KILMARNOCK boss Steve Clarke has accused Rangers supporters of living in the "Dark Ages" after being targeted with vile sectarian abuse during his side's Scottish Cup loss last night.
Clarke, 55, had chants of "Fenian b*****d" directed at him towards the end of Killie's 5-0 fifth round replay defeat by sections of the Ibrox faithful in Glasgow.
In a scathing press conference appearance after the game, the former Chelsea defender revealed that such anti-Catholic abuse was behind his previous decision to turn down the Rangers job.
"It's nice to be back in the west of Scotland, really nice," said Clarke with more than a hint of sarcasm.
Steve Clarke spoke to the media after tonight's Scottish Cup match at Ibroxhttps://t.co/lLvZkLEew9 pic.twitter.com/LZwCJPXLMT
— Kilmarnock FC (@KilmarnockFC) 21 February 2019
"When I was approached by Rangers about taking over the job here I was assured that 'we don't have that in the west of Scotland any more, it's gone'... ha!
"They can call me a b*****d or a w****r. No problem, thanks, guys. But to call me a Fenian b*****d, come on. Where are we living? The Dark Ages?
"They're not allowed to call my assistant [Alex Dyer] a 'black b' but they can call me a Fenian b*****d. What are we doing in Scotland?"
Clarke spent nine years as a player in England with the Blues before coaching them along with Newcastle, West Ham and Liverpool - and later managing West Brom and Reading.
Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke on suffering sectarian abuse at Ibrox this evening. pic.twitter.com/CeFhGTivAM
— Chris McLaughlin (@BBCchrismclaug) 20 February 2019
The Scot insisted insisted that he would never be on the receiving end of such abuse south of the border.
He added: "I wake up every morning and thank Chelsea for coming and taking me away from the west of Scotland because my children don't understand this.
"Thankfully when I go down there my children, my grandchildren don't have to worry about this. So, fantastic to be back in Scotland."
Last Sunday, Kilmarnock captain Kris Boyd said he was subjected to sectarian abuse by Celtic fans during the club's narrow 0-1 defeat to Brendan Rodgers' men at Rugby Park.
The Scottish FA are yet to respond to the complaints made by Clarke and Boyd against the two Glaswegian rivals.
