Dundee United’s suspension of Stevie Campbell from his post as head of youth has attracted strong comment from both sides of the city divide.
United and Dundee have both been well served by Campbell in his youth coaching roles over the years.
He has proved his worth several million times over to United in his near 10 years at Tannadice.
More than £4 million in transfer fees for Ryan Gauld to Sporting Lisbon and Stuart Armstrong to Celtic is the proof.
Those are just two of a myriad of players Campbell has helped to nurture.
At Dens, he was influential in developing players like Kevin McDonald and Paul Dixon.
Campbell is widely acknowledged both as a coach and a grafter who regularly clocks 12-hour shifts at Tannadice.
His suspension, announced last Wednesday, has shocked many United fans who are acutely aware of the value of his work for the club.
A rift between him and manager Jackie McNamara occurred a while ago, and in recent times his absence from the first-team bench indicated the strained relationship between the pair.Jim Spence is The Courier’s new Saturday sports columnist. Read all about him here.Now he is the subject of, as yet, unspecified complaints which threaten to damage his reputation in Scottish football.
Campbell’s days at Tannadice could now be numbered, irrespective of the outcome of any disciplinary hearing.
The bond of trust crucial to the employer/employee relationship may well be broken.
A successful youth coach with little desire to leave his native city, Campbell is a commodity worth his weight in pound coins.
He is a key component in producing players who earn United very lucrative transfer income which helps to maintain them as a top-flight club.
If Campbell exits, United could be set to lose out in very measurable ways.
Financial advice carries the disclaimer that past performance is no guarantee of future results, but Stevie Campbell’s youth development track record is impressive.
Now United could be losing a man who has been integral to providing a very rich seam for club coffers.
Campbell knows his patch. Few up-and-coming talents in the area escape his notice.
Now, another club may profit from his work ethic in the years ahead.
It is a reasonable bet that a man with his abilities will not sit on the substitute’s bench for long.
Employment law dictates that due process must be followed regarding his future, but the rift between Campbell and United looks to be as wide as the mouth of the Tay.
The waters in these situations usually prove to be too turbulent for a lone swimmer to make it against the prevailing tide.
Until the nature of the complaints against him are examined and tested, rumours will swirl.
Campbell guards his reputation jealously, for in his line of work it is the very essence of employability.
For both United and him, this situation needs to be resolved maturely and sensibly as quickly as possible in the circumstances.
Reputations are paramount here to the image of both the club and Campbell.
Those are now at risk, with the potential for some of football’s dirty linen being aired publicly in the process.