PAUL LE GUEN last night insisted he will not be deterred from watching Rangers' Bank of Scotland Premierleague rivals despite being spat on as he left Tynecastle following the HeartsCeltic match last Sunday.
The Frenchman was accosted as he left the stadium after Hearts' 2-1 victory. He was spat on by one fan in the away area of the ground and had to be diverted out of the car park by a steward after paper was strewn across the windscreen of his car.
He declined to report the matter to police and yesterday, while playing down the incident, urged supporters from across the divide to treat him with respect. The Rangers manager had attended Celtic's pre-season friendly against Manchester United without a problem and he regards the attack as an isolated incident.
"When two teams like Celtic and Hearts play it is my job to go and see them. I want to be respected and do not expect to be treated like that, " he said. "That is my only request. I want the possibility to go to watch games because it is my job.
"It is one person in a crowd but I did not go to the papers. I was surprised when I discovered it had been reported but I just want to carry on. It is one idiot in a crowd but that can occur everywhere. I just want to do my job with respect. There was no provocation."
Le Guen has never encountered such behaviour in France but was heartened by the condemnation of the act from his Old Firm counterpart, Gordon Strachan, in his exclusive interview with The Herald this week. In an effort to defuse the situation, the Rangers manager reiterated he has already visited Parkhead without a problem.
"Nothing like this has happened to me before, " he said. "I am sure this may have happened in France but it would not be reported in the same way. I went to watch Celtic at Parkhead 15 days before and I was made welcome. It is a pleasure to be there but it can happen everywhere."
Le Guen will travel to Fife tomorrow to face Dunfermline contemplating whether to play his latest acquisition, Lee Martin, the midfielder signed on loan from Manchester United.
Martin has only recently signed a long-term contract at Old Trafford but the Frenchman is convinced he can be a scene-stealing cameo in Rangers' championship challenge and a playerwho will satisfy the SPL's Under-21 rule.
"I am aware of his qualities and did not want to miss the opportunity, " said Le Guen.
"I saw him at Celtic and talked to Alex Ferguson about him. We're not close friends but we have a good relationship."
Martin recently enjoyed a productive six months at Royal Antwerp, United's Belgian feeder club, but was surprised to learn of Rangers' interest and, after the unsuccessful loan spell endured by Bojan Djordjic, a former United team-mate, he will not take prosperity in the Premierleague for granted.
"So far I've come up with the goods in every challenge, so hopefully I can do the same here, " he said. "Bojan went out on loan and showed it's not that easy up here. The gaffer really sold this club to me. He told me about the history of the club and it was ideal to come here."
One player unlikely to be joining Martin at the club is Sasa Papac, the Austria Vienna defender, after his club told Rangers they have no chance of doing a third deal with them.
Le Guen confirmed he was aware of the 26-year-old, who would cost GBP600,000, but after losing Libor Sionko and Filip Sebo, Vienna will resist any bid for Papac.
"It is all rumours, " said Markus Kraetschmer, the club's general manager. "Rangers have had two players already and we don't want to lose a third to them. The agent is trying to increase his client's value."
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