Steve Clarke thanks Rangers chief Dave King for support over sectarian abuse

Steve Clarke has offered his deep gratitude to Rangers chairman Dave King over his support in the wake of sectarian abuse – and reiterated his desire to see this serve as a watershed moment for the game in Scotland.

King offered a full apology after hearing Kilmarnock manager Clarke branded a ‘Fenian b******’ in a song from the Ibrox support during the Rugby Park club’s midweek defeat in a Scottish Cup fifth-round replay and reported himself ‘deeply distressed’ by the misconduct.

The South Africa-based businessman has expressed the view it would be a huge loss for the game should Clarke give up on ‘the wonderful job’ he has done at Killie as a result of such incidents and vowed to root out all forms of sectarianism at Rangers.

Steve Clarke has offered his deep gratitude to Rangers chairman Dave King for recent support

‘It was a great statement from Dave and much appreciated,’ said Clarke. ‘He showed what the club, Rangers Football Club, thought about the issue and that was pleasing to hear.

‘Hopefully, like we said in the press conference on Friday, it can be a watershed moment. Maybe it can make a change. You never know.

‘The reaction has been good. What we have to do now is to make sure there is action on the reaction. We can all work together and see positive signs in the future and we won’t be seeing these situations in the future.

‘I’m a football manager. I’m not a politician, I’m not involved in the law. I want to go do my job and not worry about these kind of distractions or worries or name callings.

Rangers chief King (right) has vowed root out all forms of sectarianism at the Ibrox club

‘The normal shouting and abuse you get as a manager, we all accept that. It’s part and parcel of the game.

‘Like I said the other night, when Rangers fans were giving me a hard time, it’s because they recognised their team was winning well against a team that had caused them problems in the past.

‘That’s no issue. It’s when it crosses the line.

‘For me, it’s just to be left alone now and I’ll focus on my job at Kilmarnock.

‘It would be nice to think something good would come of it but history would maybe tell you that it might take one or two more watershed moments before it does change.’