Sports Digest: Glasgow Rangers woes cut hurts Celtic

Glasgow Celtic could be crowned Scottish champions sooner rather than later after Rangers took the decision to go into administration.

The Old Firm club have been hit with tax demands totaling almost $100 million, and are potentially heading out of business.

Rangers look certain to be deducted points after going down the administration route, and that will aid Celtic.

But Bhoys chief executive Peter Lawwell has dismissed suggestions that Celtic’s future depends on its rivalry with Rangers.

“The way we would look at is we don’t need Rangers,” insisted Lawwell. “We have a strategy that we have embarked on, that’s independent of Rangers or any other club in Scotland.

“We have a vision, horizons and aspirations which are in Scotland and beyond that, in terms of European progression.

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“So that’s what we are focusing on. In terms of Rangers’ situation at the moment, nobody really knows what the facts are.

“I think it is inappropriate for us to comment on it. We are getting on with it, we are independent in terms of where we want to take the club and that’s what we will continue to do.

“Five years ago we said that we could no longer compete at the highest level, we could no longer attract the Premier League players that we had done, so we invested a lot of money in our recruitment and academy and creating, hopefully, a center of excellence with the tentacles going far and wide.”

When asked if Scottish football could survive and thrive without Rangers, Lawwell replied, “If people take some clues from what we are doing, then why not

“Again, I think it needs big thinkers. It needs people to think outside the box.”

Celtic were far from impressive on the field when they beat Inverness 1-0 on Saturday, thanks to a Joe Ledley goal, with manager Lennon set to appeal the red card dished out to defender Daniel Majstorovic.

Majstorovic was shown a straight red card by referee Steven McLean for a “last man” challenge on Caley’s Irish midfielder Jonny Hayes.

“I am going to speak to the club about it and see if there is grounds for appeal,” said Lennon. “I thought he got the ball. How the linesman could give it is beyond me and there were some very inconsistent decisions out there today.

“I think both sets of coaching staff were unhappy with the performance today. But I don’t think the referee got much help from either of his linesmen.

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Nster.com