A FORMER referee has revealed how he almost sent off Rangers legend Ally McCoist in a charity game.
The Ibrox hero participated in a testimonial match for John Lambie at Firhill contested by Old Firm legends and Partick Thistle legends.
At the time McCoist was Rangers assistant manager to Walter Smith and whistler Kenny Clark has explained how the Scotland legend, who turns 60 today, almost landed himself a touchline ban.
Clark said: "A huge personality of that time (who still fits that description today) was Ally McCoist. Everyone assumes that Ally is a permanently happy-chappie, but one of the reasons he has been so successful is that he has a phenomenal will-to-win.
"With a few minutes to go and the Thistle legends losing, Lambie put a few extra players on the park, without taking any others off. Then the Thistle legends got an equaliser."
“There may have been a hand-ball,” Clark added, “but given it was a friendly testimonial I didn’t’ see it. The next thing I know is that McCoist is chasing me back to the halfway line, protesting about the goal.
"That’s how focused he is on winning. I told him that if I sent him off, he wouldn’t be able to sit in the dug-out the next Saturday so he calmed down.
"He was the Rangers assistant manager at that time and that next Saturday was the Old Firm game…which I was going to referee.”
Clark was speaking to Alastair Blair in his book STOP THE GAME: WE’RE GOING TO ARREST THE GOALKEEPER; Scottish Football Referees and the influence of Scotland on the Laws of the Game. This book is available to purchase online HERE.
