CHAIRMAN’S BLASTOVER ‘HATECRIME’
Maitland hits out after Accies fans launched ‘vile’abuseatbossjohnrankinandboard
Hamilton Accies chairman Allan Maitland has hit out at fans who aimed vile abuse at manager John Rankin and the board of directors during Saturday’s dramatic play-off win over Alloa alleging ‘hate crimes’ have been committed and those responsible will be banned from matches.
Some supporters turned on the management team and stormed towards the directors box during the Championship play-off semifinal second leg at New Douglas Park.
Accies were trailing 3-0 on aggregate at the time after losing early goals to 10-man Wasps, but they went on to mount an astonishing comeback, winning the tie 5-3 and booking a place in this week’s final against Airdrieonians, which kicked-off with the first leg last night as The Advertiser went to press.
A visibly angered Rankin revealed in his post-match press conference that one fan made disgusting comments about his wife and children.
Tensions between supporters and the club’s board have been a constant this season amid their league struggles, with chants of ‘sack the board’ a regular fixture.
And this incident comes just a fortnight after the club’s owner, Colin Mcgowan, claimed ‘a couple of bad apples’ within the support had cost the club investment from a potential new custodian over fears of the flak they would need to put up with from fans.
Now, Mr Maitland has issued a lengthy statement, blasting the fans who launched verbal abuse on Saturday, telling them they are not welcome back at the club.
The statement read: “In my role as the chairman of the club, I feel the highs and lows of all Accies supporters and fully understand the frustrations of the last few seasons when we haven’t reached the standards expected from our club.
“I also understand the need on occasions to vent that frustration – however there is a line where the expression of that frustration becomes intolerable and totally unacceptable, and we reached that on Saturday afternoon.
“Several supporters shouted vile, abusive comments to our management team and directors that were disgusting and unacceptable in any environment at any time, never mind a football match where families and young kids are present.
“We are working to identify those responsible for this hate crime and these so-called supporters will receive the banning order they deserve from all football matches.
“I have consistently tried to engage with unhappy supporters, even in difficult times, to listen to their concerns and provide a balanced and fair view whenever possible but there is now a section of fans who are no longer worthy of any exchange of views.
“We all feel the passion of being a supporter and have experienced days when you understandably express your frustrations or disappointment towards players, management, and directors when things are going horribly wrong but there must be a control mechanism in place to stop that from crossing the line of acceptability.
“If you personally are unable to control that emotion or feel the need to be overtly abusive, then please don’t come to the games – you’re not welcome.”
He added: “In what has been a really difficult season, the players deserve enormous credit for their efforts on Saturday to turn a seemingly impossible position round when there were chaotic scenes in the stand, and I ask that you give them your full support over the next two matches.
“Airdrie have been in superb form and after their emphatic victory over Falkirk will rightly come into the play off as favourites.
“We are a club renowned for succeeding in times of adversity and If we hope to succeed and retain our position in the Championship, we need everyone pulling in the same direction.
“I ask that all supporters give the players their full backing – as Saturday showed, anything can happen in a game of football.”
Hamilton will look for the backing of fans on Saturday when they host Airdrie for the second leg of the final, kick-off 5.15pm.