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Ex-Rangers star Ian Durrant is at the centre of a bigotry storm after footage of him emerged saying “F*** the Pope”.

The 51-year-old made the outburst into a microphone during a packed football legends dinner, which was also attended by former Ibrox players Barry Ferguson and Lee McCulloch.

The trio were entertaining fans at an event in Bothwell Bridge Hotel, Lanarkshire, earlier this month.

Nine-in-a-row hero Durrant also mentioned former Celtic chairman John Reid just before the slur.

(Image: Facebook)

Anti-sectarian campaigners yesterday condemned the former midfielder who is considered a legend by Light Blues fans.

Nil by Mouth director David Scott said: “This is crass behaviour and reflects extremely poorly on the person involved and in 2018 there is no excuse for it.

“That this is someone who is currently in a management position at an SPFL football club also reminds us that sectarianism still blights the game here.”

The dinner was held on October 12 and was organised by Glasgow firm FSG Promotions and Blackpool-based Goldstar Promotions.

Former captain Ferguson, McCulloch and Durrant sat at the top table and talked about their glittering Ibrox careers.

(Image: Facebook)

Fans paid between £69 and £99 a head for tickets.

Durrant’s sectarian remark came while Lee McCulloch was talking about Rangers’ run to the 2008 UEFA Cup final in Manchester.

Seconds later Ferguson said “F*** the SFA” sparking a huge cheer from supporters in the room.

The SFA refused to move fixtures to help Rangers prepare for the final against Zenit St Petersburg which resulted in the team playing five games in 11 days.

(Image: SNS)

Rangers lost the final 2-0.

Last month former SFA president George Peat revealed he was contacted by the chairman of a rival club and urged not to assist Rangers in thier fixtrure backlog.

Durrant was assistant manager of Scottish League One side Dumbarton before taking over the team last week following the sacking of manager Steve Aitken.

He lost his first match in charge 3-1 away to Abroath on Saturday.

Durrant left the club yesterday after the appointment of Jim Duffy as boss.

In a 13-year career at Ibrox, Durrant won six league titles, four league cups and three Scottish cups.

In October 1988 Durrant, then 21 was seriously injured in a challenge by Aberdeen player Neil Simpson which tore the cruciate ligaments in his right knee.

Durrant did not play competitive football for almost three years.

Despite injury problems he played a total of 346 competitive games for the club, scoring 45 goals,

He spent four years at Kimarnock before retiring and also won 20 caps for Scotland.

In 2005, he returned to Rangers as a coach and worked under Rangers first team under Walter Smith and Ally McCoist before leaving in June 2016.

No one from the Bothwell Bridge Hotel was available for comment

FSG or Goldstar could not be contacted for comment.