GORDON STRACHAN will be allowed to take his place in the dugout this weekend's game against Hearts - and for the foreseeable future.

The Celtic boss faces a record-breaking 10-game ban after being sent to the stand during yesterday's 3-1 win at Pittodrie.

He already has a four-match suspension hanging over him for a sending off during a game against Hearts in April.

And, in line with the automatic two-game increase laid down by the SFA, he is in line to serve a further six games in the stand for yesterday's red card.

Strachan immediately appealed last season's four-game ban, and this was due to be heard at a Disciplinary Committee meeting tomorrow.

But, the ref who sent him off at Parkhead, Stuart Dougal, can't make this hearing due to business commitments. so it has been postponed to a date still to be arranged.

As the length of the automatic suspension Strachan would receive for yesterday's dismissal is dependent on the outcome of the appeal against his previous charge, the Sfa have decreed that this too will be held in abeyance.

And, if as expected, Strachan elects to appeal against any ban for the Pittodrie sending off by ref Charlie Richmond, this could delay the matter even longer.

Aberdeen today stood by their steward in the row raging over Strachan's red card.

The SFA are still awaiting the ref's report. Of even more interest to the Disciplinary Committee will be fourth official John Underhill's input, as he is understood to be supporting Strachan's version of events.

Ref Richmond took this action four minutes from full time. He considered Strachan was guilty of leaving the technical area as he climbed the two steps behind the away dugout to remonstrate with an Aberdeen steward.

That steward, now identified as George Morrison, had come down from the back of the main stand in an attempt to report assistant manager Garry Pendrey to a police officer for allegedly giving a V' sign to the home support after Kenny Miller had put Celtic 2-1 up.

Celtic have denied Morrison's accusations, but Aberdeen operations manager John Morgan said: "The steward acted after members of the public made complaints about the behaviour of some Celtic officials. I believe George's version of what went on."

In a further twist, the Pittodrie club believe SPL delegate Willie McDougall could cite other members of the Celtic bench for what he considered to be inflammatory gestures.

But Celtic reckon Strachan has an ally in fourth official Underhill - who initially drew Richmond's attention to the problem and who is understood to support the manager's plea in mitigation that he was defending his assistant.

It is crucial for Strachan he has this latest red card overturned as it automatically brings him a six-match ban.

Any suspension would be reduced to four games if Strachan wins the appeal against the Hearts sending off.

Strachan is confident he can have the April four-game suspension overturned as he is challenging referee Dougal's version of events during the Hearts game when he was alleged to have made derogatory remarks as the visitors were about to bring on sub Neil McCann.

Dougal was also the ref who sent him to the stand for the first time at Tynecastle in his first season in charge following a touchline spat with then-Hearts assistant John McGlynn. For that offence, Strachan was banned for two games.