MOTHERWELL manager Stuart McCall has been hit with a six-month driving ban after he lost a battle to keep his licence for speeding at 91 mph.

The Fir Park boss was clocked driving over the limit in his Audi at Junction 13 of the M74 motorway in Lanarkshire. The ex-Rangers and Scotland star faced an automatic ban after admitting the offence as it took him above the maximum level of penalty points. The incident happened near Abington Services as McCall, 49, was travelling northbound last July.

McCall, of Strathaven, Lanarkshire, appeared at Lanark Justice of the Peace court yesterday where an exceptional hardship hearing was held. McCall told the hearing he relied on driving to be able to travel to football matches and to visit his elderly father in York.

He said: "As part of my job as manager I travel about the country up to Aberdeen, Inverness and down south to watch games and check on talent. I also drive around going to charity events, award nights, hospital visits, I go to schools too.

"My father is 89 and he lives in York in a nursing home because he suffers from dementia and has had it for five or six years now.

"There is no doubt he benefits from my visits.

"Disqualification would have a great effect on me and contact with my father."

Justice of the Peace John Robertson said: "I am rejecting the motion before me for exceptional hardship and I am imposing three penalty points on your licence taking the total to 12 and you will be disqualified from driving for six months." He also fined McCall £170.