Alan Thompson reveals what Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist said in their infamous touchline spat

Bonnyloyal

Well-Known Member
NEIL LENNON and Ally McCoist’s touchline rammy will forever be remembered as one of the most bitter exchanges in Old Firm history.

The derby was already guaranteed a place in Scottish football’s hall of shame with three red cards, 13 cautions and 34 fans arrested at Parkhead.

Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist square up on the touchline
1
Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist square up on the touchline
In the days after, Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond waded into the controversy by summoning Celtic and Rangers chiefs for a crisis summit.

It was bedlam in our game — and amid the astonishing rancour it was easy to forget Celtic had actually won the Scottish Cup replay courtesy of a Mark Wilson goal.

There was also one major question on everyone’s lips from the Lennon-McCoist dust-up that night on March 2, 2011.

What did Gers No 2 McCoist say to the Celtic boss to provoke a furious confrontation and leave backroom men from either side desperately pulling them apart?

To this day McCoist and Lennon have never confirmed it. But Alan Thompson knows.

He was by Lennon’s side for every one of the incredible seven derbies that season, including two in the Scottish Cup and a League Cup final.










Thompson said: “One of the main talking points of that season was the Lenny v McCoist battle.

"The first game at Ibrox was a classic which ended 2-2.

“It was a great result for us because we finished the game with ten men with big Fwather Forthter getting sent off.

“That game was also the birth of ‘The Broony’ which became a very iconic celebration as Scott Brown scored and stood with his hands in the air directly in front of El Hadji Diouf, almost face to face.

“Scotty said afterwards that it was the best yellow card he had ever received in his whole career!

“The Scottish Cup fifth round replay was back at ours and if the first had been ill-tempered, then this was to be known as ‘the shame game’ — with players almost getting locked up by the police off the pitch and a few red cards thrown in for good measure.

“Rangers defenders Madjid Bougherra and Steven Whittaker both saw red with Diouf getting up to his old tricks and he saw red also.

“The game from start to finish was absolute mayhem. It’s not as if these games are normally good-tempered but this was extra spiteful.

“McCoist at the time pointed the finger at Lenny regarding what happened between them.

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"He said Lenny acted over- aggressively, which wasn’t the case in my opinion, and I broke them up.

“What really started it off was Diouf gave our physiotherapist a hard shoulder and it escalated from there.

“Brown took a few kicks and Kris Commons got clattered in front of our dugout, which sent our emotions sky high.

“All the way through the game Diouf was dishing out verbals on everyone in a hooped shirt and even directed a few to myself and Lenny on the sidelines.

“Don’t forget it was Lenny and me opposing him exactly eight years previously when Celtic played against Liverpool in the Uefa Cup match at Parkhead — and he infamously spat at Celtic fans.

“You look at Diouf and he was pretty decent.

"The guy had been with some good clubs but in my opinion the only reason Rangers brought him in on loan was to wind the Celtic fans up.

“He was brought in by Rangers for the shock value.


HAT TRICK Celtic transfer need confirmed by Leverkusen defeat says Hoops boss Postecoglou as pursuit of Reo Hatate heats up


“Diouf was ‘on one’ that night and I told him many times to ‘do one’ away from our area as he was constantly trying to sneak in closer to our area to noise us up.

“When the final whistle blew, and we had won the game, all the staff went over to shake hands with the opposing team as you do, and Lenny went to shake Coisty’s hand.

“I was stood so close that I clearly heard Ally tell Lenny, ‘And don’t you be speaking to my f***ing players like that’, only for Lenny to tell him, ‘They’re not your f***ing players, they’re Walter’s.

“It’s never been disclosed what was actually said in over a decade now — but I’m telling you that was the spark that lit the fire and Hell was hot.

“Lenny was right because Walter was the gaffer and Ally was only the No 2 at that time. Ally didn’t take well to that.

“The Rangers boys were all trying to say it was our fault but any team who receives three red cards in one match need to have a long hard look at themselves.”

Thompson was still in shock at what he’d witnessed when he ended up becoming a peacebroker in Lennon’s office post-match.

He said: “After a while everything calmed down and we were all delirious in the dressing room celebrating.

“After doing media interviews I had a shower then went into Lenny’s office, but as I got there I was the only one in there from Celtic.

“Ian Durrant and Kenny McDowall were already sat in there. I already had a good relationship with Kenny from my time at Celtic, so I just broke the ice, ‘Lads what do you want to drink?’, which I think caught them off guard.

“Although I was playing it cool on the outside, inside I was thinking, ‘Where the hell’s Lenny, Dolph (Johan Mjallby) and Parks (Garry Parker)?’

“I’m sat with some slightly p***** off Gers. So the silence was deafening.

“If you are thinking it couldn’t get any more awkward then think again because Coisty strolls in.

“I’m not sure if he’s come for more of same but this was turning very hostile — and I was the odd one out.

“AlI I could think of saying was, ‘Fancy a beer Ally?’.

“God above must have heard my stresses because right on cue the three musketeers arrived. Lenny, big Dolph and Parks were here.

“I have to admit there was a bit of an awkward moment or two.

"But Lenny and Ally then shook hands, walked out of the office, into another room, shut the blinds and had it out with each other like men and then kissed and made up.

“It was all put to bed that night.”
 
Last edited:
Thompson said: “One of the main talking points of that season was the Lenny v McCoist battle.

"The first game at Ibrox was a classic which ended 2-2.


“It was a great result for us because we finished the game with ten men with big Fwather Forthter getting sent off.

“That game was also the birth of ‘The Broony’ which became a very iconic celebration as Scott Brown scored and stood with his hands in the air directly in front of El Hadji Diouf, almost face to face.

“Scotty said afterwards that it was the best yellow card he had ever received in his whole career!

“The Scottish Cup fifth round replay was back at ours and if the first had been ill-tempered, then this was to be known as ‘the shame game’ — with players almost getting locked up by the police off the pitch and a few red cards thrown in for good measure.


“Rangers defenders Madjid Bougherra and Steven Whittaker both saw red with Diouf getting up to his old tricks and he saw red also.

“The game from start to finish was absolute mayhem. It’s not as if these games are normally good-tempered but this was extra spiteful.

“McCoist at the time pointed the finger at Lenny regarding what happened between them.


"He said Lenny acted over- aggressively, which wasn’t the case in my opinion, and I broke them up.


“What really started it off was Diouf gave our physiotherapist a hard shoulder and it escalated from there.

“Brown took a few kicks and Kris Commons got clattered in front of our dugout, which sent our emotions sky high.

“All the way through the game Diouf was dishing out verbals on everyone in a hooped shirt and even directed a few to myself and Lenny on the sidelines.

“Don’t forget it was Lenny and me opposing him exactly eight years previously when Celtic played against Liverpool in the Uefa Cup match at Parkhead — and he infamously spat at Celtic fans.


“You look at Diouf and he was pretty decent.

"The guy had been with some good clubs but in my opinion the only reason Rangers brought him in on loan was to wind the Celtic fans up.

“He was brought in by Rangers for the shock value.


“Diouf was ‘on one’ that night and I told him many times to ‘do one’ away from our area as he was constantly trying to sneak in closer to our area to noise us up.


“When the final whistle blew, and we had won the game, all the staff went over to shake hands with the opposing team as you do, and Lenny went to shake Coisty’s hand.

“I was stood so close that I clearly heard Ally tell Lenny, ‘And don’t you be speaking to my f***ing players like that’, only for Lenny to tell him, ‘They’re not your f***ing players, they’re Walter’s.

“It’s never been disclosed what was actually said in over a decade now — but I’m telling you that was the spark that lit the fire and Hell was hot.

“Lenny was right because Walter was the gaffer and Ally was only the No 2 at that time. Ally didn’t take well to that.


“The Rangers boys were all trying to say it was our fault but any team who receives three red cards in one match need to have a long hard look at themselves.”

Thompson was still in shock at what he’d witnessed when he ended up becoming a peacebroker in Lennon’s office post-match.

He said: “After a while everything calmed down and we were all delirious in the dressing room celebrating.

“After doing media interviews I had a shower then went into Lenny’s office, but as I got there I was the only one in there from Celtic.


“Ian Durrant and Kenny McDowall were already sat in there. I already had a good relationship with Kenny from my time at Celtic, so I just broke the ice, ‘Lads what do you want to drink?’, which I think caught them off guard.

“Although I was playing it cool on the outside, inside I was thinking, ‘Where the hell’s Lenny, Dolph (Johan Mjallby) and Parks (Garry Parker)?’

“I’m sat with some slightly p***** off Gers. So the silence was deafening.

“If you are thinking it couldn’t get any more awkward then think again because Coisty strolls in.


“I’m not sure if he’s come for more of same but this was turning very hostile — and I was the odd one out.

“AlI I could think of saying was, ‘Fancy a beer Ally?’.

“God above must have heard my stresses because right on cue the three musketeers arrived. Lenny, big Dolph and Parks were here.

“I have to admit there was a bit of an awkward moment or two.

"But Lenny and Ally then shook hands, walked out of the office, into another room, shut the blinds and had it out with each other like men and then kissed and made up.


“It was all put to bed that night.”
 
“What really started it off was Diouf gave our physiotherapist a hard shoulder and it escalated from there.

Not how I remember it.
I remember Lennon standing on the touchline having a word in the physio's ear before sending him on the park and watched as the physio made a beeline for Diouf and whilst he had most of the pitch to go round Dioufi, he ran straight into him.

So Alan, what about all the cr@p that was coming out of Porkdeid after the game about a "square go" ?

And the article was in the Scottish Sun ? Hmmmmm
 
What was said between McCoist and Lennon is pretty close to what I and others on here were told, at the time.

Wonder if they will ask Diouf what Lennon called him?

Thompson must be really hard up if he is bringing this up.
What ever Lennon called him, it was enough for John Clark, who has probably heard and seen most stuff in his football life, to react with wide eyed astonishment.
 
Tbf, I'd heard years ago Ally said something along the lines of 'You leave my players alone'. Doesn't really matter what he said. It was TLB's aggressive ned like reaction that was unacceptable. Anyone trying to justify his behaviour is as classless as TLB is.
 
Ah, the memories, 2011 I remember Diouf doing the "Dioufi" at Rugby Park in May that year with the League Championship trophy in his hand.

What Exposé next Alan ? What did Lenny say to you after you missed that penalty at Rugby Park in 2003 ?

Or what did Sutton say to Gordon Marshall in the tunnel after that same game at Rugby Park ?
 
What’s the Broony? Anything like the Dioufy?

Mental how this thread last month would have had many criticising Diouf by now.
 
WcOwS3T.png
 
NEIL LENNON and Ally McCoist’s touchline rammy will forever be remembered as one of the most bitter exchanges in Old Firm history.

The derby was already guaranteed a place in Scottish football’s hall of shame with three red cards, 13 cautions and 34 fans arrested at Parkhead.

Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist square up on the touchline
1
Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist square up on the touchline
In the days after, Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond waded into the controversy by summoning Celtic and Rangers chiefs for a crisis summit.

It was bedlam in our game — and amid the astonishing rancour it was easy to forget Celtic had actually won the Scottish Cup replay courtesy of a Mark Wilson goal.

There was also one major question on everyone’s lips from the Lennon-McCoist dust-up that night on March 2, 2011.

What did Gers No 2 McCoist say to the Celtic boss to provoke a furious confrontation and leave backroom men from either side desperately pulling them apart?

To this day McCoist and Lennon have never confirmed it. But Alan Thompson knows.

He was by Lennon’s side for every one of the incredible seven derbies that season, including two in the Scottish Cup and a League Cup final.










Thompson said: “One of the main talking points of that season was the Lenny v McCoist battle.

"The first game at Ibrox was a classic which ended 2-2.

“It was a great result for us because we finished the game with ten men with big Fwather Forthter getting sent off.

“That game was also the birth of ‘The Broony’ which became a very iconic celebration as Scott Brown scored and stood with his hands in the air directly in front of El Hadji Diouf, almost face to face.

“Scotty said afterwards that it was the best yellow card he had ever received in his whole career!

“The Scottish Cup fifth round replay was back at ours and if the first had been ill-tempered, then this was to be known as ‘the shame game’ — with players almost getting locked up by the police off the pitch and a few red cards thrown in for good measure.

“Rangers defenders Madjid Bougherra and Steven Whittaker both saw red with Diouf getting up to his old tricks and he saw red also.

“The game from start to finish was absolute mayhem. It’s not as if these games are normally good-tempered but this was extra spiteful.

“McCoist at the time pointed the finger at Lenny regarding what happened between them.

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"He said Lenny acted over- aggressively, which wasn’t the case in my opinion, and I broke them up.

“What really started it off was Diouf gave our physiotherapist a hard shoulder and it escalated from there.

“Brown took a few kicks and Kris Commons got clattered in front of our dugout, which sent our emotions sky high.

“All the way through the game Diouf was dishing out verbals on everyone in a hooped shirt and even directed a few to myself and Lenny on the sidelines.

“Don’t forget it was Lenny and me opposing him exactly eight years previously when Celtic played against Liverpool in the Uefa Cup match at Parkhead — and he infamously spat at Celtic fans.

“You look at Diouf and he was pretty decent.

"The guy had been with some good clubs but in my opinion the only reason Rangers brought him in on loan was to wind the Celtic fans up.

“He was brought in by Rangers for the shock value.


HAT TRICK Celtic transfer need confirmed by Leverkusen defeat says Hoops boss Postecoglou as pursuit of Reo Hatate heats up


“Diouf was ‘on one’ that night and I told him many times to ‘do one’ away from our area as he was constantly trying to sneak in closer to our area to noise us up.

“When the final whistle blew, and we had won the game, all the staff went over to shake hands with the opposing team as you do, and Lenny went to shake Coisty’s hand.

“I was stood so close that I clearly heard Ally tell Lenny, ‘And don’t you be speaking to my f***ing players like that’, only for Lenny to tell him, ‘They’re not your f***ing players, they’re Walter’s.

“It’s never been disclosed what was actually said in over a decade now — but I’m telling you that was the spark that lit the fire and Hell was hot.

“Lenny was right because Walter was the gaffer and Ally was only the No 2 at that time. Ally didn’t take well to that.

“The Rangers boys were all trying to say it was our fault but any team who receives three red cards in one match need to have a long hard look at themselves.”

Thompson was still in shock at what he’d witnessed when he ended up becoming a peacebroker in Lennon’s office post-match.

He said: “After a while everything calmed down and we were all delirious in the dressing room celebrating.

“After doing media interviews I had a shower then went into Lenny’s office, but as I got there I was the only one in there from Celtic.

“Ian Durrant and Kenny McDowall were already sat in there. I already had a good relationship with Kenny from my time at Celtic, so I just broke the ice, ‘Lads what do you want to drink?’, which I think caught them off guard.

“Although I was playing it cool on the outside, inside I was thinking, ‘Where the hell’s Lenny, Dolph (Johan Mjallby) and Parks (Garry Parker)?’

“I’m sat with some slightly p***** off Gers. So the silence was deafening.

“If you are thinking it couldn’t get any more awkward then think again because Coisty strolls in.

“I’m not sure if he’s come for more of same but this was turning very hostile — and I was the odd one out.

“AlI I could think of saying was, ‘Fancy a beer Ally?’.

“God above must have heard my stresses because right on cue the three musketeers arrived. Lenny, big Dolph and Parks were here.

“I have to admit there was a bit of an awkward moment or two.

"But Lenny and Ally then shook hands, walked out of the office, into another room, shut the blinds and had it out with each other like men and then kissed and made up.

“It was all put to bed that night.”
Is it normal for coaches and managers to have showers after the match? That's Thompson said it and Lennon got offered the managers job in the shower after the cup final. Just seems strange, thought it would just be the players that played.
 
The interview was conducted with Thompson walking around a housing estate topless shouting that the wife had turned the weans and McCoist against him.
There’s more truth in that post than in the alkie’s ramblings.

Dontcha just love how bitter TLB, goat-fucker Sutton, Fatson & 70-proof Thompson are, even after all these years?
 
NEIL LENNON and Ally McCoist’s touchline rammy will forever be remembered as one of the most bitter exchanges in Old Firm history.

The derby was already guaranteed a place in Scottish football’s hall of shame with three red cards, 13 cautions and 34 fans arrested at Parkhead.

Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist square up on the touchline
1
Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist square up on the touchline
In the days after, Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond waded into the controversy by summoning Celtic and Rangers chiefs for a crisis summit.

It was bedlam in our game — and amid the astonishing rancour it was easy to forget Celtic had actually won the Scottish Cup replay courtesy of a Mark Wilson goal.

There was also one major question on everyone’s lips from the Lennon-McCoist dust-up that night on March 2, 2011.

What did Gers No 2 McCoist say to the Celtic boss to provoke a furious confrontation and leave backroom men from either side desperately pulling them apart?

To this day McCoist and Lennon have never confirmed it. But Alan Thompson knows.

He was by Lennon’s side for every one of the incredible seven derbies that season, including two in the Scottish Cup and a League Cup final.










Thompson said: “One of the main talking points of that season was the Lenny v McCoist battle.

"The first game at Ibrox was a classic which ended 2-2.

“It was a great result for us because we finished the game with ten men with big Fwather Forthter getting sent off.

“That game was also the birth of ‘The Broony’ which became a very iconic celebration as Scott Brown scored and stood with his hands in the air directly in front of El Hadji Diouf, almost face to face.

“Scotty said afterwards that it was the best yellow card he had ever received in his whole career!

“The Scottish Cup fifth round replay was back at ours and if the first had been ill-tempered, then this was to be known as ‘the shame game’ — with players almost getting locked up by the police off the pitch and a few red cards thrown in for good measure.

“Rangers defenders Madjid Bougherra and Steven Whittaker both saw red with Diouf getting up to his old tricks and he saw red also.

“The game from start to finish was absolute mayhem. It’s not as if these games are normally good-tempered but this was extra spiteful.

“McCoist at the time pointed the finger at Lenny regarding what happened between them.

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"He said Lenny acted over- aggressively, which wasn’t the case in my opinion, and I broke them up.

“What really started it off was Diouf gave our physiotherapist a hard shoulder and it escalated from there.

“Brown took a few kicks and Kris Commons got clattered in front of our dugout, which sent our emotions sky high.

“All the way through the game Diouf was dishing out verbals on everyone in a hooped shirt and even directed a few to myself and Lenny on the sidelines.

“Don’t forget it was Lenny and me opposing him exactly eight years previously when Celtic played against Liverpool in the Uefa Cup match at Parkhead — and he infamously spat at Celtic fans.

“You look at Diouf and he was pretty decent.

"The guy had been with some good clubs but in my opinion the only reason Rangers brought him in on loan was to wind the Celtic fans up.

“He was brought in by Rangers for the shock value.


HAT TRICK Celtic transfer need confirmed by Leverkusen defeat says Hoops boss Postecoglou as pursuit of Reo Hatate heats up


“Diouf was ‘on one’ that night and I told him many times to ‘do one’ away from our area as he was constantly trying to sneak in closer to our area to noise us up.

“When the final whistle blew, and we had won the game, all the staff went over to shake hands with the opposing team as you do, and Lenny went to shake Coisty’s hand.

“I was stood so close that I clearly heard Ally tell Lenny, ‘And don’t you be speaking to my f***ing players like that’, only for Lenny to tell him, ‘They’re not your f***ing players, they’re Walter’s.

“It’s never been disclosed what was actually said in over a decade now — but I’m telling you that was the spark that lit the fire and Hell was hot.

“Lenny was right because Walter was the gaffer and Ally was only the No 2 at that time. Ally didn’t take well to that.

“The Rangers boys were all trying to say it was our fault but any team who receives three red cards in one match need to have a long hard look at themselves.”

Thompson was still in shock at what he’d witnessed when he ended up becoming a peacebroker in Lennon’s office post-match.

He said: “After a while everything calmed down and we were all delirious in the dressing room celebrating.

“After doing media interviews I had a shower then went into Lenny’s office, but as I got there I was the only one in there from Celtic.

“Ian Durrant and Kenny McDowall were already sat in there. I already had a good relationship with Kenny from my time at Celtic, so I just broke the ice, ‘Lads what do you want to drink?’, which I think caught them off guard.

“Although I was playing it cool on the outside, inside I was thinking, ‘Where the hell’s Lenny, Dolph (Johan Mjallby) and Parks (Garry Parker)?’

“I’m sat with some slightly p***** off Gers. So the silence was deafening.

“If you are thinking it couldn’t get any more awkward then think again because Coisty strolls in.

“I’m not sure if he’s come for more of same but this was turning very hostile — and I was the odd one out.

“AlI I could think of saying was, ‘Fancy a beer Ally?’.

“God above must have heard my stresses because right on cue the three musketeers arrived. Lenny, big Dolph and Parks were here.

“I have to admit there was a bit of an awkward moment or two.

"But Lenny and Ally then shook hands, walked out of the office, into another room, shut the blinds and had it out with each other like men and then kissed and made up.

“It was all put to bed that night.”
Thomson the Jake was pumped because he lost the SPL theophy bladdered one night in byres road! Check the nick of him bigger state than Texas
 
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