FORMER Celtic skipper Tom Boyd is keeping an eye on the summer recruitment drive at Sevco Rangers.
The ex-Scotland international defender recalls the Hoops revolution 20 years ago as Wim Jansen put the squad together that derailed the Ibrox side’s hopes of 10 in a row.
And that’s why Boyd knows the Govan outfit can’t be written off after Pedro Caixinha’s blizzard of foreign signings.
However, the club ambassador is quick to point out the quality Jansen brought to the club, starting with Henrik Larsson.
Craig Burley, Stephane Mahe, Paul Lambert, Marc Rieper, Darren Jackson, Jonathan Gould, Regi Blinker and Harald Brattbakk all became part of the Parkhead jigsaw that won the Premier title and the League Cup.
Boyd said: “You can build a new team in one summer – if you have a good coach.
“Wim Jansen did it. He changed a few players, but it took a wee while, though.
“We lost our first two league games that season against Hibs and Dunfermline, but it did happen for us, so it is possible.
“However, it does seem a hell of a lot of players they (Sevco) have signed – and they need to be quality players.
“When Wim came here he bought a current Champions League winner in Paul Lambert. He brought in someone who went on to become a Celtic legend in Henrik Larsson, who was also a bargain.
“He brought in very good players in Craig Burley, Marc Rieper – international players. There was quality coming into the football club at that time.
“I don’t know anything about those (Sevco) players, but we will see what happens. But you want competition from all the teams.
“I would love a challenge from Rangers (sic) or from Aberdeen, who were the second best team last season, getting to two Cup Finals and finishing second in the league.
“Derek McInnes has got a tough challenge there because they have lost a few players. Hearts may also challenge and Neil Lennon at Hibs fancies his chances.
“But Celtic supporters are more concerned at how Celtic do and we want to continue the standards we set last season.
“We want to make sure that as a team and a squad we keep up our standards.”
