Heckingbottom new Hibs boss
● SFA disciplinary procedures in need of urgent review says Ibrox club
Hibs will unveil Paul Heckingbottom at a press conference tomorrow after their original preferred candidate to replace Neil Lennon was confirmed as head coach on a three-anda-half year deal last nightwrites Alan Pattullo.
A drawn-out process finally came to a close last night nearly three weeks after Lennon first left his post, initially after being suspended by the club.
Heckingbottom, 41, had returned to pole position to take over after talks with former oxford united manager Michael Appleton
Rangers have called for an urgent review of the Scottish FA’S disciplinary procedures after their goalkeeper Allan Mcgregor lost his appeal against a two-match suspension for his challenge on Aberdeen midfielder Lewis Ferguson at Pittodrie last week.
Mcgregor appeared in person at the Fast Track Tribunal hearing at Hampden yesterday as he made his case against the retrospective punishment imposed for the incident with Ferguson when he caught his opponent with raised studs.
But the veteran Scotland international’s protest fell on deaf ears as the tribunal upheld the notice of complaint brought against him by Scottish FA compliance officer Clare Whyte.
Mcgregor will now miss Rangers’ next two matches, against St Johnstone at Ibrox in the Premiership on Saturday and at home to Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup fifth-round replay next Wednesday.
Rangers are unhappy at what they see as inconsistencies in the decisions made through the Scottish FA’S Judicial Panel Protocol this season.
Earlier this week, no retrospective action was taken against Kilmarnock midfielder Alan Power for a high challenge in the face of Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack, while St Mirren’s Paul Mcginn also escaped action for what appeared a reckless arm in the face of Dundee United’s Cammy Smith.
Hibernian were also left unhappy when defender Darnell Johnson failed in his appeal against a two-match ban for a foul on Celtic fullback Emilio Izaguirre last week, while incidents involving Celtic duo Jozo Simunovic and Scott Brown in the same match went unpunished.
“Rangers has no option other than to accept this decision,” said the Ibrox club in a short statement issued after Mcgregor’s failed appeal.
“However, it is abundantly clear questions about the current disciplinary system, which we believe is flawed, must be posed.
“Rangers has been in dialogue with the Scottish FA on this topic for some time and would argue that the system is now thoroughly reviewed as a matter of extreme urgency.”
Rangers’ sense of frustration has been intensified after they also lost their appeal last week against the red card issued to striker Alfredo Morelos for a clash with Aberdeen defender Scott Mckenna in the 4-2 league win at Pittodrie. It meant a three-match suspension for their top scorer
RANGERS STATEMENT who, at the start of the season, was successful in a similar appeal against another dismissal issued to him in a similar incident with Mckenna.
The Scottish FA’S disciplinary system has been widely questioned by a number of clubs this season, with Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke among the most vociferous critics of its widely perceived inconsistency.
Clarke recently upset Rangers manager Steven Gerrard when he suggested that action should have been taken by the Scottish FA against Ibrox striker Jermain Defoe for simulation, similar to the punishment meted out to Killie winger Jordan Jones for diving earlier in the season.
The Scottish FA hosted a summit in Perth last month, attended by leading referees and the majority of Premiership managers, in a bid to clarify the ongoing issues and improve communication lines between clubs and match officials.
But the controversy surrounding the disciplinary system shows no sign of abating and Rangers will now press their demands for a review to take place as soon as possible.
“Rangers has no option other than to accept this decision. However, it is clear questions about the current systemmustbeposed”