“We contested it after the match, and he was included in the team lines—everything is processed online now, and this appears to be a system error. To be fair, I don’t think it’s the referees’ fault; they have a screenshot showing eight names out of nine, and his name is on the second page.”
Doolan chose to field winger Logan Chalmers instead, but Thistle couldn’t find a way to score, and the bonus point for winning the penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw was insufficient for the Glasgow team to advance.
“Everything is managed through an app, and there’s a system established with the SFA,” he stated. “It’s evident there are issues within that system because, for some unknown reason, Diack was not listed in the referee’s record.
“They’re attempting to implement an online process. Why don’t we revert to using paper on the touchline? We can’t afford to have these kinds of mistakes when the season begins.”
Opposing manager Stuart Kettlewell, whose team moved on to host Kilmarnock in the second round, also questioned why Diack was absent from the substitutes’ bench.
“I’ve seen a team line that includes his name, but it wasn’t where the other substitutes are listed,” he noted.
“We recognize he’s a talented young player. We know he can come in and make a difference to their attack.
“I completely understand Kris’ frustration if this was merely due to an administrative mistake.”
