Dubai-based gangster Ross McGill was a ‘promising athlete' coached by Tory MSP
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DRUGS mob boss Ross McGill was a teen 100m ace who ran for Scotland, we can reveal.
The hood, 31, who kicked off the country's bloody gangland turf war, was coached at Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, by ex-Olympian Brian Whittle, 61, now a Tory MSP.
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Mob boss Ross McGill was a teen 100m ace who ran for Scotland
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The hood, 31, was coached at Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire by ex-Olympian Brian Whittle, now a Tory MSP
Credit: Alamy
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BRAZEN mobsters have torched the cars of rival gang members
But we can reveal McGill quit track sport after one appearance for his country when he was 17 — and is now a feared hood known as 'Miami' who sparked a bloody underworld turf war.
McGill, 31, of East Kilbride, changed tack to get involved in drugs deals and mayhem more than a decade after he ran for Renfrewshire athletics club Kilbarchan.
He set a highly impressive personal best time for 100m of just over 11 seconds while being trained by the former Team GB ace Mr Whittle.
The MSP for South Scotland since 2016 said of McGill: 'I remember him as a decent athlete in his mid-teens with potential.
'But he did not stay in the training group for long.'
We can reveal an image of a fresh-faced McGill wearing a Scotland vest at a meet in Antrim, Northern Ireland.
A source said: 'He came second in the 100m at the Celtic games on August 13, 2011.
'He only represented Kilbarchan AC for one year then disappeared. It was very odd because at the time he seemed like he was going to be a really successful athlete.
'But people who knew him remember he did seem a lot more interested in Rangers than track and field.'
McGill, exposed by us as the gang war Mr Big, went on to lead the Union Bears Rangers ultras and was pictured with ex-Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard.
The INSIDE story of Scotland's biggest gangster - Jamie 'The Iceman' Stevenson
He is said to be behind a mob called Tamo Junto who have been waging war against caged Edinburgh kingpin Mark Richardson, 38, and the notorious Daniel crime family.
Insiders say dealers paid McGill in fake cash for a £500,000 cocaine deal after seeing him as 'a nobody'.
Tamo Junto has claimed responsibility for firebombings and machete attacks in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Cops have made 48 arrests so far.
Mr Whittle won 4x400m relay gold at two European Championships and competed at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
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