Twenty-four hours after praising Bilel Mohsni as ‘an extremely likeable lunatic’Ally McCoist has turned on the Tunisian international ace.
After getting away with regular bombscare moments in last season’s unbeaten march to the League One title the demands of the Championship seem to be taking their toll on the defender.
Last night, Hibs, with just a single league win to their name this season going to Ibrox, found themselves 3-0 up before half-time with the home supporters turning on their players.
Mohsni shouted and gestured at fans as he left the pitch at half-time and was seen aiming a punch at Liam Fortune in the second half after Nicholas Law had pulled a goal back for the home side.
Rather than own up to his own part in the defeat the £850,000-a-year former Question of Sport funnyman warned Mohsni that he must accept the supporters right to shout abuse and jeer their heroes.
“I will reserve the judgment until I look back at the game,” McCoist said about the half-time incident between Mohsni and supporters. “But if that is the case then I will certainly be disappointed.
“Having played here for 15 years, I am as aware of the passions of everybody around the stadium as much as anybody. I can totally understand that.
“The reaction of players and supporters here hasn’t changed for tens and tens of years. I suggest players adapt to it and change their own outlook rather than supporters. Because that won’t happen. That will be the same for the coming years.”
Previewing the match McCoist had been asked about Mohsni and gave a typical jocular reply saying: “He might be a lunatic, but he’s our lunatic, and an extremely likeable lunatic! I jest, of course. He is a smashing guy.
“The crowd love him but are equally frustrated by him. You have to appreciate as well that away from the football he is an absolute diamond. He is wonderful with kids, wonderful with supporters and the whole package makes him a big loveable character that everybody wants to do well.
“They get frustrated with him at times and pull their hair out. He is the type of player who pops up with a great tackle after making a mistake in the first place but I love the fact he has become a bit of a cult hero/menace for our fans.
“It has given him something, given the supporters something and given the club something. We have had good boys who have got the job done, but our fans maybe haven’t had someone they can identify with or discuss for an hour in the pub afterwards over a pint.”
Mohsni’s display wouldn’t be the only talking point over a pint last night after a youthful Hibs side showed up their Sevco opponents who had an average age of 29.
Several of the Sevco players earn more than the entire Hibs team in a week with Lee McCulloch, Lee Wallace, Law, Ian Black, Dean Shields all believed to be earning over £10,000-a-week.
As well as their on-field problems Sevco have still to publish their audited accounts for the year to 30 June 2014 and repay emergency loans taken out in February to Mr Letham and Mr Easdale
