Intertoto No-no

Last updated : 05 January 2006 By Stand Free Ed
Jimmy Calderwood has today claimed the Dons will not compete in the Intertoto Cup this season - because of the Scottish Cup Final.

The ebullient Dons gaffer will advise the Pittodrie board of directors that entering the Intertoto Cup would be a bad move, even if they fail to qualify for Europe by any other means.


Calderwood told the Evening Express: "Willie Miller and I spoke about the Intertoto Cup at length on Monday.

"We believed when things were first discussed that it would start around the beginning of July, which might have been a possibility. But UEFA have now confirmed the kick-off will be on June 16.

"It means if we reach the Scottish Cup final on May 13, as we aim to, the players would need to be back by the first day in June to prepare for the Intertoto.

"I'm convinced that would be bad for the build-up to next season, when we know we have to do a lot better than we have so far in this one.

"We still have to get back to the directors but Willie and I will be advising that we should give the competition a miss."

Calderwood told the same newspaper that he "would be sick" if he got Dundee United manager Gordon Jism sacked because of the upcoming Scottish Cup fixture with the Arabs on Saturday.

Jimmy will presumably be hoping that his comments don't come back to haunt him.