COLLUM IN CHARGE AT HAMPDEN

WILLIE COLLUM will in charge of Celtic’s crucial Scottish Cup Final aganst Hearts at Hampden on May 25.

The 40-year-old referee was the man in the middle when the Hoops overcame Craig Levein’s outfit 3-0 at Murrayfield in October on the holders’ way to a 1-0 League Cup Final success over Aberdeen in December.

Interim boss Neil Lennon will take his players into the silverware showpiece with the Parkhead men on the verge of an unprecedented treble treble after cleaning up the previous eight domestic trophies in a glittering and historic three-year period.

Collum also officiated when Celtic, in the Irishman’s second comeback game, defeated his ex-club Hibs 2-0 at Easter Road in the quarter-final at the start of March.

And he was ref during the Edinburgh side’s win over Livingston in the fourth round of the national competition.

It will be the second time Collum has refereed a Scottish Cup Final, having been in charge when Inverness Caley Thistle beat Falkirk in 2015.

He will be assisted this time by Alan Mulvanny and Ralph Gordon, with Don Robertson on fourth official duties.

Kevin Clancy and Bobby Madden will be the additional assistant referees as the champions zero in on another glorious chapter in the club’s folklore.