Join thousands of fans who have signed up to our Rangers newsletter. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

An innocent dad of three was attacked and seriously injured after thugs squared up to Kilmarnock players on a night out.

Keith Speirs, 50, was head-butted in the face and suffered a fractured skull as he hit the ground.

It came after he and a pal saw ex-Rangers star Kirk Broadfoot and other Kilmarnock stars being surrounded by thugs in Prestwick, Ayrshire.

One of them placed a phone in front of Broadfoot’s face, began filming and shouted: “You dirty orange c**t”.

Broadfoot, 34, did not respond. It was then that joiner Keith and a friend stumbled on the scene.

The friend tried to calm the situation.

But Keith was then headbutted in the face and had his head slammed on the ground, causing a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain.

A 23-year-old woman who was near the scene went to Keith’s aid before he was rushed to hospital.

The attack happened at 2am on Sunday. Police say Prestwick Main Street would have been busy at the time.

They are checking on CCTV images and appealing for witnesses to contact them.

Keith was rushed to hospital where his condition was “serious”.

His partner Julie Mirfin, 44, said yesterday: “I’m just going to the hospital to see him now.

“He is a bit brighter but he can remember nothing.

“Keith did absolutely nothing wrong. He is not that type of person.

“He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is improving but not out of the woods yet. He has a fractured skull and has bleeding on the brain. We’re just praying.”

Julie has two children from a previous relationship. Her son Robbie Muirhead, 22, is a former Kilmarnock, Hearts and MK Dons player who now plays for Dunfermline Athletic.

Keith has three sons from a previous relationship.

Julie added: “Keith and his friend walked into a kebab shop. The altercation was going on as they walked in and they just walked past it.

“It was still going on as they walked back out.

“There were about six or eight people round the players. This one guy was in the face of a player.

“My son is a footballer and it really makes me sick that people think they can go up to football players and say whatever they like. It is disgusting.

The suspect is described as white and was wearing a white shirt and dark trousers.

Police have appealed for witnesses.