Ross County boss Derek Adams could be banned from the touchline for next month's Active Nation Scottish Cup final, the Scottish Football Association have confirmed.
Adams, who became the first manager to lead a team from the Highlands to the final of the national cup competition, has an eight-match suspension hanging over his head for an alleged offence committed back in November.
The 34-year-old has appealed that punishment but because of County's huge fixture backlog, it has not been possible to hear the case in recent weeks.
However, the Scottish Football League season ends next weekend, after which the Staggies have a two-week break before the cup final against Dundee United.
The SFA admit the appeal could easily be heard during that time and if Adams is unsuccessful, he will serve the first instalment of his suspension at Hampden.
Adams was originally handed a four-match ban for clashing with referee Frank Connor during a Reserve League Cup tie on November 10.
He lost an initial appeal against that punishment, which was increased to eight games, with the SFA taking his previous conduct into account.
The next appeal will be heard by an independent board.
Meanwhile, it is understood the SFA will investigate Anthony Stokes' tackle on Celtic midfielder Landry NGuemo during Hibernian's 3-2 Clydesdale Bank Premier League defeat at Parkhead on Saturday.
The incident was missed by referee Stephen Finnie and his assistants and the SFA's disciplinary department will examine video evidence before deciding whether to punish striker Stokes.
Source: PA
