Humiliate your rivals in the Cup Final by putting five goals past them and, if you don’t pay the piper, you pay the consequences. Winning trophies while running up debts you cannot afford to pay is not a viable strategy. The consequences, if you are fortunate enough to survive, has to be painful, otherwise football removes the moral hazard of failure, making Hearts recent experience more likely to happen to other clubs.
Hearts season at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership is the cost of pouring millions of pounds creditors will not receive onto the Hampden Park pitch to hit five goals past a Hibs team, who live within their means. Many other teams were denied progress in the cups, or higher prize money in the league, while the fantasists were building to their 5-1 glory.
Billy Brown’s nonsense about rescinding a punishment for a club who are still in administration is yet another fantasy, but it was fostered in 2012, by the notion that Scottish football can change insolvency rules on the hoof to accommodate a failed club. If you want to change insolvency rules, knock yourself out, but there is near-uniform agreement that you cannot change rules when a favoured club falls foul, in order to benefit them.
This notion that because the rules were not changed to help Newco Rangers into top flight football, Scotland’s reigning Third Division champions would be outraged, is hardly news. The 11 top flight clubs, most of whom appear to be enjoying a competitive ‘Best of the Rest’ league race, and a whole clutch of lower league clubs, would also be outraged if Hearts were advantaged.
In October 2011, when Rangers fate was privately acknowledged, Craig Whyte, Neil Doncaster and SPL chairman, Ralph Topping, discussed this rule change ruse. It should have been a 30 second conversation; declined when first proposed. Instead, Scottish football was put through the real trauma of a fantasy fear of Armageddon. Now everyone who can’t pay their bills think they have the same entitlement to campaign for a rule change – and why shouldn’t they, the tabloids told everyone that changing the rules on the hoof was acceptable.
Hearts fans know this. They are heading for relegation, those I have spoken to have accepted the situation. For them, it’s all about ensuring the club survives and sorting things out for the long term, SPFL results don’t even register. I don’t know any who want to see their club go cap in hand for rule changes, the way Whyte, then Green, did. It’s demeaning and lacks dignity.
This is turning into my favourite domestic season yet. All the ‘They’ve suffered enough’ merchants better get their strategies sorted for the next episode.
[calameo code=000390171ece27dd9e54e lang=en page=98 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
712 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- »
Ryecatcher et al
Cheers with lots of fond memories of great Celtic night and the Munchies I’ll sign of for the night
Sandmancsc
I have recently sent a message on the contact information site for the commonwealth games re safety at the Ibrox stadium, venue for the rugby 7´s, in the light of revelations that the roof is not safe.I will let you know of any reply I receive.
Winning Captains …….
Once the Rat Nevin interview is published, who is next for the big interview ?
Could i suggest Brian Quinn ?
Be interesting to hear his thought on the cheating by Sevco and the SFA.
Was in the jungle the night of the 4-2 game. Went on the Cumbernauld bus. Was an incredible celebration but we did run into some rather ugly huns in the Town Centre when we got back :)
GG – Nice to see you back on-line. Hope you are well
moravcik-would indeed by dynamite mate but Brian Quinn still works for UEFA ,no ?
Moravcik….
Would be even more interesting to hear Peter Lawell’s thoughts.
Oh shoite, I forgot………he doesn’t think they cheated or he definitely would have said something in the last 23 months.What am I like?
RubbinghishandsatthethoughtofthemscomingbackCSC
ryecatcher
8/1 for wee joe as first goalscorer seems fairly generous , obviously not the Sicilian bookies south of tunis speaks of.
My old man would have killed me if I went near a bookmaker in my youth , saved me a few quid. He used to tell me about John Smith the bookie who used to operate out of a close near my grandfathers shop ,not sure about the date but pre war I think.
It was obvious to him judging by Mr Smith’s wealth who was getting the better deal.
Just reading the Chapter on Rangers in the book I quoted earlier and find it staggering that even with all the bank money that Masterton, Cumming, et al could throw at them they still went bust!
That isn’t easy but for the Mafia of the Mediocre it is par for the course. Talentless tossers.
Read and enjoy Richard Giulianotti and Michael Gerrard
Glasgow Rangers are Scotland’s most domestically successful and powerful club. By the summer of 2000, they had won an unparalleled forry-seven league championships, including twelve in the past fourteen seasons, though their European ambitions have been restricted to one trophy, the Cup-Winners’ Cup, in 1972. Within Scotland, Rangers have the greatest share of club fans; recent successes ensure average home crowds of over 50,000 at Ibrox Stadium and the club has supporters’ clubs all over the world, notably in the UK’s former colonies. The majority shareholder is Rangers’ Chairman David Murray, while other major investors have been the South African Dave King (£20 million) and the Bahamas-based billionaire Joe Lewis (25 per cent of equity since 1997). The accountants Deloitte and Touche had listed Rangers as the worlds fourteenth richest club in 1996-7 with an annual turnover of £31.6 million, but the club slipped two positions to sixteenth place a season later (1997-8) with very moderate growth to £32.5 million.
In this chapter, we explore one central dimension, of Ranger’s history and
Did Fergus bring Quinn to Celtic?
.
Hmmm..
Not sure what l think of Rogic’s loan to J-League..but at least l think both sides are trying to do what is best for the Celtic player..
If it was Not for the Upcoming World Cup this deal would have Stunk..
Best of Luck Tom..
Summa of SocceroosCSC
Evening sammi, just off to bed. Hope every one is well. Feck those temperatures your suffering this week. Saying that, snow forecast for here tomorrow. A happy in-between would be wonderful. Hehe Night Night all.
Weefra HH supporting Wee Oscar.
Just been watching this for the past hour, it’s quite old, been a long time since I saw it, their hate is plain for all to see.
I hope they burn in hell.
Into the fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD7fLvAvyKM
HH
Benthebishop
23:32 on
13 January, 2014
I have recently sent a message on the contact information site for the commonwealth games re safety at the Ibrox stadium, venue for the rugby 7´s, in the light of revelations that the roof is not safe.I will let you know of any reply I receive.
*your bad but I like you :-)))
dickemery csc
Chris Sutton up here a lot for games, one of my all time favourite players. Would like to hear more from him.
Met him outside Archaos night club on the run up to the 6-2 match. I thought he was on his own but someone said Thommo was in the background, he was just about to or had signed. Anyway I spotted him and thought I’d introduce myself as Mr A. Celticsupporter as you do, I’d had a few sherbets but wasn’t p*shed.. There was a taxi rank on queens street then, and there was some future sevconians hurling abuse in his direction. He looked isolated anyway it seemed almost a relief to him, I think, that someone normal had approached, I was still in my work suit and may well of had a coat on unlike the troosers and bright shirt mob from the club. So I said: “you alright Chris?, settling in okay? ” Yip, fine thanks. {the whole time he stood with an eye on the crowd } I think I rambled about this being a crazy city, but great place aswell and how happy I was he’d signed. So am I he replied checking his phone I think possibly waiting on a taxi or Thommo. I’ll let you get off Chris but just wee word on these idiots over there (pointing to the currants in the taxi queue, “the best way to shut them is to score and it’s a great way to get our fans onside although we a are well educated football fans and know a good footballer like yourself. I could see he wanted to get off but, I rounded off with; “Pleasure to meet you Chris, and just make sure you score against Rangers! with a wee laugh from me and a smile and ;”I’ll try” from him. Within the week he scored against them twice and I think I got more words out of him than any professional journo. Nice guy, what a player.
.
So a Retired Police Officer (10 Bonus points for guessing the Country)..Shoots and Kills someone in the Row in front of him at the Cinema (1:30PM) for Texting..
Wonder what he Did to people who did Not obey the Law when he was a Active Policeman..?
Summa
leftclick Together we will get justice for the Dam 5
23:08 on
13 January, 2014
I once found a high quality version of the 7-1 game highlights provided by Newsreel or Pathe News.
The usual lower quality version was taken,I believe,by Jimmy Gordon first M.D. of Radio Clyde and commentator on ” The Story of Celtic.”
Haven`t been able to discover it again,but I`ll keep looking.
London did a fantastic job staging the Olympics and this summer it is Glasgow’s chance to shine when the Commonwealth Games comes to town.
I know that everyone on CQN is particularly looking forward to the a Rugby 7s – a real highlight for us all.
It is particularly important that ALL venues to be used this summer are safe, well maintained and fit for purpose.
It is with this in mind – concern for the spectators and concern for the city’s reputation – that we should perhaps voice our concern to the Games organisers.
Is Ibrox fit for purpose?
Borgo67….
Bear in mind we were overwhelming underdogs going into that game in 1989.
The Orcs only had to turn up and the treble was theirs.
Wee Joe wasn’t even favourite for first Celtic player to score….that was Mark McGhee.
Loved the fact the goal came from our throw in which should have been thems.
Can’t believe how shoite that Rangers team was under Souness and still they dominated us…we were that bad .
Deadclub results in Europe proved how bad they were.
Borgo….
Dominated us in the League I meant….not in wee Joe’s final.
THE EXILED TIM-Free the Dam 5
00:07 on
14 January, 2014
Just been watching this for the past hour, it’s quite old, been a long time since I saw it, their hate is plain for all to see.
I hope they burn in hell.
Into the fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD7fLvAvyKM
HH
======================
Watched that the other night for the first time. Still not sure if it was made from a neutrals point of view as it certainly painted the Huns in a very poor way.
I didn’t realise that they bumped David Hope due to his deceased Wife’s religion. The old guy worked tirelessly for them. Utter morons from top to bottom.
winning captains
00:26 on
Those wishing to raise concerns can do so here
https://www.glasgow2014.com/your-questions/contact-information
reilly1926
I reckon it was from a neutral stance, can you imagine what it would have been like if it was pro thems !!!
I saw it when it first was aired, and in all honesty, it was water of this Tims back, it was par for the course, we all knew what it was all about, and we just had to suck it up..
Times are a changin though, the interweb has taken over, we are more informed, still up against the same old, and the people in power have the tools at their disposal, they run everything, but as ever, we will never give in, that is their problem, they can say what they want about us over and over, they can throw us in jail, they can criminalise us, they can call us paranoid, they can cheat all the way to the sewer, we will never give in to them, that will kill them, hopefully sooner rather than later.
I also just watched the last game against them tonight, what an atmosphere, couldn’t remember it being so, but, I would give it all up just to see them no more.
I hate them for making me hate them.
HH
Really pissed off tonight, I had a caravan parked on a farm where I was working on a renewable energy scheme. Emailed the farmer tonight to ask if it was ok to send someone up to pick it up this week and he just got back saying someone took it last Saturday, he was out at the time and thought I’d picked it up. I didn’t renew the insurance as it was in the middle of nowhere right next to the farmhouse. Arghhhhhhhhhhhh
eddieinkirkmichael
is that kickmichael in Helensburgh or ayrshire
Off to the pit now, never realised it was so late, and it’s a school day the morra, what that means I have no idea, but that is what it is.
Things to do and no time to do them, tis called getting old.
Sleep well Timland.
It’s been a good few days in the life of Timland, seeing some seriously good prospects strutting their stuff, hopefully Lenny gives them a chance, and maybes the sooner we lose the unbeaten tag the better, all about the future imo, no that I want us to lose, but the bigger picture is at stake here, rather than good shit on the cv, sorry for saying that, but just the way I see it.
|HH
KTF
Somos el Celtic
Reilly 1926
David Hope was chairman of Rangers for precisely 17 minutes I believe before the issue of his deceased wife’s religion was raised and it was decided that Rangers Football Club could not have a chairman who had been married to a catholic.
In turn, Mr Hope’s son also married a catholic, and in turn his grandson ( a friend of mine ) married a catholic and both Mr Hope’s great grandchildren from this union were baptised and raised as Catholics…. whilst their dad still followed the Gers.
However, my friend revealed to me that when he chose the woman he wanted to marry he was astonished to find who were his real friends and who were not. Some fell by the way side on his choosing his bride and he has never missed them. I have had him at Celtic Park cheering on the hoops and in olden days he would never fail to turn up at my door with several cans of McEwan’s Lager — the sponsor’s brew!
The only centenary Rolex that is not at Ibrox sits on his wrist every now and then and I have combed the fairways of a golf course in the dark searching for the watch when it fell off many years ago.
Sadly, the worst effect of all of this is that my friend no longer goes to Ibrox when once he would have — as a businessman and Rangers supporter who would have fought from within to turn the club away from a sectarian policy and to try and steer it to a more socially acceptable and inclusive outlook.
He is a good man, a decent man with strong principles who would be a credit to any club — but he is lost to Rangers only because of an ingrained attitude that he has turned his back on completely.
.
Rogic’s Vegalta switch in doubt
Tom Rogic’s proposed loan move to J.League outfit Vegalta Sendai is facing collapse with the club’s hierarchy reluctant to sanction a deal which would see the rising star play just nine matches before joining Australia’s 2014 FIFA World Cup squad.
Vegalta to have final say on Rogic
Despite Celtic coach Neil Lennon reaching an accord with new Vegalta boss Graham Arnold for the 21-year-old midfielder to reunite with his former Central Coast Mariners mentor, the club has shown little inclination to produce the necessary paper work to activate the loan.
And with no firm pledge emanating from Japan – despite Arnold’s desire to secure one of Australian football’s most prodigious talents – Rogic’s handlers are now looking elsewhere to land the 21-year-old the game time which will secure his place in Australia coach Ange Postecoglou’s squad for the FIFA World Cup.
Rogic’s London-based lawyer-agent Daniel Berman was reluctant to reveal his hand when contacted by The World Game on Tuesday morning, saying only: “We have contingency plans in place.”
It’s believed the other options on the table include a possible stint in the English Championship or continental Europe, with a resolution possible by the end of the week.
Rogic has made just made just 14 appearances for Celtic – and only five starts – since heading to Parkhead from the Mariners a year ago.
The sticking point in Japan is that with the J.League season kicking off in the first week of March, Vegalta would only have Rogic available until 15 May – or nine games – before he heads into camp for his country to prepare for Brazil.
It’s unclear whether Celtic would sanction a loan beyond that or demand Rogic returns for pre-season training directly after the FIFA World Cup.
Lennon, though, is happy to see Rogic leave the fold to garner game time – and enhance his FIFA World Cup prospects.
“I can’t guarantee Tom game in, game out. And I think that’s what he needs at the minute,” Lennon said.
“He has only had 31 professional games in his career so some people are expecting him to run before he can walk. It will be good for Tom to go and get some football.”
Capped eight times, Rogic is a key cog in Postecoglou’s reconstruction of the national team leading into Brazil and also the Asian Cup on home soil next January.
But his lack of action is a grave concern to the coach who will only select players for Brazil who are playing regular football for their clubs.
Rogic, who has overcome a series of niggling injuries which hindered his progress at Celtic, showed in a domineering 30-minute cameo off the bench against Costa Rica in November what he is capable of.
Summa
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Oscar Knox, MacKenzie Furniss and anyone else who fights Neuroblastoma
My best mate was a Rangers supporter. He was a fruit and veg supplier who was introduced to me by a mischiefous chef in a pub I took over thinking he was a clever barsteward. We were on opposite sides of glasgow but we hit it off right away and he has been a friend for 20 years now. He has given up supporting Rangers now and is disgusted by all what has happened. He comes to see me twice a year in Spain and always brings me something green to wear. I love him to bits and he doesn´t go to Ibrox anymore for the same reasons as your friend. Shame isn´t it.
.
Sharks , Trolls , Headstones and Apathy..
Courtesy Do the Bouncy..
SHARKS
I like to think of myself as an ordinary Rangers fan, maybe a little older and in some places greyer than the average demographic of todays Rangers fan, but where it counts I’m the same now as I was nearly 40+ years ago when I went to my first game at Ibrox.The excitement as I approach our magnificent Stadium still wells up in my chest. The heart beats just that little bit faster, butterflies start except being practically an old fart now I suppress the urge to smile, but make no mistake I still want to. The excitement builds as I find my way to my seat acknowledging nods from friends and well kent faces.
The players come out to warm up and eyes past their best years scan to see who’s warming up and who hasn’t made the squad. The PA starts and plays a few familiar songs as the players leave the warm up and disappear down the tunnel. Penny Arcade booms out and the crowd ceases talking about this player or that and what did or should have happened at the last game. The players take the park , the referee blows his whistle and the game kicks off while the fans finish singing Penny Arcade. My physical failings aside I’d imagine that’s similar the experience of most supporters, although a few might throw in the odd libation or fast food delicacy en route .
It’s an experience I’m sure we’d miss if it were taken away from us and the people who own our club know that. They know that they have an addicted clientelle who although their numbers may diminish slightly every now and again that they can be pretty secure that their brand loyalty will remain intact and that the odd bribe of a new player or manager will encourage those who are disheartened to come back to the fold. That’s an excellent thing to have for a company unswerving brand loyalty, but its something that’s sadly taken for granted and abused by all too often by football clubs. Rangers where no better or worse than any other club is this respect until quite recently in our 140+ year history. Now however things are different , its not directors with any real passion for Rangers other than the huge salaries that run the club. They are highly paid to deliver for their masters , not the fans or even egocentric owner as was the case in the past but hedge funds and pension investment companies without whose block votes their jobs would long since have vanished. They have no love whatsoever for the club and are purely their out of self interest , that’s not too bad if their ambitions mirrored that of the season ticket holder or the fan who pays at the gate to see his or her team but it doesn’t. The knights in shinning armour that some fans perpetually are waiting on are little better they promise the world and a cure to all ills so long as the fans are willing to stump up for it because they’re not putting their own hands in their own deep pockets. Meanwhile there are some circling the club awaiting the next financial meltdown presumably so they can step in and buy the club at a knock down price and be seen as the saviour so many long for . The impact on the team in respect of points deductions and loss of players isn’t that important to then,nor is the heartache it causes Rangers fans worldwide, they’ve got the club and that’s what matters .
TROLLS
In the past few weeks there have been several case in the news of Rangers fans and football fans being internet Trolls. I differentiate between the two as that’s what the media does. When its a celtic fan hurling racist abuse at two Rangers players or a celtic supporter making disgusting comments about Fernando Ricksen or Lee Rigby then its a football fan. When its David Limmond making comments about Angela Haggerty or a Rangers Fans making private comments about Neil Lennon then the media report them as Rangers fans. I don’t condone any of the comments that I know about from any of these people but surely they all deserve to be treated equally in an unbiased media. There’s the rub because as we all know the media in Scotland is far from impartial . The Daily Record , once a long long time ago the best news publication in Scotland bar none , is now no more than an outlet for releasing Peter Lawwells pr spin as they are hamstrung by commercial ties to celtic and companies owned by well known celtic supporters. BBC Scotland sport is even worse . Once the very name BBC was the hallmark worldwide of accuracy and unbiased reporting of facts, without bias or agenda if you lived in a tinpot banana republic you listened to the BBC for the unblemished truth. How times have changed , the BBC done even have the commercial excuse that the Daily Record has for its proven agenda against Rangers. Theirs is done through pure malevolence and bigotry. They knowingly allow their employees to factually misrepresent Rangers at every chance they get.The latest being a guest appearing on a radio show , Graham Speirs, intentionally claiming that Rangers had died and where a new club. The fact that EVERY official body including the SFA and SPFL recognise the clubs history to be intact. This was nothing more than trolling on the publicly funded BBC to raise the discredited journalists own profile. So what make Mr Speirs so very different from the rabid celtic supporter butting into a discussion to wind up Rangers fan talking about Rangers?
HEADSTONES
I am not a member of any Rangers fans group . I was previously a member of the Rangers Supporters Trust, but no longer. Though some fan groups add to the atmosphere and stand up for the club most of the fans groups are nothing more than an excuse to have a rant and kid themselves on that they’re some kind of “ ultras “. The inference being the rest of us are not as good fans in some way because we are not “ultras “ like these uber fans . The Blue Order , Union Bears aside there’s only one group I can see that have actively done anything other than gasbag and that’s the Vanguard Bears . As I say I’m not a member nor do I agree with them on many of their views . Politics should have no place in football , but that’s a debate for another day . Where the Vanguard Bears have excelled is by taking action that really matters . They restored the grave of Founding father William McBeath who was sharing an unmarked paupers grave as well as shaming the club into restoring the graves of others at Craigton cemetery . That alone would have earned my admiration but they also pursued a complaint against BBC Sport Scotland all the way to the BBC trust and won their agreement that their complaint was valid . Instructions on compliance where forwarded to Pacific Quay , or was it Pacific Shelf , its hard to tell the two apart sometimes or where one ends and the other begins . I’ve no doubt that future complaints will reference this ruling and eventually get the message across. Well done on your efforts as well as the research you’ve unearthed regarding state aid to a Glasgow football club that is being investigated by a European commission . I have no doubts this would not have happened had you and other dedicate Rangers fans not shone a light on these shameful incidents.
APATHY
At the time of writing , Rangers International Football Club Plc , the trading name for Rangers on the London stock exchange has the club valued as follows:
( GB £ ) per share 26p ( approx.)
total Shares issued 65,100,000
Shares owned by fans 7,812,000 12% ( approx. )
Shares owned by A McCoist 2,278,500 3.5 % ( approx )
leaving shares owned by others 55,009,500 (approx )
If just the 40,000 fans that turned up on Saturday paid into £3.43 ( approx ) a week for two years they’d have £14.302470. which is enough to buy the 55,009,500 at todays prices .
Simplistic I know, I realise that these shares are not all available for sale at this moment I time. What is a fact is that there are more shares for sale than there are Rangers supporters wanting to buy them. We do not need to own the whole club , 51% fan ownership seems to be the best model fiscally while still providing for the needs of the football team first.
Ask yourself this , if Rangers goes into Administration or liquidation again , and remember most of us thought it couldn’t happen before, what would you tell your kids or grand kids when they asked what happened to Rangers and did you try to stop it happening?
If you don’t think you can afford to buy some shares or join a syndicate to buy them through your bus or whatever then thats ok, but know the facts before you make that decision . You DON’T need to buy £500 or even £125 worth of shares at a time . You can shop about the various banks and buy as many or as few as you like , they will charge you brokerage fees but these are often fixed meaning you’ll pay much the same buying £10 worth as you would buying £100 worth. Yes if the club goes broke you could loose some or all the money you have in shares but be honest if Rangers went out of business would £100 worth of shares be the biggest concern to you?
The choice is yours , there is no hero waiting to do it for you #DoTheMath
Summa
mncelt
23:42 on 13 January, 2014
Thanks for your thoughts.
Had a ropey Christmas and New Year with a visit to ER with a raging fever.
Suppressed immune system doesn’t help.
I hope you had a great holiday shoveling snow and keeping warm.
We are heating here up at last and I’m looking forward to the resumption of combat on Saturday. Nice normal kick off for a wee change.
.
GG..
Hope you are Feeling better..It’s 43C here in Melbs and only 2pm..Got to hand it to these Tennis player playing for Hours in that..
And it’s to be like this or Hotter till Sat when the Cool change is coming..;-(
Summa
Summa
I’d swap in a minute.
We had a really cold snap with record lows.
Fortunately I don’t have to shovel snow. That’s what kids and grand kids are for?
I never made it to Melbourne but I did spend a pleasant 10 days in Sydney and Canberra.
On the first day I walked,over the bridge and ate on the Wharf.
On wandering around the Rocks I came across a bar full of guys in hoops singing rebel songs.
Took me a while to get home.
By DAVID FRIEL Published: 3 hrs ago
STEFAN JOHANSEN jetted in to seal his £1.5million move to Celtic last night and told Neil Lennon: I’ll be your pass master.
The Stromsgodset playmaker could complete his Hoops switch today after undergoing a medical.
SunSport exclusively revealed Lenny’s interest in the Norwegian last week before the Hoops upped their pursuit over the weekend.
Johansen, 23, left the national team’s Abu Dhabi winter training camp yesterday to fly to Glasgow.
He said: “I am a passing player and Celtic try to play football, so that is why this seemed right. What can Celtic fans expect of me? I will try to do my best and improve my game.
“If all goes to plan, I’m going to have the medical on Tuesday and I’ll be very happy if it all works out.
“Of course there is always a chance it won’t happen. But I’m happy to be here and hopeful.”
Celtic have agreed a fee with Stromsgodset and personal terms are expected to be a formality on a three and a half-year deal when he meets Hoops chief Peter Lawwell today.
Celts beat off interest from a host of top clubs to land Johansen.
Several Bundesliga clubs wanted the midfielder, while Manchester City and AC Milan also watched him in the past.
Johansen added: “I was attracted to Celtic because it’s a very big club. They play in the Champions League and lead the Scottish league. Celtic has a big attraction.”
Johansen will be Celts’ first major signing of the transfer window, with more set to follow. Boss Lennon revealed the Hoops are set to increase their efforts to land more players in this transfer window.
Lenny has been scouring Europe looking for talent and moved for Johansen after sending new scout Peter Houston on spying missions.
Johansen was a key man as Stromsgodset won the Norwegian title last season, scooping a host of personal awards, and is Norway’s current Player of the Year.
Stromsgodset coach Ronnie Deila is gutted to lose his star man — but gave Johansen’s Celtic move his blessing.
Delia said: “It looks like the transfer will go ahead. He has been given permission to talk to Celtic. The move is very deserved.
“I’m proud to have been allowed to play a part in his development.
“He is the first player we’ve had at Stromsgodset who has been good enough to get to the Norwegian national team.
“Stefan has taken football at this club to a new dimension and he has kept improving.”
By ROBERT GRIEVE Published: 3 hrs ago
MIKAEL LUSTIG had a close shave — but no blade was involved.
Lustig had his hip bone trimmed by a surgeon’s scalpel.
Now he is desperate to be back in action within two months and be razor sharp in time for Celtic’s Double chase.
Lustig said: “I’m fine now, the doctor was very happy with how the operation went and I feel good about things. They shaved off some of the bone on my hips to ease my pain.
“It was down to stress and strain and while I could have played on I had to do it at some point, and the decision was taken that now was as a good a time as any.
“Some weeks I was OK and other times I struggled to finish games. The pain was coming and going, but I felt something in every game.
“In the mornings and at training I would feel it.
“I could not train as normal, but hopefully now when I come back I will be at 100 per cent.
“It has only been three weeks since the op so I don’t have a specific timescale.
“There is no big rush and while I want to be back as soon as possible I don’t want to push things and have a setback.
“But I’m keeping my fingers crossed I’ll be ready for the end of March.
“There is still so much to look forward to, and I hope there are big games at the end of the season I will be playing in and feel a part of things.”
Lustig has been one of Neil Lennon’s stars of the season.
His form has been consistently good even when the Hoops struggled on the Champions League stage, with the Celts boss quick to heap praise on the Swedish right-back.
Lustig added: “It’s nice to hear the gaffer saying that.
“I’m satisfied with my season and hopefully I will come back at the same level.
“It was only at the end of the games I was feeling bad.
“It is difficult to say what percentage I was playing at. In the first half of the season I was 100 per cent, and only near the end before the op did I feel pain.
“Now when I’m back at Lennoxtown and only able to do my rehab I reckon that is when it will hit me hardest, and I will really start to miss my football.”
Lustig knows he has a fight to win his place back in the side with Adam Matthews providing stiff competition.
Lustig said: “We look really strong at the back, this is not news for me as I know we have a really good team.
“We are a team that wants to compete in Europe and win trophies domestically, and we have a very strong group of players.”
NEIL LENNON has a lengthy list of January transfer targets for Celtic.
But Norwegian star Stefan Johansen was always the Juan he really wanted.
Former Hoops ace Vidar Riseth insists Lenny has pulled off a masterstroke in landing the Stromsgodset playmaker.
He believes his gifted compatriot is Norway’s answer to Chelsea’s silky Spaniard Juan Mata.
Riseth says snapping up Johansen — who arrived in Glasgow last night — is a major coup as Lenny rebuilds for another tilt at the Champions League.
He told SunSport: “Stefan’s style of play and position is quite like Mata at Chelsea.
“They are similar in the sense that they are both very technical and creative players, who operate in the same areas.
“Like Mata, Stefan loves to find pockets of space in the pitch to make chances for the forwards.
“He was the best players in Norway last season and he is ready for this step. It’s the perfect move for him.
“Stefan can be a massive signing for Celtic. He has improved a lot over the last few years and is only going to get better in Scotland.
“Lenny will get the best out of him. He can play wide left, but he is better through the middle where he can really hurt the opposition.
“Stefan loves to be at the centre of things. He loves to get on the ball and make things happen.
Old Bhoy riseth celebrates League Cup win in 2000
“A player of his talent and ability would be an asset to most clubs in Europe, so it’s an impressive signing for Celtic.
“We are told the fee is around £1.5million and that is a fair price for him. I have no doubts he will be a major success at the club.”
Riseth, 41, claims close pal and Celtic No2 Johan Mjallby had NOT called him for the lowdown on Johansen.
He revealed a host of Bundesliga clubs have asked for his opinion on the hottest property in Norwegian football.
He admits he’s THRILLED Johansen snubbed this interest to sign for Celtic — as it will give his beloved Rosenborg a chance of winning the league in the coming season.
He said: “Personally, this is a win-win situation for me. I love Celtic and I am always happy when they sign Norwegian players.
“But he is also Stromsgodset’s best player so it can only be a good thing for Rosenborg that he has gone.
“I haven’t spoken to Johan about him but I must admit there were a lot of German clubs asking my advice.
“I know there was real interest in Stefan last year, but he wanted to stay in Norway to win the title.
Mata with his Champions League winner’s medal in 2012
Catherine Ivill/AMA
“He did that AND won the Player of the Year, so it was a wise move. He has now earned his big transfer and I couldn’t be happier for him.”
Riseth, who had three years at Celtic, believes that Champions League involvement was the major attraction for Johansen.
The Norway internationalist has never played in Europe’s elite competition — and wants a crack at it.
Riseth is adamant that Johansen won’t look out of place at the highest level with Celtic.
The 23-year-old will swap the extreme wilds of north-west Norway for a faster pace of life in Glasgow’s East End but Riseth expects the grounded midfielder to take the move in his stride and handle the pressure.
He said: “Playing for Celtic will be a new experience for Stefan. He’s moving to one of the biggest clubs in Europe.
“There is pressure and expectation on every player, but that won’t bother him at all.
“I know for a fact that he wanted to join a team who play in the Champions League year in, year out.
“Celtic will give him that platform and I expect him to really rise to the challenge.
“Stefan is a creative player — very skilful and full of imagination but he can look after himself. He is strong in the tackle and will handle the physical side of the Scottish game.
“At first, it will be different for him. The pace of the game and the size of the club is different to what he has experienced before.
“But he will grow to love Celtic. He will already be aware of the fans and he will enjoy playing in front of them.”
Riseth also believes Johansen’s move to Parkhead will help cement his place in Per-Mathias Hogmo’s new-look Norway side.
The national coach is desperate to build a young, exciting side around the new Celtic star.
Riseth believes six-times capped Johansen will have a long international career ahead of him.
He said: “Stefan was an outstanding player for the Norway youth teams and Under-21s. He was always among the best at his age group and it was no surprise that he earned a call-up to the full squad recently.
“The new national coach is building for the future and Stefan will have an important part to play for Norway.
“A few of the younger boys have moved abroad recently and joining Celtic can only help Stefan.
“He will be challenging for trophies and playing at a high level in the Champions League.
“At this stage of his career, this is the type of move he needs to really push on to that next stage.
“Stefan has EVERYTHING you need to be a success at Celtic. He is the all-round midfielder and the Celtic supporters are in for a real treat.”
By ROBERT GRIEVE Published: 4 hrs ago
ROBERTO MANCINI has tipped Nir Biton to become a huge Celtic success — and is still gutted that he couldn’t sign the midfielder for Manchester City.
Biton was superb against Mancini’s Galatasaray in the Antalya Cup final in Turkey on Sunday.
The Israeli then spoke about how he missed out on joining the Premiership giants because of a red-tape wrangle.
Biton failed to land a work permit to sign for City — but Mancini now predicts he’ll take Celtic by storm.
The Italian coach said: “I know Biton well.
“He worked with me at Manchester City two years ago and he’s a really good player.
“He is improving and I believe he can become a really good playmaker for Celtic at the top level. I’m sure of this.
“I wanted to take him at City, but you know how the rules are in England with work permits and that became a big problem. It was an issue about government and not football ability.
“But he can become very important for Celtic.”
The Italian coach was hugely impressed by Celts’ kids in the Antalya Cup tournament.
Neil Lennon named an inexperienced line-up on Sunday night, fielding SIX teenagers against the Turkish champions.
Mancini added: “Celtic is a top team in Europe and they have a young side.
“They played very well against Trabzon and us.
“They need to improve but they have youth on their side.”
James Forrest was Celtic’s best player against Galatasaray as he led by example as skipper for the night.
He missed the decisive penalty in the shoot- out but Mancini was still impressed with the Scotland winger.
He said: “Forrest is a good player. I’m sure he can go on to play at the highest level.”
By RODGER BAILLIE Published: 4 hrs ago
IN Parliamo Glasgow they called him ‘The Wee Barra’ because he was pint-sized… but no one ever took liberties with Bobby Collins.
The former Celtic and Leeds idol, just 5ft4 tall, died yesterday a month short of his 83rd birthday.
I watched him often towards the end of his long first-class career, which remarkably was the most significant spell of his time as a top player.
It was a career that began in controversy. There was a tussle between Celtic and Everton to win the Govanhill teenager’s signature from nearby Pollok Juniors.
Celtic eventually won that off-the-park battle and Collins quickly established himself in the Hoops first-team, firstly as a winger and then in every other forward position except leader of the attack.
He kept his place even when he was one of those whose two-year National Service stint was not in the forces, but as a miner.
He worked at Valleyfield pit in Fife, and trained at Cowdenbeath after a day down the mine.
Celtic’s post-war successes were intermittent, but he played a part in most of them.
The Scottish Cup victory in 1951, the Coronation Cup two years later and in 1953-54 the League title but not the Scottish Cup.
The all-powerful Parkhead chairman Sir Robert Kelly dictated the team selection, and one of his incredible decisions was dropping Collins for the 1955 Scottish Cup Final replay against Clyde, which the Shawfield side won.
It was claimed Kelly left him out because of an over-robust shoulder charge on Clyde keeper Ken Hewkins in the first game.
However, Collins was back in favour for Celtic’s legendary 7-1 crushing of rivals Rangers in the 1957 League Cup Final — but amazingly less than a year later he was on his way out of Celtic Park along with play-maker Willie Fernie.
Ten years after he might have joined Everton, he finally signed for the Goodison club. Legend had it the £23,500 fee paid for the new Parkhead floodlights, and repairs to holes in the roof of the Jungle enclosure.
The move was a bitter blow to emerging talents such as Billy McNeill and Pat Crerand who looked on him as a mentor.
Crerand, no admirer of Sir Robert, later alleged Celtic said the players left because they were ‘dissatisfied’.
And Pat, himself later to move to Manchester United, said bitterly: “If the club had added the words ‘with the chairman’ it would have been the truth.”
Collins stayed four years with Everton, when Don Revie swooped to take him to Leeds and as skipper he was one of the cornerstones of their climb to the top of English football.
Elland Road team-mate Eddie Gray described Bobby in an emotional tribute last night as “the most influential player in Leeds history”.
Not everyone agreed. Revie’s men were the most physical team of the 60s and 70s and Crerand, after one bitter clash between Revie’s side and Manchester United, labelled Collins “a dirty little sod”.
Bobby’s form even won him a Scotland recall, after six years in the wilderness. First Ian McColl and then his old Celtic team-mate Jock Stein kept him there.
He won the English Player of the Year title in 1965 and I was one of the audience at London’s Café Royal to see him presented with the award.
However, he suffered a broken thigh in a Fairs Cities Cup tie against Torino in Italy later that year, and his top-class career was effectively over.
Bobby returned to Scotland for a two-year spell with Morton, snapped up by the publicity-conscious Hal Stewart.
But the remainder of his playing and coaching career saw him move to Australia and then flit round a succession of lower league English clubs.
He had been unwell in recent years.
No lack of praise for Johansen. I hope he is not a project, a work in progress.
Maybe he will be a straight replacement for the reluctant Ledley.
With Biton and Commons will we be strong and creative enough to compensate for the loss of Ledley and Sammi?