Brian Thomson quit following a rumpus at the club's annual sportsman's dinner in the town last Saturday night.

He was asked to leave the community hall after confronting a man complaining about the noisy behaviour of Rothes players during speeches by guests, who included football pundit Chick Young.

Tommo offered his resignation to chairman Robbie Thomson on Sunday but said he was told not to be hasty. However, the resignation was accepted at a committee meeting on Tuesday night, with the members claiming his behaviour had been "unacceptable" and an "embarrassment to the club".

Players were informed of the manager's departure at training on Wednesday night. Kevin Collins, Kenny Hendry and Chris Henderson handed in transfer requests in protest at the treatment of the manager, and Collins stood down as captain.

Recently-appointed assistant boss Rab Mulheron and coach Graeme Scott are taking charge until the end of the season.

"We are all devastated at the club about this," said chairman Thompson.

It is the second time Brian Thomson has resigned from Rothes. In the summer of 2006, he walked out in a disagreement over the sale of striker Michael Ewen to Deveronvale.

Former Rothes player Davie Simpson took over and after leading the Tangerines to their best league table finish in years, he was sacked in October for a poor start to this season.

Simpson was furious at the way he was treated, being told of the sacking on his doorstep by the chairman, and claiming he had been reassured of being able to continue in post with extra behind-the-scenes help.

Soon after, skipper Nathan Sharp quit and was transferred to Forres Mechanics, angered by a disclosure that Simpson was informed the defender had a hand in the sacking. Sharp denied this and said he no longer had trust in the people running the club.

Now Rothes find themselves in turmoil once again.

Brian Thomson has also vented his anger at officials, despite declaring regret for the sportsman's dinner incident.

"This guy came up to me and said the team were a disgrace, I was a disgrace, for making too much noise when Chick Young was speaking. I may have grabbed the guy, but no more than that, and I was told to leave the hall.

"All I was doing was defending my players, any manager would. They weren't out of control. A lot of alcohol had been drunk and the players were bored waiting for the speakers. Anyway, the mikes weren't working; it was shambolic.

"These things happen in football and you just have to deal with them."

Thomson said he phoned his chairman the next day to say sorry for what had happened.

"I don't regret standing up for my players but I do regret getting involved with this guy. My players aren't a disgrace; they have worked hard for this club.

"Our results haven't been good this season, but the place was a shambles when I came back in October. I have got 22 players signed up, extending many contracts, fitness has improved greatly, we have taken in new players and I feel we were going in the right direction."

Thomson said the chairman had told him not to be hasty about offering his resignation. "Robbie said something would be sorted out, then on Tuesday night I got a call to say the committee had accepted my offer of resignation.

"In view of what was said to me, I feel I have been sacked, and I believe someone on the committee claimed the decision had been taken out of their hands.

"Maybe someone has said they won't give sponsorship any more."

Robbie Thomson said he was saddened to see his manager, for whom he had "a lot of respect", leave Mackessack Park.

"The committee have decided that the behaviour during the sportsman's dinner of Brian, our manager, was unacceptable and an embarrassment to the club," he added. "Instead of thanking sponsors and friends we have had to apologise.

"Over the weekend, the full course of the events became apparent. He offered his resignation on Monday morning, and had already phoned the secretary.

"The committee, after a full discussion, felt we had no alternative but to accept his resignation.

"Rab Mulheron and Graeme Scott will take charge until the end of the season."

Brian Thomson said he now understood how Simpson and Sharp had left the club on a bitter note.

"I said sorry for any upset I gave the club but I won't stand by and see my players being slagged off. They are a good bunch of lads," said Thomson.

Rothes, languishing second bottom of the Highland League with a backlog of fixtures caused by weather call-offs to make up, head for Deveronvale tomorrow.

m.collins@northern-scot.co.uk

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