FORMER Celtic star Paul Caddis has revealed he and his family have been subject to personal threats against them.
The 37-year-old Scotland cap, who is currently in charge of National League club Hereford, has previously opened up on receiving abuse from supporters.
Caddis broke through the youth ranks at Celtic and played a handful of games between 2007 and 2009 before moving down south to the EFL where he would spend the rest of his career.
He made 92 appearances for Swindon Town and joined Birmingham City in 2013, going on to become a regular at St Andrew’s.
Caddis rounded out his career with stints at Bury, Blackburn Rovers, Bradford City and Swindon before retiring in 2021.
He stepped into coaching two years later when he was appointed boss at Hereford, leading the Bulls to their highest ever finish and highest points total in the National League North in his first season.
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But this season has been more challenging with the Edgar Street side second bottom of the division after 17 games.
After a tricky start to the season, Caddis said: “The first six weeks of the season have, in truth, been the toughest for me personally and professionally since taking over the manager’s job.
“Let me stress it’s not solely down to football results that have made me feel this way.
“My young family was subjected to some not-so-nice words directed at them at the opening league fixture away at Spennymoor Town FC by a Hereford FC supporter, which I was deeply saddened by, given how much support my family gives me being so dedicated to your football club.”
That type of abuse has reared its head again but this time in the form of a threatening letter being sent to the club and Caddis being targeted on social media by angry fans.
Caddis said in an interview with club media: “I’ll be honest, the past three months have been personally challenging. I was extremely reluctant to share this publicly, and it isn’t something I ever wanted to talk about.
“But I constantly ask my players to be open, honest and brave enough to face things head-on, and I can’t ask that of them without living by those same values myself.
“The club received a threatening letter addressed to me which was a personal threat which soon followed a direct message in relation to my young family and the club immediately involved the police and reviewed security protocols. I would have preferred to keep it private, but transparency matters — especially when I’m asking the same from the people I lead.”
Caddis then continued by insisting he will not be scared or put off by the threats – and would do anything to protect his children.
He said: “This period has tested me in ways I’ve never experienced, but let me be absolutely clear: I will not walk away from tough times. I will not be intimidated.
“And I will never be scared off by threats aimed at my young family. Like any father, I will protect my children with everything I have. That determination only strengthens my desire to succeed for this football club.
“I want to focus on football and be criticised for my decisions on the pitch – that’s part of the job, and always will be. Anything beyond that isn’t acceptable, and I will never back down in saying so.
“Let’s stick together in these tough times because there’s no getting away from it – it is a difficult period for all of us: staff, players and supporters.
“Your support has been exceptional. I applaud you win, lose or draw after every single game and that cannot be questioned.
“Come and get behind the players like you always do and help us all through these difficult moments.
“A man who has managed at the top end of world football reached out to me in the past few weeks and said something that will stay with me: ‘Never judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes.’”
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