'No apology' from Rangers assistant Ally McCoist despite ban

Ally McCOIST says he will make no apology for defending his players after being hit with a two-match ban by the SFA.

The Rangers assistant manager was handed the punishment yesterday after clashing with Celtic boss Neil Lennon after last Wednesday's Old Firm derby.

The Ibrox club claimed in a statement the day after the Scottish Cup tie that the explosive events were sparked by the treatment of some of their players in a previous meeting with Celtic at Ibrox.

Speaking last night, as Rangers claimed a goalless draw against PSV Eindhoven in the last 16 of the Europa League, McCoist said: "I felt I and the club had drawn a line under this issue last week. When I left the Celtic manager's room after a bottle of beer with Neil I felt that it was finished.

"But, to be honest, in the last 24-48 hours I think there has been comment and commentary which I feel I have to put my side of events over.

"We as a coaching staff - and indeed some of the officials, not just on Wednesday but on previous occasions - had heard some of our players subject to verbal abuse. We felt that it was wrong. And I make absolutely no apology at all to the fact - whether it's Kyle Lafferty, El-Hadji Diouf or Stevie Naismith - I would defend those players in a case like that.

"As Neil and I were shaking hands at the end of the game I mentioned this to him. We then discussed the matter after that like two adults. We shared a bottle of beer and a glass of wine."

McCoist and Lennon were both charged with misconduct by the SFA for their part in the volatile fifth round replay, which Celtic won 1-0, and Lennon was given a four-match touchline ban.

McCoist added: "That's definitely a line drawn under it for me. Neil and myself would like to move on. If mistakes were made then hopefully we can learn from them."

An SFA statement read: "Mr Lennon will incur an automatic four-match suspension from the technical area, owing to a previous charge of misconduct, while Mr McCoist will incur a two-match suspension. These will be effective from March 16, 2011. In addition, the Rangers players, El-Hadji Diouf and Madjid Bougherra, have been informed that they will be reported to the disciplinary committee for misconduct of a significantly serious nature."

"We had heard some our players subject to verbal abuse. We felt that it was wrong"

ally McCOIST