RAB DOUGLAS claims he wasn’t surprised that Inverness chief executive Scot Gardiner appeared to be “spearheading” the ‘no’ campaign against the SPFL’s proposal to terminate the season early.

Gardiner, who previously worked with Douglas at Dundee, appeared on BBC Sportsound and launched an explosive outburst on the voting mayhem.

After the SPFL announced incomplete results on their proposition to end the season early, Gardiner appeared on the radio talk show and revealed that three second tier clubs, Dundee, Inverness and Partick Thistle, had agreed to oppose the proposal in the days leading up to the requested deadline at 5pm on Friday.

He told how he, Gerry Britton, the Partick chief executive, and Eric Drysdale, the Dundee secretary, had all posted photographs of their ‘no’ slips on a WhatsApp group along with confirmations that they had sent their emails in.

Gardiner then recalled his amazement and confusion when he was later informed the SPFL had declared that only two Championship clubs had voted against the resolution.

The radio blast didn’t sit right with Douglas, who revealed his previous dealings with the Caley chief did not end amicably.

Speaking in the Courier, he said: “A couple of things haven’t sat right with me since last Friday’s vote. I just didn’t understand the wee WhatsApp group chats that were going on.

“Chairmen and chief executives should look after the interests of their own clubs first and foremost and you should be able to expect that your vote will remain private until they’ve all been cast.

“That didn’t happen and it’s been a bit strange.

“On Saturday, the Inverness Caley Thistle chief executive Scot Gardiner was in the middle of it all on BBC Sportsound. That didn’t surprise me. I didn’t like how it all played out.

“I had dealings with Scot Gardiner at Dundee, where he held the same position.

“I think one of my emails to him years ago must have hit the famous firewall as well. I remember being at a function and telling one of the directors that I’d been trying to get hold of him all week.

“The director tipped him off and suddenly, when he showed up at the function, the email came through.

“I wasn’t allowed to train at that point after a fallout with John Brown. My dealings with Scot Gardiner weren’t pleasant.

“When I fell out with Brown, he certainly wasn’t concerned about the welfare of Rab Douglas.

“I’m not surprised he appeared to be spearheading the ‘no’ campaign.”