A big well done to Ally McCoists Rangers yesterday. In the latest publicity campaign for Cancer Awareness, the Ibrox club fielded eleven cocks in socks for their visit to Brechin, where for  the current incarnation of the club, Scotlands brightest managerial prospect admitted it was “where it all started ” .

No-one pointed out to him the honesty of what he had said…

However, Celtic manager Neil Lennon showed his exasperation at claims he was courting offers from any EPL club that would have him;

” You answer a question honestly, and people can construe it any way they like.”

Well, the answer did seem pretty straightforward enough to us, but again, the question appears to have been  loaded.

“I just think it is ambition, at the end of the day. My work is not finished here yet. ”

You can see his point. Former Arsenal keeper Bob Wilson reckons that Arsene Wenger could quit the Emirates when he wins the league. Mind you, that probably means he’s in for another thousand games.

“But, I think the majority of managers in Britain would like to have a go at the Premier League. Whether that ever happens to me or not, I don’t know.”

He needs to be careful. He inadvertently is putting himself on the “will listen to offers ” list. And thats being kind.

Lennon also answered claims that Celtic are spending an awful lot of time watching Benfica, by denying all knowledge of the fact;

“There’s nothing I am aware of. We have got scouts everywhere, and Benfica are a top team.

“But, affordability might be a problem.”

Never believe anything until its been denied.

Anyway, he then shifted his attention to Anthony Stokes, the enigmatic Irish striker who has often flattered to deceive;

“There was some great performances and I was delighted with Stokes,I thought his all-round game merited the goal he got at the end.

“I think he has had a good season.

“I don’t think he has scored as many as he would like. He has been prolific in the last two or three seasons.

“So this hasn’t been his best in terms of goals return but for consistency I think it has been his best season.”

I wouldn’t have said he had been prolific, but he does seem to be getting back to a run of form, similar to when he was alongside Gary Hooper. Perhaps the arrival of Leigh Griffiths, and the spark of enthusiasm the new man brings to the side, has kick started his own revival.

Ah. Leigh Griffiths. He gives the impression that he would play every day given the chance, and twice at weekends, such is his appetite for the game;

“I just want to get as many good performances under my belt, get this season over and done with and when next season comes we can take it in our stride,” he said.

“It would be nice to get to double figures. There are still a lot of games to go and I know I’m going to get chances. At a club like Celtic, you are always going to get scoring opportunities as we always create space and dominate teams, so it’s just about putting them in the back of the net if I can.”

“It was different last year with Hibs because you weren’t expected to win every game, but here the manager demands so much of you, and at a club like Celtic, you are expected to win every game,” said the striker.

“It’s hard but we have the players in the squad to cope with that and you have seen that over the course of the season.

“We have only been beaten once since I have been here and we want to go on another unbeaten run. You want pressure and you have to be able to handle it at a big club.

“The manager has brought me in to score goals as he saw I could handle the pressure of playing front on my own with Hibs, and that’s why I’m here.”

Even if he fails, the support will appreciate his effort. No matter who we had signed during the last window, they would not have had the attitude of the former Hibs and Wolves man. Here we have a man who has been given an opportunity and is grabbing it with both hands-or feet-with several goals and assists already to his name.

Anyone who felt their whelm was distinctly undered when he arrived, should surely now be reconsidering.

Someone else desperatley trying to court favour with the Celtic support, but almost certainly for his own ends is journalist and broadcaster Hugh Keevins. He published an article praising ~Neil Lennon for deciding to lend his name to a campaign by PFA Scotland and the Scottish Association for Mental Health.

For which he deserves praise for bringing it to the attention of the public;

Hugh Keevins: Courageous Celtic boss Neil

Lennon’s unselfish act of sacrifice is for the

greater good of all

HUGH talks about the Celtic manager’s decision to stand up and become the poster boy for the new film by PFA Scotland and the Scottish Association For Mental Health.

But then, in the first paragraph, he hints at the real reason for his decision to publish….

YOU don’t need to be on speaking terms with someone, or even allowed access to his team’s ground, to be able to pay tribute to that person.

In fact, you don’t actually have to mention it at all. Its irrelevant. 

The rest of the article is actually very good, by Keevins and the Records standards its positively breathtaking, and is worth a read.

Keevins article

Some of you won’t bother reading it, simply because its by Hugh Keevins, which is unfair. The Diary is quick to criticise journalists when they fall below the standard you would expect from a national medium, so its only fair to offer praise when they come up with something worthwhile.

Another campaign to raise awareness has been all over social media recently, you’ve probably noticed it, where ladies pose without make-up in front of their phones. It seems to have worked, with thousands of pounds being raised for Cancer Awareness.

Four WAGs from Celtic have added their contribution;

The girls, Lisa Hague, Vikki Burns, Alana Mulgrew and Rike Nooitgedagt, team up without their make-up which again shows that the players families are getting the feel for the  charitable side of the club.

Not to be outdone, their counterparts from south of the river added theirs…

And credit to Aberdeen as well.

Actually, Aberdeen dominate the back pages today..especially after their successful visit to Glasgow.

Sorry, I meant this one.

Finally the papers have latched on to the fact that with a wee bit of ambition, there will be a challenge from the clubs within the league.

Milne said: “The pressure is on us now to keep delivering. Over the years we’ve always backed our managers and we’ll back Derek as much as we possibly can.

“The reality is that you have to live within your means, you can’t find big slugs of money that don’t exist.

Hopefully, he’ll get better at making up phrases as well. 

“But what I can say to the fans is we’ll do everything in our powers to back Derek in every way we can.

“We want a successful team in this city and off the park we’ll do our bit to make sure it happens.

“The challenge is to get closer to Celtic in the league. But we’re only going to achieve that if we have four or five clubs up there challenging them.

“The gap won’t close if it’s just one team.”

“There are a lot of encouraging signs in Scottish football. We have been through a period where we dragged the game down.

“But it’s time to speak up for Scottish football again because we’re back on the rails again.

Ah, good. He just did. 

Its great to see other clubs starting to believe that they  will offer a challenge, its better to see that its a realistic belief. Its even better that  its on a level playing field…

Though we need to be ready for the challenge of the new club. By the sounds of it, they’re a handy outfit;

Perhaps its a good thing that Mental Health is being highlighted in the media.  Some people clearly do need help.

Now, we all know that the new club is obsessed with setting records, like the old one did years ago, such as biggest defeat in a domestic final, biggest aggregate defeat in a European semi final, and so on.

It also appears they want to be the first club to sue a supporter for expressing his opinion! Tucked away at the side of the back page reprinted above is this story;

Its from the pen of Keith Jackson, but we don’t know who dictated it to him.

THE high-profile Rangers fan caught up in a legal war with one of the Ibrox club’s directors last night revealed he is facing bankruptcy.

Some supporters would have just bought the replica top, this guy must be dedicated.

Record Sport told earlier this month how Sandy Easdale had threatened to take Sons of Struth founder Craig Houston to court in a row over comments made on the internet.

Now Houston has received a summons and a claim for £200,000 of damages – a sum he admits would ruin him.

What sort of damages ?

The 41-year-old is now bracing himself for a court battle after refusing to sign a gagging order that would have ended the action.

Speaking exclusively to Record Sport Houston said: “I have received a Court of Session summons and a claim for defamation of Alexander Easdale. The claim is for £200,000 worth of damages to his reputation.

His reputation ? What did he say ?

“I’m just a normal guy – I don’t have that kind of money. So if this goes against me I’d have no other option but to declare myself bankrupt.

“I have also been given an option of signing a gagging order but these claims relate to things posted on our Facebook page by other people. There is nothing I can do about that.

So other people have said it ? Whatever it was.

“The only way I could guarantee having no further problem would be to close the Sons of Struth Facebook page. I’m sure that is what Mr Easdale would like.

“But in spite of this threat I am not tempted to do that. This is about what is right and wrong. Morally and legally I believe I have a strong case.

“But I’m not a judge so I can’t be certain of victory and as a father with two children the consequences of losing are terrifying. I stand to lose everything. I’d be ruined.”

Oh, i feel a fighting fund coming on. Actually, this is a serious issue. The boy is right to stand up for free speech. Its an opinion, after all, and opinions cannot be libellous.

Houston, who runs his own cleaning company as well as the fans’ protest group, could lose his business and home if bus tycoon Easdale wins.

Easdale instructed lawyers to act after blasting the online remarks as “libellous” and “personal slurs”.

But Houston – who did not make the comments in question – said: “I’ve made his lawyers aware of similar posts made on three other forums.

“As I see it, my only crime is being vocal in my criticism of the Rangers board. I can’t think of another fan of any other club who has been taken to court for not liking the people running his club.”

To be fair, if rumours are true, then theres a lot more to dislike about the New Rangers board. Or , at least the one they have this week. Especially if you are a fan who has been fleeced by and lied to by the current incumbents.

However, Easdale said: “He’s got a choice to end this by signing a letter and agreeing to stop these personal attacks.
“If he does that then we don’t go to court. Simple. That is his way out but he chose to ignore it. That suggests to me he intends to continue spreading detrimental comments about myself. So this is action I must take.

“I don’t want to go to court but I can’t allow this stuff to continue. He’s not being picked on.

“If any libellous comments are made on any website and brought to my attention they are acted upon by my lawyers.”

Good old Sandy, I’ve always liked him and I’m sure that those scurrilous rumours about any dodgy business practices are completely untrue, and he’s never been anywhere near a box of matches in his life. Neither have any of his pals. 

Ach , well, if the lad does go bankrupt, he can always come back as a new company.

I’m a little concerned that the Record hasn’t leapt to his defence, however, them being champions of free speech and investigative journalism themselves…. Although Tom English deserves praise for this, from twitter;

” Rangers director Sandy Easdale, previously banged up for VAT fraud, threatening to silence/bankrupt a fan for impugning his character. Bully ”

Bobby Collins was the man in yesterdays picture, seen wheeling a wee barra from a coalmine on his day off.

Fitness regimes were a bit tougher in those days.

What was “quite interesting ” about this game ?

Apart from the obvious.

Finally, Ally McCoist is right not to worry about the upcoming semi fianl against dundee Utd. billy Davies has been sacked by Nottingham Forest, and he can run the club into the ground just as effectively as the cheery chunkster .

And he’s cheap.