SFA chief executive Stewart Regan talks to police over personal safety

By Stephen Halliday
Published on 01/08/2012 00:52

SCOTTISH Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan has taken police advice regarding his personal safety after 
receiving threatening messages during the Rangers crisis, but 
insists he has no intention of leaving his role.

Regan was accused of bullying tactics by lower division clubs for his failed bid to persuade them to accept Rangers into the First Division of the Scottish Football League.

The 48-year-old Englishman was also lambasted for a lack of leadership by Rangers manager Ally McCoist last weekend at the conclusion of negotiations for the Ibrox club’s SFA membership to be transferred.

Regan quit his once prolific Twitter account two weeks ago after it was flooded with abusive comments and admits to fears that his family could become affected by the antipathy directed towards him.

“When you get threatening messages on Twitter and start to get e-mails and letters that are uncomfortable, then you have to listen seriously to what the police are saying,” said Regan. “We have had visits from the counter-terrorism unit at the SFA and I’ve had personal discussions with the police from the perspective of my own safety.

“It’s never nice when you have the police involved in your personal life, when your work life and personal life start to become inter-connected. I came off Twitter recently. It’s supposed to be fun and engaging, but it had just become counter-productive.

“My family spend their time down south and I live here on my own. My work life and 
issues that go with it are mine and I keep the family out of it. I try to keep the two separate. My daughter is finishing her education and it was always the plan for them to stay in England.

“I’ve had conversations with police about people outside my flat and police cars driving past. That does make you wonder whether it’s going to impact on your family and personal life.

“But it has never once made me think about walking away from the job. I remain committed to what we are doing at the SFA and I will continue to give 100 per cent to implementing the changes we are making.”