Former Rangers midfielder Ian Ferguson has condemned the hate campaign that dogged Neil Lennon’s first season in management.
Ferguson was a target for Celtic supporters stick throughout his playing career but was spared the chilling threats that Lennon lived with throughout last season.
Bullets and bombs were sent in the post to the hoops boss with the alleged attack on Lennon by a Hearts supporter bringing the issue to a worldwide audience.
Ferguson will be as fired up as any former Rangers player when he leads Perth Glory against Celtic tonight but was sickened by the off field events that shamed Scotland last season.
The Perth boss admitted: “I can understand the passion and the love for clubs but when you get bullets and all that sent to you and the threats he’s getting, that’s crap. And we need to get rid of it.
“I was absolutely shocked that it has come to that level. It’s football and we’re all football people and we love the game.”
Discussing the Tynecastle incident yet again Lennon added: “You speak to your family about things and it’s a wee bit of a concern to them. But I’ve worked all my life to get into this position, so I don’t just want to give it up for non-footballing reasons.”
Looking forward to facing a former Ranger on the other side of the world from Glasgow, Lennon added: “You realise that Ian Ferguson is the manager of Perth Glory, so there’s always going to be a bit of banter.”
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God how i detested that man as a R*****s player.
Join the back of the back of the very long “too little too late” queue.
I don’t think Ferguson could be expected to comment from Perth WA after the Tynecastle game.
He hasn’t ducked anything and deserves grudging respect at least for being quite clear on the issue when asked.
Still think he deserves respect after sending his team out to kick lumps out of the Bhoys in a “friendly”?
I remember a very minor hullabaloo in the 80’s when he was caught having a raucous day out at the *range wa*k with fat swally. Once a bigot…
he is a scumbag and one of those who would be considered responsible.
Grudging respect? He deserves total respect for condemning it. Many people, including myself, disliked him as a player for rangers – but it stops there. If only more rangers men stood up when asked and condemned the rogue element of rangers support instead of dodging the issue, then maybe progress could be made.
Jesus, I hated the sight of him as a Rangers player…our version of Peter Grant – detested by anyone not connected to the club.
Fair play right enough for speaking out against the crap Neil’s had to wade through.
Hail Hail.
Not sure there was anyone in a Rangers jersey at the time I hated more than him, hated him even before he signed for Rangers when he hoofed a ball into the Jungle when playing for St Mirren, just because we were singing “he wants to play for Rangers ah ha ha ha…”
Fair play now right enough, as Dave said, if others were more like him.
Watched him from the jungle, after a tussle with Paul McStay, as they parted, spit on McStay’s back….!