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I think the finance chap is saying Rangers will be wealthier than celtic if Rangers get a lot if money and celtic don’t. I can agree with that.

Are Ian Maxwell and Dr John MacLean really 'Celtic-minded'? Hillhead High School in the 1970s wasn't known as a breeding ground for Yahoos it has to be said. If anything his preferences might lie in the Maryhill direction, but to be honest as a doctor I've still got faith that any personal preferences he might have are ignored when it comes to healthcare decisions. I'm fairly confident Maxwell doesn't have allegiances in the east of the city either, but he might simply be incompetent, it can be hard to tell those two apart sometimes. Doncaster and Petrie need watched at all times though. For what it's worth I'm less suspicious of this. I suspect this has been done to clear the clubs of the accusations and ensure all protocols are being followed in case someone does try to push that issue. I genuinely don't believe the SFA and SPFL want to call the season early or null and void and will do all they can to avoid that. With the reported 'R' number dropping in central Scotland and lockdown continuing for another month or so, if football can keep its house in order for a few more weeks I think we'll be okay. What Lennon and his board might try next is hard to guess but the reality is his rant didn't bring enough of their support 'onside', most saw through it and the best way for their board to get the backing of their support again is to replace their manager. His appeal to their baser instincts failed, even with some compliant media backing, in the end even the most one-eyed Celtic supporter expects his team to beat Livingston reserves and gets angry when they don't.

All this talk of 'Champions' gives me the fear. We've won nothing yet, nothing. If the heat is turned up on Desmond I think we can expect changes down London Road way, he's never struck me as someone who'll take public criticism for very long. I was hoping Lennon would get another year.

That's all good and well, but I thought the winners of the Europa League got automatic qualification through to the group stages of the Champions League? #notgettingcarriedawayatall

I must be bored so I decided check how much of a difference finishing first makes to who you can draw in the Champions league qualifying rounds by looking at this seasons rounds. You can get an idea from this below. Basically a bad draw and we could easily go out (Salzburg will be there again next season), but a good draw and it’s easy and only two games. League path is clearly harder and one additional tie that could go wrong. Champions Path Best Case 3rd qualifying round - Qarabag/Dynamo Brest Play-off - Molde/Omonia Worst Case 3rd qualifying round - Dinamo Zagreb Play-off - Red Bull Salzburg League Path Best Case 2nd qualifying round - Viktoria Plzeň 3rd qualifying round - Rapid Wien Play-off - Gent Worst Case 2nd qualifying round - PAOK/Besiktas 3rd qualifying round - Benfica Play-off - Dynamo Kiev

Hey, Sorry, was alerted to some errors today. Just took site offline to repair. Should be good to go!

think I’ve bought tickets for almost all of them, even the non/Rangers stuff ?

Fantastic, I want to see his pain and suffering to be a long, drawn out affair, and for him to see the champions beat his lot in their own midden again before.

Unless we spend it. i don't think that he mentions that, but it's an easy mistake for a financial guru to make.

And yes this is true. I don’t doubt for a minute that Gerrard is keeping the team laser focused and working on the assumption that they won’t drop another point all season. Unfortunately I have fallen into the #badjuju camp because I fully trust Gerrard to bring this one home now.

You may recall that fitba' has a Joint Response Group, created to provide a cordinated response to Covid 19 and its affects. This group comprises of the following experts: Rod Petrie; Ian Maxwell; Neil Doncaster; and Dr John MacLean, the SFA's Chief Medical Consultant. These are permanent members of the Group. You may recall also that, following Dubai Daredevils FC's middle eastern adventure, and publication of photos, etc, indicating, pretty clearly, to this observer, at least, that SFA protocols, requirements,etc. may have been honoured as much in the breach as in the observance, Mr Maxwell publicly defended that club. He declared that it had had 'permission' of some -unclear- kind to go, but he either erred, or deliberately deflected (you choose), by failing to mention the apparent breaches of strictures by the happy campers. Subsequently, if memory serves, Maxwell suggested that the Compliance Officer (who may or may not be in post) "may" deign to look at the photographic evidence. To date we have heard the square root of, ahem, SFA about this enquiry, this inspection, whatever: we do not know if there is, currently, a Compliance Officer, whether this official has considered any evidence/behaviour, whether this official has opined on the matter, or referred it to a quasi-judicial committee, as seems to be the procedure. You will certainly remember Mr Neil Francis Lennon's intemperate and completely unseemly tirade against, well, just about everyone, really, at a Press Conference just the other day. The authorities have reacted to this with surprising -for them- alacrity, almost within hours, and have taken action. However, they have not charged Lennon with "Bringing the Game Into Disrepute", which he did, in excelsis; even the meanest intellect in the Gallowgate would consider such a slam dunk, however regrettable to him. The beaks, in the form of the Joint Response Group, have commissioned a "review" of facilities of every Club in Prem and Championship. This can only be in response to Lennon's unsubstantiated, and potentially slanderous, criticisms of St Johnstone and Hamilton Acas. both of whom have responded, the former gainsaying Lennon's rant, utilising both barrels, the latter being more measured. We must surely wonder at the speed of this action, compared to the administrative sloth displayed with respect to the misadventures of the club like no other in the Persian Gulf. Lennon opens his gob, lets loose his tongue, and the authorities jump to attention, and seemingly each incumbent kicks himself up his own backside, the quicker to respond to a reprehensible, wild, and inaccurate tirade. We must surely not rule out the possibility that those in charge of the game are looking for an excuse, no matter how slender, a reason, no matter how slim, a sliver of justification, to enable them to abandon the season. Next week. On the grounds of public health, etc. and on the inability of clubs to meet, and guarantee, whatever standards they deem appropriate, and necessary. Abandoning the league, in this manner, would -make any investigation into the the Arabian Nights irrelevant -possibly provide an excuse not to arraign Lennon on "Disrepute" charges. -royally fuck Rangers. As an extra, it would absolve Nikla and the Shinners of any blame for termination of the competition Sometimes paranoia is merely knowing what the bastards are up to.

I would be very surprised if they didn’t attempt to bring in a high profile manager again and give him a good budget.

Had a wee read and there is a reasonable chance that we will be seeded and thus avoid the likes of Salzburg in the playoff. There is also an outside chance that we will only enter at the playoff stage, we just need the Champions League winners of this season to also win their domestic league (come on the Bavarians).

Burnley end Liverpool's 68 match unbeaten home record with a 1-0 win at Anfield. Watching the game was like watching some of our recent games. Full backs nullified in forward areas, no-one getting in behind and a glut of aimless crosses being lapped up be defenders.

After 5 months of 2 games per week, this dropping down to 1 game per week is making the week excruciatingly long!

"It's a ten from Len". Neil exhibits sufficient behavioural problems to warrant the attention of an entire conference of Psychologists. There's a spectrum; from truly serious issues like his misogyny manifesting itself twice as long term multiple threats to the then women in his life(including one who was pregnant), to constantly seeking refuge in victimhood status. He is a Cabaret act with menaces. He gives the tragic Clown a bad name. In another life, Neil would have been a uni-cycling, sword swallowing, fire eating, plate spinning Juggler. Neil craves attention. PQ facilitates Neil. His every whim, and for once we should be thankful. Last evening's visit to Livingston had host, Jane Lewis, the Blarney Bhoys, Neil McCann, and Michael Stewart in a quandary. Neil had publicly condemned Sky Sports to the frozen wastes, they broadcast hope BBC Scotland would not be similarly vanquished. Pre-match joy as Neil appeared for interview with Kenny Macintyre. It lasted two minutes, Kenny asked about his future with ra Sellik and Neil walked off. Macintyre handed back to Lewis, adding he had unasked questions reference Neil's spat with the Scottish Government. The reactions to Neil rawking his inner John Wayne began on Tuesday morning, both St Johnstone and Accies issued statements contravening Neil's claims of being allocated small dressing rooms. Wednesday morning saw BBC Radio Scotland's flagship breakfast news show, 'Good Morning Scotland' telephone Deputy First Minister, John Swinney for his reaction : GMS : "Celtic manager, Neil Lennon claims the Scottish Government has an agenda against Celtic. He says politics and not public health drove the decision for sixteen players and staff to self-isolate. Is this true"? John Swinney : "The agenda claim is absolutely appalling, as for the rest of it, I'm at a loss for words". Lockdown has provided an insight into lot's of public figures, zoom calls allow us to see them as they want to be presented. Those backdrops of shelved books, fresh flowers, and in Swinney's case, a brass clock. Normally, I find the clock's pendulum more interesting than Swinney's prose. However, thanks Neil you have provided a public service, making Swinney more compelling than a hung swinging weight. The PQ metronome was back demanding compliance by last night's Sportscene. Amid the snow, Livi's managed a 2-2 draw and Sellik skipper, Scott Brown was red carded after five minutes on the pitch. Michael Stewart was co-commentator and his conditioning remains strong. Sellik should have had a penalty when McCrorie flattened Duffy, Sellik's equaliser was, "hhmm, maybe offside" before lionising McGregor's pass, Brown's elbow was NOT a red card, on second showing, "hhmmm possibly", and Klimala's neck high push was, "nothing there". Now, Michael was one of the PQ coterie, including Cosgrove, Spence, and English, who thought Lennon should have been offered the position as the Scottish national manager before Steve Clarke's appointment. Thus, let's finish with Neil's post match interview, again with Kenny Macintyre. Unprompted, Neil stated on Broony's red card, "that was a moment of madness, we are all frustrated". John Swinney has admitted he's lost for words, Michael can talk sh1te on his behalf too, if Peter can spare him?

I'm surprised they aren't called the Incident Response Assembly or Covid Support Collective.

these draws are costing me a fortune

Radio 4 used to be the epitome of British identity. Now it’s like a drop-in centre for self-pitying woke activists. Like the rest of the BBC its main function seems to be telling audiences how and what to think.

We'd do well to stay alert but I don't think that we (by that I mean the SPFL/SFA) can afford to consider null and void from a financial point of view. Some sort of circuit breaker, perhaps but even that's unlikely. I'd suggest that's why wee Lenny had his tantrum but nothing ever surprises me now in this country.

Martindale is also a Rangers fan so he will have them fired up for both matches.

Celtic play Livi twice in the next few days. On this showing Celtic will be very lucky to pick up six points.

I would add that the way the bheasts ran out of gas in the closing minutes looked reminiscent of a team that had been away on the bevvy for a week before the game. Of course they weren’t, they were elite sporting superstars getting some vital warm weather training. Lovely.

If Hibs play anywhere near that level against us in a fortnight, we will have one of our easiest wins of the season ahead. They were absolutely rank rotten, but still well worth their point, in a game that would get football stopped. West Germany v Austria ‘82 anyone?