On This Day in 1975: Jim McLean bans player for moving house

Andy Rolland, Dundee United's long-serving full back, is in trouble with the Tannadice side for breaking a club rule and putting his family before his profession. The fact that Rolland has moved house 24 miles is at the root of the trouble.

Rolland, unhappy staying in Dundee, has been allocated a council house in Glenrothes after being on the waiting list for three years. He has accepted the allocation, despite the fact that it was written into each United player's contract that he must live in Dundee or the suburbs.

The player, who 10 years ago joined United from Cowdenbeath for £10,000, has been living with his wife and two children in the Whitfield area of the city, but has decided to move back to his native Fife for the sake of his family.

"We have never really liked living in the area and my wife, who has been ill recently, is expecting our third child. I must make this move into a better environment for the sake of the family," Rolland said.

"All I know at the moment is that I have been suspended by the club."

The ruling that United players must live in the Dundee area came into force in 1971 when Jim McLean took over as manager of the club in succession to Jerry Kerr.

Fifteen of the present staff of 28 full-timers were outsiders who had to move into the area. These include Tom McAdam, the club's recent signing from Dumbarton. At first McAdam turned down the move because he did not want to live in Dundee, but later agreed.

Jim McLean was keeping silent yesterday, waiting until he knew for sure that Rolland had moved house. The player, in fact, "flitted" to Glenrothes late yesterday afternoon.

Rolland, who is 33, is due a benefit from the club next year, but is obviously willing to sacrifice that. The only solution would appear to be to let the player go to another club.

I understand that moves are already afoot in that direction ... moves that would allow Rolland to play for one of the Fife clubs with a player moving to Tanandice in part exchange.

Celtic, who travel to Tynecastle on Saturday week to meet Hearts in a premier league match, have been told that the kick-off will be brought forward to 1pm. The Tynecastle floodlights are faulty and the new kick-off time was agreed after consultations with Edinburgh police.

Hearts' home match against Motherwell tomorrow will have a 2pm start, but the earlier time for the Celtic game is because Scotland meet Australia in a rugby international at Murrayfield on the same day. The rugby kicks off at 2.15 and the staggered times are to avoid traffic congestion.

Meanwhile, Celtic face the prospect of being without Kenny Dalglish, their captain, for tomorrow's match against Dundee United at Tanandice. The international forward missed training yesterday because of a groin injury sustained in Tuesday's game at Birmingham.

Dalglish could do only light work yesterday, but he has two days before Tannadice and will be given every chance to get fully fit again.

Rangers, who face Dundee at Ibrox tomorrow, will almost certainly bring in Martin Henderson to replace Derek Parlane, who broke a collar bone at Easter Road last week. Henderson has been a substitute for the past three weeks, but now looks all set to make his second full appearance of the season.