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Lambie: I slapped player with dead pigeon

Partick manager John Lambie has admitted he once slapped a player in the face with a dead pigeon.

The Jags gaffer is a pigeon fancier and brought a box of birds into his office after they died of a disease.

Lambie said: "I did once hit a player in the jaw with a dead pigeon. His name was Declan Roche and he was talking back to me - so I got these dead pigeons out of a box and slapped him round the face with one.''

He added: "He was certainly surprised, but it couldn't have improved him much because I got rid of him soon afterwards.

"The reason I had the pigeons in my office was that they had died of a disease and I was going to bury them, so I put them in a box and took them to the ground.

"It was a bit of fun really."

Partick have called a press conference for Tuesday to announce who will succeed Lambie as manager next season.

Lambie is to relinquish control of team affairs to take on a more wide-ranging role, and it is expected current number two Gerry Collins will be given the chance to step up.

Lambie said: "Gerry says I have mellowed a lot but I have never been a manager who rules by fear.

"I like to see happy faces with everyone smiling and looking forward to training.

"It is easy to knock people down - but part of my job is to pick players up when they are on downers.''

"It was a bit of fun really."