Sanctimonious nonsense about Celtic fans from ex-Ranger

I’ve read sanctimonious nonsense about how Celtic fans are enjoying these times, on how they should feel instead, and on how they will feel, one day.  I’ve also read what utterings our chief executive and manager should limit themselves to.

Our manager and directors have so far said very little on the subject of Rangers, only responding to direct questions or when you, the Celtic fans, were brought into the debate, without reference to any of us, by the First Minister.  Their response to Mr Salmond brought a swift and appropriate retraction.

It concerns me greatly that Scottish Premier League championships could have been won by a team playing improperly registered football players.  It would concern me even more if my concerns, your concerns, were not shared by the people charged with speaking on our behalf.  It is the responsibility of Neil Lennon and Peter Lawwell to leave no Celtic supporter in any doubt that they will vigorously pursue our supporters’ historical and future interests.

Mark Hateley’s piece on today’s Daily Record betrays a lot of hurt.  He concedes this season’s title to Celtic, which he regards as “tainted”.

As someone suggested in the CQN comments section this week, “We don’t need your stinkin’ 10 point penalty”….. we have another 10 point lead in reserve.

Hately suggests you should have the “good grace” to move on as his club “attempts to battle for its very existence”, adding, “There is no need for the likes of Lennon and Peter Lawwell to continue to sink the boot in”.

We will move on once justice has been done and is seen to be done.  Anyone who suggests otherwise, that somehow justice, the maintenance of ethical standards in the game, or even legality, are not things football fans, managers or directors should concern themselves with, has perhaps headed too many footballs in his time.

The coup-de-grace from Hateley was “So let Celtic get on with celebrating their title – a title they somehow failed to win throughout the last three years of financial troubles”.  Does anyone believe Rangers would have won three leagues had they paid their tax instead of singing Jelavic, Lafferty, Davis, Edu, Naismith or Bougherra?

I think this guy is missing the point. If the First Tier Tribunal report confirms already-made allegations that Rangers improperly registered football players, this bling that Hateley is flashing in your face is ill-gotten.

The Celtic manager, directors and support, together with most others in Scottish football, have to ensure that Fifa rules on the registration of football players is not subverted.

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