampden, which I will be appearing at myself.

“What I do know is that Tommy Wright, I believe, has made a complaint against me to the SFA. I think it’s about me putting contact on Zander.

“But if anyone watches the footage, they will see who initiates the physical contact, and that’s all I’m prepared to say about it.”

McCann is looking for major improvement at Pittodrie after admitting they got the “fundamentals” wrong in the Tayside derby, listing application, tempo, work ethic, a lack of aggression along with technical deficiencies.

He added: “What I’m looking for clearly is a huge reaction, not just a reaction, but a huge one, because they let themselves down, let the club down, let the fans down, let me down, and I was part of that as well.

“I was part of that team performance.

“It was an embarrassing performance. I didn’t mince any words and I don’t retract any of those.

“But what I will say is, since Sunday when he had them in to go over stuff, we have had a real hard-working week and put a lot of things in place to put things right. Now it’s up to the players to go and do that.”

Dundee slipped to 10th place in the Ladbrokes Premiership and also have Hearts, Celtic and Rangers to play before the split but McCann still believes they can get results as he urged his players to leave nothing behind on the pitch.

“I think we have made big strides this season in what we are doing and the club have made big strides off the park, but I have to get results and I am not ignorant to that fact,” he said.

“I’m not shirking my responsibility as a manager of this club, I never will. I will go and do my job and work as hard as anyone.

“I think I am doing all I can to prepare them. And as a group, if we do that together, I have full belief we will get results. But we have to pull together.”

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