Racism has no place at Killie, declares Dyer

KILMARNOCK boss Alex Dyer insists the club will ‘eradicate’ racism from Rugby Park after Alfredo Morelos was allegedly targeted by home fans on Wednesday night.

Speaking before police confirmed they are investigating a complaint of racist language aimed towards the Rangers striker during the 2-1 loss for the Ibrox side, Dyer said he was disgusted to hear the claims.

And the 54-year-old, the only black manager in Scotland’s top flight, backed Kilmarnock’s zerotolerance stance after they vowed to ban anyone found guilty of hurling discriminatory insults.

‘I didn’t hear (the abuse) on the night but, if that is the case, I know the club will look into it,’ said Dyer. ‘If anyone has any information that can help identify the person who has done this, then they will obviously be banned from the football club because we won’t tolerate anything like this.

‘My message is the football club doesn’t need anyone with those thoughts. Stay away.

‘But we also know this isn’t just about football — it’s society’s problem. At the end of the day, we don’t want anyone with that mentality around this club.

‘This is a great football club and a great town to live in with good people — one or two ain’t going to spoil it for the rest.

‘We have to deal with it as best we can and, if people do have those thoughts, we’ll eradicate it from this football club.’

The Englishman, who served as No 2 to Steve Clarke and then Angelo Alessio at Killie before stepping into the top job in December, added: ‘We’ll do the best thing for Kilmarnock at this present time. Anyone who has those thoughts — and is showing them — then get them out. Don’t let them anywhere near this place.

‘Kilmarnock have been brilliant. I’m sitting in this position because the club has given me an opportunity to manage it.

‘As you can see, I’m a black man but that never came into it at all; I was hired because of my ability and long may that continue.’

Police Scotland said: ‘We can confirm we are investigating a complaint of racist language being used during the Kilmarnock v Rangers SPFL match at Rugby Park on Wednesday.’

A Rangers spokesman added: ‘As everyone knows, Rangers abhors all forms of abusive behaviour but, because we believe the police are giving this incident attention, it would be wrong to comment further.’

Killie captain Gary Dicker, meanwhile, has branded Steven Gerrard’s side sore losers after claiming their players left the pitch without shaking hands on Wednesday night.

‘I didn’t see any of their players and I can’t remember any of them shaking any of our boys’ hands — I think they all just went down the tunnel,’ said Dicker.

‘That’s disappointing but it’s up to them what they do and how they react.

‘I’m sure when we played them and lost (1-0) on Boxing Day, it wasn’t the same thing. That’s football isn’t it? People act how they want to act. There’s nothing I can do about that.’