Eric Drysdale, the Raith Rovers director and one of the three men that served on the Scottish Football Association's Judicial Panel that punished Rangers this week, has claimed that Ally McCoist helped encourage the adverse reaction from the Ibrox club's supporters.
The panel – which was made up of Drysdale, Gary Allan QC and Al Murning – served Rangers with a £160,000 fine and a 12-month transfer embargo, mainly for bringing the game into disrepute since Craig Whyte's takeover. McCoist demanded that the trio be named and, after their identities were leaked on the internet, the SFA confirmed the three men were spoken to by Strathclyde Police.
The Rangers manager has since defended his calls for transparency but insisted his comments were not a signal for some fans to engage in threatening behaviour. Yet Drysdale was unwilling to absolve him from blame.
"It may have antagonised some people," he said. "I have nothing whatsoever against Alistair, he's a good guy, I have always respected him. If it had been my club, there would be people speaking out in an emotional manner, I completely understand that. But I wish he hadn't said what he said.
"There were calls and emails to the club expressing disgust at the decision that was made by the Judicial Panel and a couple of silent phone calls on my mobile.
"The one thing I would say is that when the statement of reasons does come out, I hope sensible people will understand that there was logic behind the decisions reached, both for Rangers and for Craig Whyte, and will see that the panel has been fair."
Drysdale would be forgiven for turning his back on Scottish football given the furore, but Turnbull Hutton, Raith's vice-chairman, does not expect him to do so. His belief is franked by the sight of his fellow director turning up for a board meeting this week with a bag over his head, making light of the scrutiny he has come under.
"The whole way that this has been handled has been absolutely scandalous," said Turnbull. "Collectively we'll carry on."
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