BRAEHEAD CLAN coach Ryan Finnerty has sparked a war of words with rivals Fife Flyers, claiming he has a "lack of respect" for the Kirkcaldy club, writes Scott Mullen.

The relationship between the two teams has become strained of late, with Flyers "enforcer" Matt Nickerson hit with a 12-game ban for repeatedly punching Clan ace Chris Frank and choking him on the ice during Saturday's battle at the Fife Ice Arena.

And with the two teams locking horns again tomorrow night at the Braehead Arena, Finnerty exclusively told SportTimes he is refusing to let events drag his team down to Fife's level.

"We are really looking forward to the game against Fife. We're still smarting from the result in their barn considering we were the better team for pretty much the whole game," he said.

"Being our big rivals it hurt to lose to them and especially as we know we should have beaten them.

"Our focus for tomorrow will ultimately be to come away with the two points, we're not going to get dragged down by their style of hockey and questionable tactics."

The Glasgow club's coach, who watched his side go down 6-4 to Dundee Stars on Wednesday night, added: "It doesn't surprise me that as an organisation they are sending guys like Nickerson out there to rough things up.

"They know we are better than them and this is the only way they think they can stop us.

"I have a lack of respect for the Flyers, considering their head coach and a number of their players refuse to shake my hand after a game.

"It's certainly not very professional attitude once a game is over and done with."