The chief executive of Hibs has taken a bizarre pot-shot at Rangers as the Easter Road side are decimated by a Covid-19 outbreak.
Ben Kensell was speaking after the Hibees had their rescheduled match with Ross County once again called off due to a continuing coronavirus outbreak in the squad.
The comments appear to concern whistleblower Brian Trueman, who contacted the SPFL and the Daily Record claiming he witnessed Hibs players breaching Covid-19 rules at the Kingsmill Hotel near Inverness.
This was after his “blood boiled” following what he claims was a misleading Hibs statement regarding their postponement of the clash away to the Staggies at the weekend.
Hibs had claimed that they had taken “all appropriate precautions” and Mr Trueman clearly disagrees with this notion, claiming Hibees players flaunted Covid rules at the hotel.
The rearranged clash with Ross County has since been postponed once again with Hibs only having eight available first team players for the match [Daily Record].
Hibs continue to insist “absolutely we have done everything right” despite the fact they cannot cobble together a full squad for the match and that Mr Trueman’s allegations are, apparently, some kind of Rangers-related conspiracy.
Hibs chief blames the “blue side of Glasgow” for Covid-19 story
Remarkably, a visibly stressed Kensell has launched a scathing attack which brings Rangers into the situation despite the fact the club has nothing to do with it.
“Firstly, I’d look at the source of the information and it unsurprisingly comes from the blue side of Glasgow, which is a point of speculation in itself,” said Kensell [Glasgow Times].
“I’m confident in our processes and having investigated the claims, I trust out staff and players to carry out what’s required, to mitigate the spread of Covid. They’re aware of their responsibilities.
“What I don’t want to do is focus on a comment from someone who is completely unrelated and is looking to create trouble. We’re talking about a much wider and larger issue that’s affecting the whole country here.
“We’ve got one individual that just wants to create headlines. I find it disappointing at the very best.”
At best this is a nod to Mr Trueman being a Rangers supporter – a strange justification for calling out alleged lies on Covid practices – and at worst a nod to some kind of Rangers conspiracy to keep Hibs down – as if Trueman is some kind of top secret Ibrox spy.
Whatever the case, we suspect Hibs and their new chief executive might be fielding a few phone calls from the Rangers directorate to get clarity on his comments.
Rangers should demand an explanation and if it’s not given then surely these comments bring the game into disrepute north of the border and the SPFL or SFA must intervene?
Meanwhile, a Rangers media partner has bit back at suggestions the Ibrox club has taken back a Premiership rival’s Ibrox ticket allocation.