Sacking calls for Caley Thistle player in sectarian Tweet storm

CALLS for Inverness Caley Thistle to sack the young footballer at the centre of the sectarian Tweet storm have been growing.

Bosses at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium have suspended Irish midfielder Joe Gorman and the hierarchy of the Scottish Football Association is also investigating.

Gorman, who regularly stars for the under-20 side but has yet to make his first-team bow, referred to the TV programme Ross Kemp in Belfast on Tuesday night, in which the presenter investigates troubles in Northern Ireland.

The 19-year-old Tweeted: "Ross Kemp in Belfast talking about the troubles wouldn’t you just love to open up on all them orange men."

Gorman, who was signed by former boss Terry Butcher last summer, was soon bombarded with replies before he deleted his account.

The Twitter page @JoeGorman32 featured an image of Bobby Sands (right), a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army who died aged 27 on hunger strike while imprisoned at HM Prison Maze in 1981.

Former clubmate Curtis Allen, who moved to Glentoran in the January transfer window, led the revolt against Gorman, simply replying: "Really?"

Henry Carson tweeted: "Will @ICTFC & @ScottishFA be taking action on sectarian hate tweets from Joe Gorman?" while Callum Fowler also urged the club to sack the player, tweeting: "@ICTFC What’s going to happen in regards to the proven Bigot Joe Gorman? I hope your club acts in cracking down on this behaviour #sacked."

Hunter@CptnCutlass demanded action, tweeting: "Has the sectarian bigot Joe Gorman @ICTFC been sacked yet? Stop Hatred against Protestants in Scotland!!"

And Graham RFC tweeted: "Joe Gorman (who I hadn’t heard of until a few minutes ago) showing us all why most people think football players don’t have a brain."

An ICT spokesperson said: "The club has been made aware of a serious breach of club policy by one of its employees and is dealing with the matter accordingly."

Club chairman Kenny Cameron said: "As soon as we were made aware of the allegations, and following a discussion with the player we confirm that he has been suspended by the club pending an internal disciplinary investigation."

No further comment will be made until those investigations have been concluded, said the chairman.

A spokesman for the Scottish Football Association confirmed: "This has been brought to the attention of the compliance officer and it is up to him to decide if there is any further action to be taken."