Old Firm united over ‘courageous’ Rice

STEVEN GERRARD and Neil Lennon have praised the bravery of Brian Rice in confronting his gambling addiction. Hamilton boss Rice faces disciplinary proceedings after reporting himself for breaching SFA betting rules. A considerable number of wagers are thought to be involved, with the 56-year-old potentially facing a suspension of between three and 16 games at a hearing a week tomorrow. The SFA rules also carry provision for a fine. The shocking revelations have thrust Scottish football’s relationship with gambling companies back into the spotlight given they are the principal sponsors of the game. There have been accusations of a conflict of interest, a claim Lennon feels is ‘unfair’. But what is clear is that both Old Firm bosses hope Rice gets the help he needs and that the focus must

be on aiding his recovery. ‘I’d say so,’ Gerrard said. ‘I hope that’s the case that he gets the right support and people rally round him because I think he deserves that. I don’t like to see anyone getting punished, really, in football. But I don’t control that or make the decision, so we’ll just have to wait and see what happens. ‘I was speaking to Gary McAllister about it this morning. He loves the guy and has known him for a lot longer. I can see why because every time I have been in his company he has been fantastic.’ Rice released an emotive statement on Monday in which he admitted relapsing into gambling and said he would accept whatever sanction comes his way. ‘I admire that, but I don’t just admire Brian for that,’ Gerrard added. ‘Since I came up to Scotland, he has been nothing but a gentleman. ‘He is someone who has been around my position of coaching and management for a lot longer than I have. So there is nothing but respect towards him. ‘And I do admire the fact that he has come out, been brave and is trying to get the help and support he needs. ‘All I can say is that everyone at Rangers is thinking of him at this time. If there are other people doing it, I’m sure they will be looking at Brian and thinking how brave and honest he has been. I’ve got nothing but admiration and respect for that.’ That view was shared by Lennon who said: ‘Brian has had historic problems with gambling in the past and I think it’s really brave of him to come forward and admit that while looking to get some help. Hopefully, he can get back on the straight and narrow as quickly as possible.’ Asked if he felt there was a conflict of interest given the relationship Scottish football has with the betting companies, Lennon said: ‘I don’t agree with that. ‘For some people, it’s an addiction but I think the betting companies put a lot into the game for the right reasons. And they do have restrictions at times on the amount people can use. ‘We know that some people can get carried away but it’s not just football. It’s other sports and other walks of life. ‘You can’t just tarnish the betting companies with this situation. I think that’s totally unfair. ‘I’m not aware of it going on in our dressing room. ‘The players here adhere to the laws, restrictions and rules, as do the staff. ‘At the end of the day, it can be exciting and a bit of fun. But if it gets out of hand, you have to have the self-discipline to stop it.’