Strachan set to appeal touchline ban

CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan is ready to lodge an appeal against the two-match touchline ban which has been automatically imposed on him after his dispute with Hearts' assistant manager John McGlynn at Tynecastle last Sunday.

Strachan, who received written confirmation of his punishment from the Scottish Football Association on Thursday, has until Wednesday to lodge his appeal but is understood to be privately unhappy with the circumstances which led to match referee Stuart Dougal sending him to the stand, and is keen to maintain his impeccable disciplinary record. Strachan has never served a touchline ban.

If, as expected, the Celtic manager does formally contest the decision, his case will be discussed at the next meeting of the SFA's disciplinary committee, which is on 19 September. The one issue which may ensure Strachan does accept his punishment is that the first Old Firm match of the season falls four days after that meeting, and if Dougal's decision is upheld then he will be forced to watch that Parkhead clash from the stand.

At present, Strachan is due to serve his ban during next week's trip to Inverness and Celtic's home match against Hibernian on 26 August. Ironically, the Celtic manager's only previous high-profile touchline fall-out came on a trip to Caledonian Stadium last season over the same issue which prompted last week's altercation - whether or not the ball should be played out of play when a player is injured.

Strachan yesterday reiterated that he wants to bring at least two new players to Parkhead before the transfer window shuts at the end of the month.

Taken from the Scotsman