Rule\u00a012.7 of Champions League regulation states that a\u00a0match must be played: “either at the ground of the home club or at another ground in the same or another city within the territory of its association”<\/p>\n
Which makes a mockery of any plans to play next summers qualifiers in Newcastle, Dublin or anywhere else for that matter. France or Spain might be all the same, but we can’t go anywhere after all. It will be in Scotland, which makes Murrayfield favourite, as Ibrox will be undergoing renovation during those months.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Its astonishing that no-one in the press has picked up on this rule, and disappointing that Lawwell hasn’t noticed it either. That, after all, is the sort of thing he gets paid to do. Or was it just a wee bit of deflection and posturing during a lot of deflecting and posturing when it comes to choosing venues for important games ?<\/p>\n
The Ramsdens Cup Final, contested by non-Premier League clubs to give them a bit of extra revenue,and a shot at winning something, will be held at Easter Road, in Edinburgh, which is handy for the two sides involved. Second Rangers, from Glasgow, and Raith Rovers, from Kirkcaldy, will make the short trip to the capital for the game, and there has been a bit of moaning from the Ibrox clubs boss, Ally Mccoist, over the choice;<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are fine about that and I don\u2019t have a problem with it at all. For the reasons I\u2019ve given, it\u2019s maybe a strange decision but we\u2019re not going to moan about it. ”<\/p>\n
Oh, my mistake. He’s not moaning at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the Scottish Cup final can get held at Celtic Park, I\u2019d have thought the Ramsdens Cup final could have been held at Celtic Park too. ”<\/p>\n
Well, maybe just a bit of a moan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat baffles me, to be honest. If I\u2019m the managing director of the sponsors, I\u2019d want it at the biggest venue.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would have been an opportunity for coverage and revenue. That would have been more sensible to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve decided to take the game to Edinburgh and in doing that, I would have given it to the club (Hearts) that needs the money.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d have given the final to a team that\u2019s in administration and tried to help them out that way but for whatever reason the game\u2019s at Easter Road. ”<\/p>\n
Er, actually , quite a bit of a moan.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re delighted to be in a cup final and we\u2019ll go to Edinburgh but I can understand why our fans aren\u2019t happy about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m on their side. I want as many Rangers supporters wanting us in that cup final as humanly possible. ( I think he means watching )<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got 36,000 season ticket holders and I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any doubt we could fill wherever with our supporters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oh , give it a rest. Celtic don’t want your fans at Celtic Park. No-one wants your fans.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
You coudn’t afford the repair bill anyway.<\/p>\n
The final is on Sunday April 6. Celtic are at Dundee Utd the day before, and there are no \u00a0games scheduled for Celtic Park in April at all as yet. So, reading between the lines, we really don’t want them anywhere near the place.<\/p>\n
McCoist wrapped up; ( And we all wish he would )<\/p>\n
\u201cOne thing I would say is at least we know where we are. A marker has been put down and the rules have been made so we can get on with it. ”<\/p>\n
Er, since when did your club follow rules ? And as for knowing ” where we are “, your club doesn’t even know who they are.<\/p>\n
All this seems to be in response to the decision to give the Scottish cup Final to Celtic Park, which looks more and more like a concession to allow the two Semi Finals to be played at Ibrox, which at least means there will be a couple of important games there this season.<\/p>\n
Derek Johnstone, in the Evening Times, gave his views on the matter, but they aren’t worth repeating. They make McCoist sound reasonably intelligent. Although this bit cannot escape unnoticed;<\/p>\n
” I know that supporters of many other clubs in Scotland will be having a laugh at Rangers playing in the Ramsdens Cup final.<\/p>\n
But look where the Glasgow club was 18 months ago. To have the chance to win a trophy, any trophy, highlights the progress that has been made. ”<\/p>\n
It didn’t exist eighteen months ago, so he’s right. Its a great achievement. At least, thats how I read it.<\/p>\n
Anyway, enough of them. You could do a whole page on their nonsense, and that would just lower the tone.<\/p>\n
Fraser Forster is now wanted by Manchester City to replace Joe Hart. Poor Joe, he must be shaking every time he hears the big fellows name, which isn’t going to help him during games. The price is now \u00a310m , and one source claims that in order to speed up the deal , there may be some players offered as sweeteners…although one would have thought the cash would be better, then we could buy who we want .<\/p>\n
Actually, maybe the player swap thing would work in our favour, especially as our scouts can’t seem to land a top striker. We could have one of theirs. The current squad has these guys listed as strikers<\/p>\n
Yeah, cash it is.<\/p>\n
Speaking of cash, Peter Lawwell is away out to China to sign a deal with a compnay which will represent the clubs business interests out there;<\/p>\n
The words in brackets are mine, the rest are his;<\/p>\n
\u201cChina is an extraordinary developing country and a powerhouse and whenever these nations develop, football follows.”<\/p>\n
( except in matters of basic human rights, such as the right to life, for instance. )<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are football crazy, mainly about the Premier League and Champions League but with our profile and exposure, people are now talking about Celtic. ”<\/p>\n
( No, they are not. You are )<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a lot of outward investment coming from China into the UK. They are looking for a presence and they are looking to invest in a lot of Western European companies and brands. ”<\/p>\n
( But not looking to ease up on press censorship, or killing female babies. )<\/p>\n
\u201cFootball follows and we are going out there to find out what is going on. ”<\/p>\n
( er, press censorship and killing female babies. I just told you. )<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will sign an agreement with a Chinese company who are going to represent us. ”<\/p>\n
( Though presumably not in discussions regarding safety in the workplace. Or killing female babies. )<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not investment into the club. It\u2019s about sponsorship, commercial and maybe some social projects and it\u2019s off our own back. ”<\/p>\n
( and your bonus. )<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll go to Beijing as we,have contacts there and it\u2019s all about getting the Celtic name out there \u2013 whether that is through social, grassroots projects, whether it is academies here or sponsorship. ”<\/p>\n
( or cheap , exploited labour. No fuss over zero hours contracts out there, Peter. )<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a Champions League club, that is the proposition. ”<\/p>\n
\u201cThe difficulty we have in any international sponsorship is the competition, which is mainly the Premier League. They say they have three billion people who watch the English league.<\/p>\n
\u201cManchester United claim they have 600 million supporters. That is the challenge. How do we, playing in Scotland with little exposure, attract sponsorship? ”<\/p>\n
( We could start by dealing with countries that have a free press and try to keep their female babies alive. )<\/p>\n
\u201cChampions League is one. For Chinese companies looking to establish themselves in Europe, they get a bit of profile.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Chinese businesses who are buying brands to take back, it gives profile. ”<\/p>\n
( And for a Chinese government desperately trying to avoid mention of an appalling record on human rights, it allows them a pretence at being a civilised, advanced nation )<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully, they like us and our values and want to be part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
( Frankly, I don’t give a fuck if they like us, and its fairly obvious they don’t like our values. Or female babies, free speech etc, but they do run over students with tanks, which I am in two minds about,though surely it should be enough just to make them do their own laundry ? )<\/p>\n
Perhaps on the plane, Lawwell should have a wee read of the clubs social charter. He \u00a0can find it at the beginning of most matchday programmes.<\/p>\n
Scott Brown will learn later today if his three match suspension will be reduced. He is in front of a twelve man panel who will decide if his half arsed challenge on Neymar is really worth missing three games. Darren Jonhstone, in the Scotsman described the incident, for those who may have forgotten-or have formed their own opinions;<\/p>\n
” Brown was shown a straight red card by French referee Stephan Lannoy in the 59th minute after he felled Neymar and then aimed a kick at the Brazilian.”<\/p>\n
Good job he’s not on the panel, otherwise the verdict may be different;<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Fernando Ricksen, former Rangers player , and lets be honest, the man we loved to hate, has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, a terrible illness which some years ago took the life of one of our favourites, Jimmy Johnstone. Thoughts and prayers go out to him, as begins his battle, and we wish him well.<\/p>\n
The Celtic FC foundation launched an appeal yesterday, and uniquely amongst charities , said that;<\/p>\n
Every penny raised will be spent to support those in need.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n They are trying to raise money to help 150 local families to have a proper Christmas, and remembering who we are, \u00a0where we came from, and what Celtic stands for, this deserves our support. The full story is here;<\/p>\n
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