Post by QPR Report on Aug 13, 2009 14:47:28 GMT
The Age
Malcolm No Longer in The Middle Michael Lynch
August 14, 2009
IT'S doubtful whether many players have arrived in Australia with quite the reputation as a bad boy as that ''enjoyed'' by Brisbane Roar's combative new centre back Bob Malcolm.
The third arrival in what is now something of a colony of ex-Glasgow Rangers players at the Queensland club, Malcolm's exploits, mainly off the pitch, have earned him a reputation as a colourful character.
But, he insists, despite the lurid headlines which have criticised him for making sectarian comments stoking anti-Catholic bigotry in religiously sensitive Glasgow and castigated him for speed and alcohol-related motoring offences, he is really not that kind of person. ''A lot of that is paper talk. The people that really know me personally know I am not like that,'' he said yesterday as he prepared to travel to Melbourne with his teammates for his first look at Etihad Stadium and his first meeting with the defending A-League champion.
Much of the controversy over Malcolm, who was at Rangers for a five-year period when both Roar skipper Craig Moore and skilful attacking midfielder Charlie Miller were also with the Glasgow giant, stems from an autograph he gave in which his name was followed by the letters FTP.
In Old Firm-obsessed Glasgow, those letters were widely interpreted by Celtic fans, Catholics and others to mean F--k The Pope - an all-too obvious sectarian slur by a player from the Protestant-aligned Rangers.
Malcolm says he was younger and less worldly when he gave the autograph and acknowledges the mistake. ''It was a stupid thing to do, but it was meant as a bit of a joke. The wrong person picked up on the wrong autograph and it all got out of hand.''
Nevertheless, the combustible figure has also had a high profile through his brushes with police in spells at Derby County and on loan at QPR after being released by Rangers. He spent last year in Scotland, with Motherwell, but eventually tired of the attention, although he refutes suggestions that he ran away to Brisbane to escape from Scotland. Having been an old boy at Parkhead or Ibrox always means that some fans are guaranteed to taunt you, even if you no longer play for either of the clubs.
''It wasn't so much to come here and get away from it, but I wanted a change. It was like a goldfish bowl there.
''Every time I went into the city centre people would say something.''
He had spoken to an agent in Glasgow about the possibility of coming to Australia after seeing the A-League on television and phoned his old captain Moore, who suggested contacting Frank Farina and the Roar hierarchy.
Malcolm, who admits that he is not yet in match trim, arrived in June and had his first taste of the domestic game last weekend in the 3-1 loss to Gold Coast. He is impressed by what he saw.
''It's not like the Old Firm games, but apart from them there's not that much difference between Scotland and here. Probably here it's more technical. Back home it's probably quicker and a bit more organised with set pieces and tactical organisation.''
www.theage.com.au/news/sport/soccer/malcolm-no-longer-in-the-middle-of-controversy/2009/08/13/1249756397229.html
Malcolm No Longer in The Middle Michael Lynch
August 14, 2009
IT'S doubtful whether many players have arrived in Australia with quite the reputation as a bad boy as that ''enjoyed'' by Brisbane Roar's combative new centre back Bob Malcolm.
The third arrival in what is now something of a colony of ex-Glasgow Rangers players at the Queensland club, Malcolm's exploits, mainly off the pitch, have earned him a reputation as a colourful character.
But, he insists, despite the lurid headlines which have criticised him for making sectarian comments stoking anti-Catholic bigotry in religiously sensitive Glasgow and castigated him for speed and alcohol-related motoring offences, he is really not that kind of person. ''A lot of that is paper talk. The people that really know me personally know I am not like that,'' he said yesterday as he prepared to travel to Melbourne with his teammates for his first look at Etihad Stadium and his first meeting with the defending A-League champion.
Much of the controversy over Malcolm, who was at Rangers for a five-year period when both Roar skipper Craig Moore and skilful attacking midfielder Charlie Miller were also with the Glasgow giant, stems from an autograph he gave in which his name was followed by the letters FTP.
In Old Firm-obsessed Glasgow, those letters were widely interpreted by Celtic fans, Catholics and others to mean F--k The Pope - an all-too obvious sectarian slur by a player from the Protestant-aligned Rangers.
Malcolm says he was younger and less worldly when he gave the autograph and acknowledges the mistake. ''It was a stupid thing to do, but it was meant as a bit of a joke. The wrong person picked up on the wrong autograph and it all got out of hand.''
Nevertheless, the combustible figure has also had a high profile through his brushes with police in spells at Derby County and on loan at QPR after being released by Rangers. He spent last year in Scotland, with Motherwell, but eventually tired of the attention, although he refutes suggestions that he ran away to Brisbane to escape from Scotland. Having been an old boy at Parkhead or Ibrox always means that some fans are guaranteed to taunt you, even if you no longer play for either of the clubs.
''It wasn't so much to come here and get away from it, but I wanted a change. It was like a goldfish bowl there.
''Every time I went into the city centre people would say something.''
He had spoken to an agent in Glasgow about the possibility of coming to Australia after seeing the A-League on television and phoned his old captain Moore, who suggested contacting Frank Farina and the Roar hierarchy.
Malcolm, who admits that he is not yet in match trim, arrived in June and had his first taste of the domestic game last weekend in the 3-1 loss to Gold Coast. He is impressed by what he saw.
''It's not like the Old Firm games, but apart from them there's not that much difference between Scotland and here. Probably here it's more technical. Back home it's probably quicker and a bit more organised with set pieces and tactical organisation.''
www.theage.com.au/news/sport/soccer/malcolm-no-longer-in-the-middle-of-controversy/2009/08/13/1249756397229.html
