‘CRITICAL DAYS’: EX-BOSS CLAIMS IBROX SIDE IN ‘DIRE FINANCIAL STRAITS’

FORMER SPFL chief executive Roger Mitchell claims Douglas Park’s Ibrox club are in “dire financial straits” and will struggle to survive the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

Hampden bosses have already called an early end to the Championship, League One and League Two campaigns after last month’s vote among the clubs.

Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers were handed their divisions’ respective titles while Celtic are awaiting to be awarded the inevitability of their ninth successive crown.

Mitchell, a self-confessed admirer of the Hoops, keeps tabs on Scottish football although he is now based in Italy.

He predicted misery for the Govan club in these uncertain times and reckoned they are in for a difficult one for them.

Mitchell took to social media to insist: “I just get a strong feeling with these delays that @RangersFC aren’t going to make it.

“They were already in dire financial straits. I can’t see how they survive this covid black swan.

“The question is: do they take the whole of Scottish football with them?! Critical days!!!”

Mitchell also questioned the Ibrox club’s financial situation in July last year when he asked the pertinent question: “Are Rangers going bust again?”

He later admitted to being “more than half cut” as he made the posts!

Steven Gerrard was heading for his second consecutive barren campaign in charge at Ibrox when football was forced into cold storage in mid-March.

Following a trophyless debut term, he saw his team beaten 1-0 by Celtic in the Betfred League Cup Final in December when Christopher Jullien scored the only goal of the game.

His side were knocked out of the Scottish Cup at the quarter-final stage of the competition by Hearts, who were rock-bottom of the Premiership at the time.

They were also 13 points adrift of the Hoops at the top of the league when the game was called to an emergency halt.

Only a seismic drop in form by Neil Lennon’s men – with only eight matches to play – would have opened the door to Gerrard’s strugglers who had lost to Hearts – again! – Kilmarnock and Hamilton Accies and drawn with Aberdeen and St Johnstone following the mid-winter break.

ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT…

CQN would like to thank our readers for their patience in the interruption to the launch of Alex Gordon’s latest Celtic book, ‘Fifty Flags’, which was due to be published in March.

Unfortunately, production of the tome, which thoroughly examines the half-century of seasons in which the Parkhead men were crowned, had to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

The support for ‘Fifty Flags’ from the support was overwhelming and author Alex said: “The response to the book has been utterly astonishing and I can only say how totally grateful I am to CQN readers for their backing. I can only hope it will be worth the wait.

“We are depending on the printers letting us know when the run will commence and we are in their hands at the moment. It will be published this year and CQN will keep the readers up to date as we follow the bouncing ball. Thanks, though, for your patience, folks. It’s much appreciated. 

“Main thing, though, in these testing times is to take care and stay safe. See you all when we get the green light.”