OUTRAGED bosses at Airdrie United Football Club have lodged a complaint against division-topping Morton to the Scottish Football Association.

They wrote to Scottish football's governing body yesterday following a board meeting to discuss comments made in a Morton programme.

The tongue-in-cheek article joked that Airdrie were selling Nazi SS uniforms on their website.

However, Morton have apologised for any offence the article may have caused.

Speaking before the meeting, Jim Ballantyne, chairman of Airdrie United FC, said: `I am very, very disappointed that something like this was directed at the club. It is highly offensive.` Members of the SFA's general purposes committee will examine the matter early next month, and if the complaint is upheld Morton could face a hefty fine.

Airdrie's complaint was made after the comments appeared in the programme for last Saturday's match against Partick Thistle. The dispute comes just days before a crucial league match between the two sides at Cappielow.

Morton is at the top of the second division and hoping to be promoted to the first, while Airdrie is also chasing promotion from third place.

Morton have apologised for the article and said" that because of time constraints it was submitted directly to the printers without being approved by the programme editors.

After the board meeting, Mr Ballantyne said: `As a club we have decided to say nothing further on the matter.` A statement from Morton said: `Due to time constraints, this article had been submitted by the author direct to the printers without being approved by the programme editor.

'Greenock Morton FC would like to point out that the views expressed in this article are those of the author and in no way represent that of the football club.

`We have spoken to the article's author and made him aware of the club's position in this matter. We would take this opportunity to apologise for any offence caused and have reviewed our procedure to ensure that this situation cannot occur again.` Gillian Donaldson, chief executive, added: `We will be approaching the game on Saturday as we would any other game, and hope to win. We look forward to welcoming Airdrie board, the team and their supporters to Cappielow on Saturday.` Andy Mitchell, of the Scottish Football Association, said: `We have received a letter from Airdrie complaining about the match programme.

`One of our rules is that clubs are responsible for their programmes. We will be speaking to the clubs to diffuse any tension and the complaint will be considered by the general purposes committee in early February.`