Rangers fineqc speaks of threats
SFA panellist hits out at Mccoist
GARY Allan, the QC who sat on an SFA three-man panel which punishedRangers FCinMay for bringing Scottish football into disrepute, has complained about threats made to him and his family in the wake of the hearing.
MrAllan has expressed particular dismay atRangersmanager Ally McCoist who, when the punishments were announced, publicly called for the names of the panel – whichwere supposed to remain anonymous – to be made known.
Mr Allan, who makes his comments in an interview for Channel 4 news which is due to be aired tonight, says he was “astonished” by McCoist’s comments.
The QC claims he had to have meetings with both Special Branch and anti-terrorist officers after police found evidence of various threats being made by groups with links to Rangers.
Mr Allan was warned not to handle incoming mail to his home and was given round-theclock police security forweeks.
Earlier this week Rangers chief-executive Charles Green also claimed to have been subjected to threats by fans when he arrived at Ibrox.
MrAllan tells the programme: “I wasn’t ready formy family to be exposed to that and that caused me a lot of anxiety. We were givena full briefing on mail handling. Iwas told therewould be certain items which I should under no circumstances open if they were not from a familiar source.
“I was told I should take mail into the smallest secure room with the fewest windows and have the family somewhere else in the house whilst I opened the mail.”
WhenMcCoist publicly called for the panel to be publicly named, Mr Allan says he was bothworried and taken aback.
He added: “I was astonished when I saw a recording of Mr McCoistdemandingthe [panel’s] names be disclosed and declaring he did not know who they were, and felt he ought to know.”
After news of the threats emerged, McCoist said he did not regret his call for the panel members to be named but was disgusted by the threats made against them.
Rangers subsequently challenged the SFA panel’s punishment – fines of £160,000 and a 12-month transfer embargo – at the Court of Session and had their appeal upheld. WEATHER forecasters have warned of difficult driving conditions as the first onslaught of wintry weather hits Scotland this morning.
The Met Office yesterday issued a warning of icy conditions covering Grampian, the Highlands, Western Isles and Shetland.
Forecasters say temperatures are due to fall below zero leaving icy stretches forming on any untreated routes that are still wet from earlier showers. They also warn of snow which is likely to settle on higher routes. “The public should be aware of possible difficult travel conditions,” said the Met Office.