Gavin Price says Rabin Omar has not been affected by the unsavoury incidents in last week’s win over Clyde.
Omar was jeered by Clyde supporters during and celebrated in front of them after the game with team-mate Darryl McHardy. Omar subsequently called them ‘scum of the earth’, which opposing manager Danny Lennon said lacked class.
While an Annan Athletic player last year, Omar was racially abused by Clyde’s Ally Love during a game at Broadwood, which earned Love a five-match ban by the Scottish FA after a lengthy judicial panel hearing.
Price feels Lennon’s comments were unnecessary but has no qualms about it affecting Omar, who joined Elgin from Annan last summer.
He said: “I was disappointed with the comments about him. He’s a passionate guy and shows that on the pitch. He takes stick from Clyde supporters for a lot of different things and shows a bit of emotion at the end of the game.
“The comments were very unnecessary – it’s a game of football and whether you win or lose, you accept it. Thing were said in the heat of the moment and I’m sure they will be regretted. But it’s water off a duck’s back to Rabin.”
Elgin won the game at Borough Briggs 2-1, which keeps them in the hunt for a play-off place in League 2. They have a game in hand on Annan Athletic – who they face on March 30 – but are eight points behind. Elgin play Clyde again in Cumbernauld on Tuesday night.
Today sees them travel to Hampden Park to face Queen’s Park, who they comfortably dispatched 4-0 in Mount Florida back in December. A repeat performance would go down a treat with Price, whose only absentee is the suspended McHardy.
Price added: “We made the challenge to the players to make March 30 the game that gets us back in the fight. In between now and then, we’ve got to get as many points on the board as we can. All we can do is look after ourselves.
“Ever since the Hibs game, there has been a lift around the place. The new players that have come in have given more pace to the team and there’s been a wee spark in training. Everyone seems to be working hard for each other and that’s apparent in games. There’s a healthy atmosphere about the club again.”
