Greg Docherty has been hailed for upholding the ‘good name of Rangers Football Club’ by Ballymena United boss David Jeffrey after an alleged spitting incident involving Eros Grezda prompted a probe into the player’s behaviour.
In Northern Ireland on Wednesday night Albanian international Grezda was accused by Ballymena players of spitting at opposition defender Andrew Burns during a 1-0 win for Rangers Colts in the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup.
The second half incident led to angry exchanges with Grezda confronting Ballymena skipper Jim Ervin, who is a big Rangers fan. The 24-year-old winger, who joined Rangers last year, was substituted by coach Graeme Murty in an attempt to calm the situation down.
In a game described by Ballymena players as ‘competitive but not over the top’ they were left stunned by the actions of Grezda whose Rangers future could now be on the line.
Midfielder Docherty, who was the Colts captain at the Ballymena Showgrounds, entered the home dressing room after the game to apologise. Club legend Mark Hateley, Murty and coach Peter Lovenkrands were also quick to speak to former Linfield boss Jeffrey, whose association with the Ibrox outfit goes back a long way.
Jeffrey said: “I was most impressed by Greg Docherty. He is a young boy who has made the Rangers first team and he was captain for the night and took it upon himself to come into our dressing room to apologise for what happened upholding the good name of Rangers Football Club in the process.
“I know the Rangers people were embarrassed by what happened and felt let down. Mark Hateley and Graeme Murty both came to see me about it and I appreciated what they had to say. Peter Lovenkrands was also excellent. Their behaviour was both gracious and exemplary.
“Certainly what happened on the night will not affect the good relationship between Ballymena United and Rangers or indeed my own relationship with Rangers.
“When Alex McLeish was manager of the club I did my Pro Licence at Murray Park and when I was in charge of Linfield we played Rangers several times and they were always great occasions. I know Rangers are a fantastic club.
“From our perspective the matter is over and very much closed.”
Grezda has not hit the heights expected of him since arriving at Ibrox last summer. Boss Steven Gerrard wasn’t happy with the player’s display in April in a bounce game against Liverpool Under-23s and the controversy in Ballymena won’t have done the £2million signing any favours.
