Kyle Lafferty opens his heart on debt claims - and Old Firm horror tackle

[ian1964 10,826]

UNDER-FIRE Rangers star Kyle Lafferty has opened his heart to the Sunday Mail to dismiss claims he is skint and hit back at critics of his horror Old Firm tackle.

 

In an explosive interview, Lafferty, 22:

 

Denied having problems paying bills.

Branded Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas "a joke".

And defended himself over the horrific tackle that shocked Scottish football.

The �£3.25million Northern Ireland international said he won't back down in two cash disputes revealed by the Sunday Mail - one with an English legal firm, the other with his former dog walker.

 

The �£15,000-a-week star also insisted there was no malice in his tackle on Celtic defender Andreas Hinkel during last Sunday's SPL clash with Celtic.

 

Lafferty has been under siege after a week from hell both on and off the pitch.

 

He is being sued by his former lawyers, Beswicks, for �£14,373 in alleged unpaid fees. And his former dog walker wants almost �£1000 for care of his pet pugs.

 

But Lafferty said: "Whenever I hear about these stories, my partner Tori and I just laugh.

 

"If I knew they were right, then I would pay the money. They would get it in the morning.

 

"All I can say is my solicitors are looking at it. I won't pay a guy money that I don't think he deserves."

 

Lafferty insisted the disputes were not a result of any financial problems, adding: "I don't have money difficulties.

 

"I've got a nice, big house. I've got two nice cars, including a Bentley, and I'm test-driving a Porsche.

 

"Tori and I have nice clothes and we eat in nice restaurants most nights.

 

"Only I know how much I'm earning at Rangers and I've got good people looking after me."

 

He denied suggestions that he was spending large amounts on a gambling habit and said: "Everyone likes a bet, from people that are earning �£1000 a month to whatever footballers earn.

 

"I admit that I like a bet but I wouldn't say that it's extraordinary money.

 

"I'm no different from anyone else but I don't trust giving my details online, so any betting I do, I go into a bookies.

 

"I think that's why gamblers get so bad, being online. It makes it so easy. I don't have any online accounts, I never have."

 

Adding to the pressure on Lafferty over the past week has been the widespread and fierce criticism of his tackle on German star Hinkel 30 minutes into the game at Celtic Park last weekend.

 

The challenge earned him a yellow card - but many fans and pundits believe it should have been red.

 

No one was more outspoken than former Celtic star Nicholas, who said: "It was a disgraceful foul. He should have been off the park immediately.

 

"I have no doubt Lafferty knew where he was placing his six studs as he came flying in and he has to go for a dangerous tackle like that."

 

Lafferty hit back: "Ever since last weekend, I have been looking at the papers and this guy Charlie Nicholas.

 

"I don't know much about him, although I know that he played for Scotland. I think he scored five goals for the national side - so that pretty much says it all.

 

"I am 22and have beaten that record at a professional level already. I read his quotes about me and I think he's a joke.

 

"Did he play for Celtic? I don't have a clue. I know pretty much all the top footballers and at first, I wondered if he was a cricketer. I had never even heard of him.

 

"I've now heard stories about 'Champagne Charlie', so basically I just laugh at him. I think he's a joke.

 

"Obviously, he has to go on the TV and make a couple of points. It's happened to a few players, also fellow Rangers players, and I don't think he's fit to lace their boots."

 

On the tackle itself, he said: "Only I know what I was doing.

 

"I went to go for the ball and I misread Hinkel. If you watch the footage, he's actually turned inside and he had the ball backwards and his whole body position moved from me sliding to when I finally hit him.

 

"I never meant to hurt him. I would never go out to hurt a fellow pro.

 

"I think if I made that kind of tackle against some other team in Scotland that wasn't Celtic in an Old Firm derby, there wouldn't be half as much press about it."

 

One regret Lafferty does own up to was getting Charlie Mulgrew sent off in a match against Aberdeen during last season's SPL title run-in.

 

The Rangers striker feigned injury from a supposed headbutt and admits he was ashamed of his actions.

 

He said: "The thing with Charlie Mulgrew - to this day, I don't know why I did that. It was a big mistake. I let everyone down - my family and Rangers Football Club.

 

"I think my attitude has changed a lot since the Mulgrew incident.

 

"I am probably my own biggest critic. I knew my head was gone, signing for such a big club, and I think it all got to me. I think I thought I was better than I was.

 

"I wouldn't say I became arrogant but I was probably a wee bit cocky with it."

 

Lafferty, who has been plagued by injury since his �£3.25million move to Rangers from Burnley in June 2008, admitted that the past 18 months had been a steep learning curve, even though he knew what he was getting into.

 

He said: "I grew up supporting Rangers so I knew both the football and the religion side of things with the Old Firm. I knew it was going to be hard and the pressure that would come with it.

 

"But I think I'm big enough to take it and let my football do the talking.

 

"A lot of people judge me - judge us all - before they meet us. But once they meet me, I hope they realise that I am down to earth and basically a good lad."

 

He admitted that his conduct on the pitch could have made him even more of a target for irate opposition fans, but added: "I just take it as a bit of banter.

 

"It has gone beyond banter sometimes though. I've had my cars scraped in the past. I've had people shouting abuse.

 

"But it's nothing I can't handle and I just think they're jealous people."

 

Lafferty also paid tribute to his fiancee Tori Smith for supporting him, saying: "I have to admit, she's been brilliant.

 

"When things weren't going well for me, like last season when I had a lot of injuries, coming home to a house with Tori being there kind of takes my head away from the football part.

 

"We haven't set a date for our wedding yet. I know it's a big day for both of us and we want it to be perfect."

 

Sky Sports refused to comment yesterday but a spokesman said Nicholas would be made aware of Lafferty's comments.

[wabashcannonball 0]

"I've got a nice, big house. I've got two nice cars, including a Bentley, and I'm test-driving a Porsche.

 

"Tori and I have nice clothes and we eat in nice restaurants most nights.

 

"Only I know how much I'm earning at Rangers and I've got good people looking after me."

 

What an arrogant useless tosser.

[maineflyer 0]

Well big Kyle certainly knows all there is to know about Charlie "Nobody" Nicholas.

[Zappa 0]

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Kyle Lafferty wants a blue bird

 

RANGERS ACE IS TO GET A SWEARING PARROT

 

By Chris Costello, 10/01/2010

 

 

RANGERS star Kyle Lafferty is planning to ruffle a few feathers - by getting a SWEARING parrot.

 

The �£3.5million striker and fianc�©e Tori Smith have told pals they want to home a cheeky African Grey.

 

One friend said: "Tori has been saying they are getting a rude parrot within days.

 

"She's saying it can spout X-rated filth and she's keeping her fingers crossed that it will say 'bawbag'."

 

Ex-Burnley ace Kyle, 22 - who joined Gers in June 2008 - met ex-nurse Tori, 20, when he had his appendix out.

 

The couple already have three pugs and one recently had pups.

 

A pal of the Northern Ireland interrnational - who is busy learning the guitar after getting one for Christmas - said: "Tori dotes on the dogs and dresses them up in jumpers and jackets.

 

"The dogs spent Christmas sporting reindeer antlers, complete with bells."

.

Hopefully he'll get good enough on the guitar to become a pop star in NI & give up football... :fish:

[Zappa 0]

Well big Kyle certainly knows all there is to know about Charlie "Nobody" Nicholas.

.

His comments about Nicholas were class.

[Gazza_8 233]

"I've got a nice, big house. I've got two nice cars, including a Bentley, and I'm test-driving a Porsche.

 

"Tori and I have nice clothes and we eat in nice restaurants most nights.

 

"Only I know how much I'm earning at Rangers and I've got good people looking after me."

 

Yip, my thoughts exactly. He's passed me a few times on Bearsden Road going to or coming from Auchenhowie in his black Bentley. His numberplate tells you exactly who's car it is!

 

Fuck off Kyle!

[wabashcannonball 0]

lafferty is the epitome of money cannot buy class, his remarks are an insult to decent hard working supporters, who struggle to support his very undeserved and unearned lifestyle. If the RST want to show some direction they could start by asking the club to have lafferty withdraw his demeaning remarks and apologise to the supporters, his conduct is not that which is required by a Rangers player, and certainly not under these financial restraints.

[Super_Ally 0]

Didn't like the comments about how flush he is. No need for that. Shades of Bellamy.

 

But he' quite right to tell Charlie Ridiculous to stfu. A bad tackle aye, but it happens and we've seen a lot worse. "The tacke that shocked Scottish football"? Fuck the fuck off. What a load of balls!

[pete 2,511]

Personally i would rather have a young Charlie Nicholas in the team than Lafferty. I am afraid Lafferty couldn't lace Charlie's boots.

[Zappa 0]

Personally i would rather have a young Charlie Nicholas in the team than Lafferty. I am afraid Lafferty couldn't lace Charlie's boots.

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I wouldn't be saying that on other Gers forums pete.