The Craig Whyte narrative. Kris, Leo.

Best news of the day?  Kris Commons wants to be involved tomorrow against Barcelona.  I doubt Kris is anywhere near match fit, so there’s no chance of him starting on Wednesday against Astana, but a 15 minute cameo, when the Astana players’ body clocks are telling them it’s after 2am, would go down a treat.

I’ve always been a bit more ambivalent about Leonel Messi than most.  “He’s not hit the levels of Ronaldinho” is my stock comment, and then there’s the dirty little subject.  (Tax).

But his media comments ahead of tomorrow’s International Champions Cup game, “I have a Celtic jersey at home. The games against Celtic were special and I want to remember them”, proves there’s substance to the man.

I’ve a Celtic jersey at home too, Leo.  A few of us here do.

Former-Rangers former vice-chairman Donald Findlay is to defend Craig Whyte is his forthcoming trial.

Whyte’s urban legend is going to be difficult to shift, but it’s not accurate.  We mocked Rangers fans a few years ago, referring to him as “Our Hero” but he never was.  He was the bag man for a very dirty job.

How he handled the SFA, Uefa, HMRC and, most crucially, the insolvency court, when he managed to secure the appointment of Duff and Phelps as Rangers administrators was crucial in the continuation of football at Ibrox.

It was Duff and Phelps who gave Newco the right to use the name “Rangers”, after which point Whyte could claim he was passing on “Rangers”.  Everyone else mocked this liquidation fantasy at the time.  Until liquidation became a reality, that is.

Whyte left Newco relatively safe in the hands of Charles Green, where it would have thrived, if it hadn’t faced a hostile and damaging takeover bid from its first week of life.

Our auction prize, donated by (the pretty fabulous) Celtic sponsor, Intelligent Car Leasing, closes just after 1pm today.

You can win:

2 seats in the directors’ box

Champagne reception

5 course meal in the Walfrid Suite

Fully expenses bar (pre and post-match)

Half time snacks and refreshments

Car Parking

At the game against Kilmarnock on 24 September.

Money raised from the auction will go towards building a school kitchen in Malawi for Mary’s Meals. It it will be the 5th CQN school kitchen.

Our four existing kitchens feed over 2000 primary aged kids every day. School attendance has increased 30% since kitchens were built, as kids attend for their daily meal. This has an impact on health, education and life chances.

You can follow the auction on eBay here.  Thank you.

I’m off to Aberdour now for the 12th annual CQN Golf Open.  I’ll be the one holding the jackets.

See you then.