Jun 5 2012
By Keith McLeod

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BOOZY Alan Thompson was sacked by Celtic after going on one drinking session too many.

He was fired as Parkhead coach by his close pal and club manager Neil Lennon after failing to heed calls to curb his wayward off-pitch lifestyle.

The dramatic sacking on Sunday night came as a shock to Celtic fans and even club insiders who had no idea moves were afoot to axe him.

But a Celtic source said: “Alan was a 38-year-old middle-aged bloke who was behaving like a teenager.

“He was out boozing too often and got himself blootered once too often for Celtic’s liking.

“The view was that he was becoming a bad influence.

“The opinion was that he had turned into the sort of guy Neil Lennon would be better off without.”

Lennon fired him by telephone after his No2 refused to attend a meeting with him in Thompson’s home city of Newcastle over the weekend.

Yesterday, furious Thompson revealed he intends to take the club to court over his dismissal, which could embroil both Celtic and Lennon in an awkward public dispute.

He has instructed a lawyer’s firm run by solicitor John Paul Mowberry, whose previous clients include Tommy Sheridan’s wife Gail.

Thompson, who was found guilty of his second drink-driving offence in February last year, was often seen drinking at The Drake bar in Glasgow’s west end.

Sources say he threw himself into a bachelor’s lifestyle after splitting last year with his wife Joanne – a lifestyle which has now cost him his job at the club he worshipped.

Joanne, mother of Thompson’s three children, has said he is in the grip of a “mid-life crisis”.

After their split, Thompson bought a bachelor flat in the swish Park Circus area of Glasgow and began dating model Kirsty McLeod, described as a one-time Britney Spears lookalike. The pair were photographed leaving the flat together last summer.

Last May, angry Joanne told our sister paper The Sunday Mail: “He is having a mid-life crisis so he can get on with it.

“He had absolutely everything in the palm of his hand – a loyal, faithful wife and three beautiful children.

“I never looked at another man, he never looked at another woman.

“I’m not making excuses for him but all the fame and ego has gone to his head.”

Former ballet dancer Joanne, 41, added: “I’m going to write a book about this and I want every single other footballer’s wife in the world that’s had it done to them to stand up and applaud me.

“I will never understand it. I will never, ever get my head round what he has done to me.”

The bachelor pad is now on the market, we can reveal. It is believed Thompson put it up for sale a month ago.

The two-bedroom, third floor flat, which boasts views across the west of the city, is up for sale at offers over £340,000.

Among the former Celt’s neighbours there was Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor. The two sparked controversy when they enjoyed a boozy night out together at The Drake in February.

At the time, Lennon – who was so close to Thompson that he was the first Parkhead figure he confided in over his battle with depression – made a staunch public defence of his pal.

He said: “One of my staff and Allan McGregor frequent the same pub. Wow.”

Lennon added: “I have been there myself when Allan has been in and had his company for 15, 20 minutes.”

But behind the scenes, pressure was beginning to mount on Lennon to part with his close friend.

That pressure came to a head at the weekend. “The bottom line is that Alan just went and got blootered one time too many,” said the Celtic insider.

Thompson’s night out with McGregor was not the first time his drinking has landed him in trouble.

In February last year, the star – a hero Celtic player under Martin O’Neill – was banned for 16 months and got a £600 fine after he admitted drink-driving.

He was stopped by police in his Range Rover near Celtic’s training ground in Lennoxtown, Dunbartonshire, on October 25, 2009.

Glasgow’s Justice of the Peace Court heard Thompson – who had a previous drink-driving conviction in 1996 – had been boozing the previous night after Celtic lost 3-1 to Rangers at Parkhead.

The former midfielder had been out drinking until 2.30am, the court heard.

Seana Doherty, prosecuting, said Thompson was stopped in his Range Rover by police at 10am.

She added: “When officers were speaking to him, they detected a strong smell of alcohol.”

But he was told that he would be allowed to drive again after 12 months if he completes a drink-driver awareness course.

News of Thompson’s dismissal may not come as a massive surprise to regulars of The Drake.

Thompson was such a regular there that he featured in a restaurant reviewer’s account last year.

The reviewer mentioned that Lennon was also in the bar the night he sampled the food.

A source said: “Thommo was a popular bloke among the regulars. He was in a lot, sometimes with other football people and sometimes not.

“It’s a shame he lost his job… he loved Celtic and he loved the Glasgow lifestyle. Being on the management staff at Celtic seemed to be his dream job.”

Thompson started his career at Newcastle United, the team he supported as a child.

He then moved to Bolton Wanderers in 1993 and scored at Wembley in the 1995 League Cup final in a 2–1 defeat to Liverpool.

The midfielder moved to Aston Villa in 1998 for £4.5million before eventually signing for Celtic, managed by O’Neill, in 2000 in a £2.75million deal.

He became a hero for the Parkhead support, helping the club to the UEFA Cup final in 2003.

He eventually left in 2007 after falling out of favour with new manager Gordon Strachan and had a spell at Leeds United.

Thompson started his coaching career back at Newcastle in 2008 before being appointed first team coach under Lennon at Celtic in June 2010.

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Jun 5 2012
By Neil Pooran

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A TEENAGER was still fighting for her life today after a monster wave swept her and a pal off a harbour wall and into the sea.

Rescuers were battered by 20ft waves as they fought to get to the girls, aged 13 and 14.

Passers-by pulled the younger girl to safety and police officers lashed themselves together to reach 14-year-old Katie McLean.

Unconscious Katie was airlifted to hospital and was said today to be in a serious but stable condition.

A woman who spoke to a witness said: “Police were in the sea with ropes around them.

“People were on the harbour who were holding on to the ropes as police were getting battered by the sea.

“They eventually reached her and hauled her out.”

A witness in Eyemouth, Berwickshire, said: “One of the girls was unconscious as she was getting bashed against the wall.

“She was the one who got airlifted to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.”

Eyemouth Coastguard station officer Norman Richardson said the girls were taking part in what’s known as “wave dodging” – running along the wall and trying to avoid being hit by waves.

He said: “We were called out at 15.40 to rescue two girls who had fallen in the sea.

“When we arrived, we found that one girl was safe but the other was face down in the water.

“She had been bashed against the wall and was unconscious and could’ve been face down for up to 20 minutes.

“We pulled her out at which point I gave CPR in order to find a pulse and get her breathing.

“She was then put in the back of the ambulance while awaiting the airlift.

“She is now said to be in a serious but stable condition.

“Two police officers and three members of the public also jumped in to help.

“We must stress that despite their intentions that was a very dangerous thing to do and no one should do it in the future, nor should youngsters continue wave dodging. This is a dangerous cove and should be respected – particularly with the summer season coming up when people take to the water.”

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders police confirmed their officers went into the water to get to a girl, who was then airlifted to hospital.

Salesman Stephen Rafferty, who was in the town while the rescue went on, tweeted: “Just watching the local lifeguards, police and ambulance rescue kids from Eyemouth harbour in very strong high waves.”

Twitter user Billy McGahan said in reply to Mr Rafferty: “I’ve just heard Coastguard relay at 16:20 to helimed 5 that the girl still has a pulse, but still working on her.”

An earlier tweet from Mr Rafferty before the incident showed large waves in front of a seaside wall, said: “Angry waves at Eyemouth”

A spokesman for the Coastguard confirmed that Eyemouth lifeboat had been launched to deal with the incident.

The rescue comes just six months after a toddler died after being swept off a sea wall in Fife.

Three-year-old Eryk Cieraszewsk died in November after a “strong swell” took him from Kirkcaldy’s esplanade.

He later died in the town’s Victoria Hospital.

Witnesses told how his mother was videoing him running through puddles getting his feet wet when the wave pulled him into the Firth of Forth.

Jun 5 2012
Exclusive by Janice Burns

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A MASTER brought in to rehearse Scotland’s most famous cathedral choir to sing for the Queen was sacked after telling shocked singers:“I feel as if I have come to a Third World country.”

Iain Simcock, 47, was branded a bully after telling them: “I feel like I’ve been slapped on the face by a wet Scottish haddock” and thatthey sounded like “something dragged up from the Clyde”.

Principal chorister Susan Turner, 52, and principal alto Liz Slessor, 59, are among 13 Glasgow Cathedral Choir members who say Simcock forced them to quit.

The Church of Scotland confirmed he was being investigated over bullying and harassment allegations but insisted he had been axed over “inappropriate behaviour”.

The sacking is linked to rehearsals for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations at the cathedral on July 4, which now hangs in the balance.

Former Westminster Cathedral organist Simcock was due to lead the music at the thanksgiving service in front of the Queen, but it is believed he hada “run-in” with the Chapel Royal over the arrangements.

Susan and Liz, who werepaid choristers at the 800-year-old cathedral, are now taking the Kirk to a tribunal over bullying claims.

Susan, a cathedral chorister for 23 years, said: “We were treated appallingly by this man from the moment he set foot in the cathedral.

“He had a hidden agenda to get rid of the older members and replace us with new blood. He did everything in his power to upset us and forced us out the door.

“Mr Simcock was extremely coarse and rude, unreasonably harsh to the women and very intimidating. He wanted to rip the heart out of the choir and destroy all its traditions.

“Ten choristers left because he made it impossible for us to work there. The stress he put us all under was appalling and he was a bully.”

Susan resigned in April, claiming Simcock “lost the plot” and sworeat her. She said: “It was the final straw for me when he came right up to my face and said ‘I’ve f****** had enough of this’.

“I sent a transcript of our conversation to the Kirk music committee along with a complaint about the bullying and racist comments.”

Liz quit within two weeks of Simcock’s arrival in January. She said: “Within days, he had many of us in tears. People were extremely anxious because of his bullying tactics. We couldn’t believe some of the things he was saying.

“He ridiculed, humiliated and demoralised us. When most of us left after the first four months, it was mission accomplished for him because he wanted new blood.

“Within a week, he said I was trouble and began targeting me. I had to leave.”

The choristers claim Simcock said: “I’ve come to a Third World country.”

He is also claimed to have said: “I feel like an old-time missionary trying to bring water and electricity to the natives.”

Describing an effort from the choir, he allegedly said: “I feel like I’ve been slapped on the face by a wet Scottish haddock.” And it’s claimed he told another chorister they sounded like “something dragged up from the Clyde”.

The Church of Scotland said: “Mr Simcock was on a probationary period as director of music at Glasgow Cathedral.

“Separate from any allegations of bullying and harassment, which were being investigated in the proper way, the cathedral was not satisfied with his performance.

“There had been a number of concerns, culminating in oneincident which left the cathedral with no choice but to take immediate action. We are not going to comment further on this.”

The Daily Record was unable to contact Simcock for comment.

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Jun 5 2012
Exclusive by Kevan Christie

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A TOP youth football club are using a psychologist to improve their under-12s boys team.

Hutchison Vale, who boast the likes of Scotland stars Kenny Miller and John Collins as former players, are planning to roll out sports psychology workshops to kids as young as eight.

But some parents have questioned the Edinburgh club’s “win-at-all-costs” tactics.

One parent, who refused to be named, said: “This is typical Hutchie behaviour – they think they’re better than everyone else.

“Everything at that club seems to be geared to pushing the kids towards the professional ranks – a pipe dream for most boys.

“Sure, they maybe get signed for a big club but most of them end up on the scrapheap with little or no job prospects because they’ve spent their whole lives trying to be footballers.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with just letting the bairns go out and enjoy themselves.”

Club leader Tam Smith said: “We spoke to the parents first about using performance psychology and they’ve been very supportive.

“It’s about creating positive thinking as opposed to some of the negativity that can come from the parents on the touchline.

“It’s a modern way of thinking and we’re looking to create the right kind of atmosphere at our club.”

Performance psychologist Tracy Donachie, 29, said the sessions were of huge benefit to the boys and would help them both on and off the field.

Tracy, the niece of former Scotland and Manchester City star Willie Donachie, runs workshops for teams at the club and teaches the coaches how to get the best out of the budding stars.

She said: “The youngsters are under huge pressure and I look to help them improve their performance.”

Tracy, a care officer from Edinburgh, plays for Vale’s ladies team in the Scottish Premier League.

She has run workshops at education camps for the Scotland girls national youth teams after completing her MSc in performance psychology in the US.

Tracy said: “I was asked to work with the under-12s boys team, who are very talented.

“I provided them with eight sessions on various aspects of psychology.

“My sessions included character building, identifying strengths and using them in a positive way, dealing with pressures, self-talk, performance profiling and goal setting, communication, understanding roles and team building.

“I received positive feedback from the boys and I believe the sessions helped the boys build relationships within their team, improved communication and confidence.

“The boys put themselves under a lot of pressure and that also comes from the sidelines.

“I taught them to accept the referee’s decision and control their feelings so that they don’t get distracted.

“It’s about helping the boys improve their self-esteem and overall performance.”

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