Future speculation over Chisholm's role at Queens

Jun 5 2009 by Kieran West Brook, Dumfries Standard Friday

QUEENS chairman Davie Rae does not want gaffer Gordon Chisholm to leave Palmerston, but has admitted he won’t stand in his way.

Hibs have become the second SPL club to be linked with the Queens manager, after rumours circulated that Aberdeen were interested.

And while Rae has not been contacted by any club, he has told the Standard he does not want Chis to leave.

Speaking to the Standard, Rae said: “Hibernian will be looking for an experienced manager who can do a good job, and he could do a good job for them.

“But we want him to do a good job for us.

“He’s been a great manager for us – up there as one of the best in the club’s history I’m sure.

“I can’t stand in the way of the man, and I wouldn’t block it if they came knocking. But I’d prefer it if they didn’t.”

Rae has been taking all the speculation surrounding Chisholm’s future with a pinch of salt, but is adamant that his club would be in line for “substantial” compensation if they lost their man.

Rae added: “At this time of year there’s no football to focus on, so all there is for papers to write about is manager and player transfers.

“It’s very unusual for three SPL clubs to be looking for managers at the same time, so that gets everyone talking too.

“The Hibs post is one of the biggest in Scottish football.

“Behind Celtic and Rangers, Hearts and Hibs are the biggest two clubs, so it’s a hard job to turn down.

“But Gordon’s got a full year on his contract, so if they did decide he was the man they were looking for, we’d be in line for compensation.

“It would be a substantial amount.”

Queens fans would also be sorry to see him go.

Jim McCormack, vice chairman of the Doonhamers Travel Club said: “In my view, I would be sad to see him go, and I think most fans feel the same way.

“It might not say that on some of the message boards, but I think the majority of Doonhamers are very happy with him.

“He’s given us something we’ve never had before with the Scottish Cup final and European football and I think most of us would be sad to see him leave.”

While the rumours fly and hype escalates regarding Chisholm’s future, the Queens manager has been getting away from it all, spending 12 days in New York and Las Vegas.

It seems most will be hoping he will be staying with the club when he returns.