Police are investigating a series of sick Twitter messages sent from an online account in the name of a promising young Dunfermline Athletic player.
The shocking posts aimed at Rangers footballers and fans appeared following Queen of the South’s Ramsdens Cup victory over the Glasgow side on Tuesday.
One offensive message from an account in the name of under-17 player Jordan Combe reads: ”I”hate rangers”scummy”smelly ugly”hope yous all die slowly and painfully and your kids get cot death.”
A spokeswoman for Rangers described the online diatribe as ”disgraceful” and reported the matter to Strathclyde Police.
It is unclear whether or not the tweets were written by the young footballer or were the result of somebody hacking into his account.
Dunfermline Athletic are understood to have alerted Fife police.
A vile rant was also sent from the account to Rangers winger David Templeton.
Another tweet reads: ”How”can you not beat QOS Rangers hope every one of you get a terminal illness and die slowly and painfully and your family’s suffer.”
Father-of-one Alan Beggs (28), of Kinross, who captured images of the tweets before the account was shut down, said: ”It’s quite disgusting stuff. I take it that whoever tweeted this is unaware of the foundation run by club legend, general local hero and all round nice guy Jim Leishman?”
Mr Beggs added: ”Perhaps locking them in a room with big Jim for a while will set his mind straight.”
Mr Leishman, the club’s director of football, set up a charitable foundation in the name of his wife Mary after she died of cancer in 2009, aged 53.
Hundreds of community groups have benefited from the Mary Leishman foundation and Jim remains the driving force behind the fundraising efforts, organising dozens of events, from football matches to fire walks.
Mr Leishman, who became Fife’s provost after being elected as a councillor in May, declined to comment on the Twitter messages.
”We’ve put it in the hands of the police,” he said. ”I don’t want to say anything more until I get the full details.”
The Twitter account was also used to issue thinly-veiled threats to people who objected to the original messages.
Greg Jessop, who described the tweets as ”disgusting”, was told: ””come and say it to my face then instead of tweeting about it like a wee girl either way I will see you tomorrow!!!”
Dozens of Twitter users called on Dunfermline Athletic to sack the youngster.
Chairman John Yorkston is holidaying in Spain and was unaware of the furore when The Courier contacted him.
”It’s totally unacceptable, if that’s what he has said,” Mr Yorkston said. ”The club will obviously investigate it.”
A statement was later posted on Dunfermline Athletic’s website saying: ”Matters regarding Jordan Combe are currently in the hands of Fife police who are conducting a thorough investigation. DAFC cannot make any further comment at this time until the club has all the facts to hand.”
A spokesman for Fife Constabulary said: ”It has been reported to us by Dunfermline Athletic Football Club and we are conducting a full investigation into the circumstances.”
A spokeswoman for Rangers said: ”These remarks on Twitter are disgraceful and we have reported the matter to Strathclyde Police.”
The Courier attempted to contact Jordan Combes and his family for comment, but was unsuccessful.