Partners: GoodsFromJapan | JapanVisitor | PortugalVisitor

Scottish Premier League Update

Ali Hannah on the latest from the Scottish Premier League, June 2009

Celtic | Rangers | Round Up

Celtic Roundup

Tony Mowbray got his feet under the desk at Celtic Park last week after a protracted negotiation that took him from West Brom to Parkhead, and the atmosphere at his opening press conference was akin to a former son being welcomed home.

Unlike his predecessor, who was always unpopular with a small section of the Hoops support, Mowbray's appointment has met with unanimous approval.

Mowbray had all the time in the world for the media on day one. But among all his patient, thoughtful and loquacious answers he admitted that a silent, invisible clock was ticking over his head as Celtic have precious little time to prepare for their third round Champions League qualifier.

He has a little over a month to get the players fit and organised, gain first impressions of who will be most useful to him, play friendlies in Brisbane, Cardiff and London, resolve the futures of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Paul Hartley, make his first moves in the transfer market, and research and prepare for facing a European opponent whose identity won't be known until the draw is made on July 17, just a week and a half before the first leg.

Mowbray's first hurdle is going to rush towards him. "The bottom line is it's there, it's going to happen," he said. "I can't sit here and say Christ, I'd like another couple of weeks, can Uefa push it back?' It's not going to happen so we have to get on with it.

"It's a busy pre-season. I think they are the right games for us to play. Very, very tough games.

"What you've got to hope is we can more than compete in those games and give a good account of ourselves, so the team can come out of those games in a confident mood. Hopefully we'll go into the European qualifiers knowing that, whoever we draw, they might not be any better than Tottenham or Sunderland."

He doesn't really know how good his own team is, of course. There were difficulties to overcome when he arrived as West Brom boss in 2006 and inherited an ageing squad full of set-in-their-ways, seasoned professionals assembled by Bryan Robson. Perhaps there will be teething trouble at Celtic too.

"It wasn't an easy start for me there at West Brom," Mowbray said. "It wasn't get on great with all the lads and have a great time'. It was a case of saying we train at this time, we do this, you don't do that in my training sessions'. It wasn't about being too disciplinarian, just putting down your own markers, your own expectations, from day one.

"All those things do take a bit of time to bed in and you've got to earn the respect of your players on the training ground and vice versa. I hope that can be done pretty smoothly, but sometimes it can't."

It says something for Mowbray's man-management that WBA players Paul Robinson, Borja Valero and Marc-Antoine Fortune have stated they would happily follow him to Celtic. There was a similar response from Hibs players when he left Easter Road for the Hawthorns three and a half years ago. Mowbray said: "I think that's because I treat players like men. I treat them properly. I'm not a dictator. If we have a problem or an issue I like to sit down face to face and talk it through, give them my side of the story and listen to theirs. I think players appreciate that even if there's a conflict.

"Celtic want me to be myself. The way I manage clubs is what you see now, my basic personality. I'd like to think I'm thoughtful and respectful, I try not to get over-flustered, too high or too low.

"I try to concentrate on what I believe is right and work hard. As long as there's an openness and a transparency about what the boundaries are I'm happy to work with loads of money or no money, it doesn't matter to me."

Mowbray would consider selling one his most valuable players - he didn't name names but Artur Boruc, Scott Brown, Aiden McGeady and Scott McDonald come to mind - if that would raise money for three new ones. "You might have to sell a star player to bring in three players you think can benefit the team.

"If the team functions better without the star player because the other three are working the unit better, then that has got to be beneficial for the team, the club and the supporters because then you are winning football matches. That's what top managers do, they make big decisions at crucial times to benefit the team."

Did he have a big decision to make on the captaincy - Gary Caldwell was Mowbray's when they were both at Hibs - given Stephen McManus is not a certain starter ahead of Glenn Loovens?

"I don't know. I don't know their personalities so it would be unfair of me to say. McManus is the club captain at the moment and I'm not the type of guy who comes in, takes a big axe to everything and makes massive changes. I like to get a feel for things and see what's right."

There are other issues for Mowbray to address. The Celtic manager's second wife - his first wife, Bernadette, died of breast cancer when he was a Celtic player - is pregnant with their third child and it is imperative that the family set up home in Glasgow as soon as possible.

"We're not a family that could live apart. I take my comfort and solace from family," he said. "People always ask, What do you do to get away from the game?'," Mowbray said. "In my opinion the most dedicated managers never get away from the game but you do need somewhere to go home to.

"For me, at the moment, it'll be to kick the ball around in the garden with my two kids, to have a play fight and tickle them on the tummy, lift them on my shoulders. That's what getting away from football is for me, really."

It is believed that Mowbray will have money to spend in the transfer market, with the Celtic chairman insisting that the club can still spend a decent amount on a single player.

John Reid said it was still "possible" that the club could spend £4 million on a single signing under Tony Mowbray.

That was the highest amount paid by previous manager Gordon Strachan but the club was criticised for not spending during the last transfer window, when Willo Flood was the only senior acquisition for just £50,000. That led to accusations that the club valued a healthy balance sheet over the depth of its squad and surrendered the SPL title to Rangers as a consequence. The club did bid £2.5m for Steven Fletcher but that was unsuccessful.

However, Reid insisted that, if a suitable signing target was identified, Mowbray could be given the go-ahead to match the £4.4m Strachan spent to land Scott Brown from Hibs. "Yes, it is still possible," he said. "If you look at the Gordon years I think we spent about £34m. That's quite a lot of money for a club in Scottish football. We want to help the manager in whatever way we can.

"It's the manager's prerogative to shape his team in terms of philosophy and personnel. I think Tony made the point that he would give due respect to the current squad. Ultimately it is the manager who is the boss on the park."

Mowbray has let it be known that he might be prepared to sell one star player - Brown, Aiden McGeady, Artur Boruc and Scott McDonald are the club's most valued assets - to generate money for three signings.

"He is the guy who will say yes or no at the end of the day, within our known limits," said Reid. "That's something he will discuss and if that's what he wants, then ultimately that's what we will do."

And Reid is sure that Mowbray would bring substance as well as style, although he agreed that managers at major clubs rarely survive long these days unless they deliver trophies.

"We've got a manager who we think is the best man for the job. I think the supporters believe that too and we will give him the support necessary to sustain him as he pursues us regaining supremacy in Scottish football.

"As a general statement, the pressures of modern football are far greater than they were 20, 30 or 40 years ago. You can look back at the greatest manager ever, Sir Alex Ferguson. In today's frenetic atmosphere would Manchester United have supported him for four years? That's how long it took him to start regularly winning trophies for the club. Maybe it's a bad thing when you see some clubs changing managers four times a season."

Rangers

Rangers coach Ally McCoist welcomed Peter Grant back to Glasgow and insisted he can't wait to lock horns with the former Celtic midfielder again.

Theirs is a rivalry - and friendship - that goes back 25 years to when there were hardly two more committed players in the heat of an Old Firm match.

McCoist was the goal scorer supreme while Grant was the Celtic diehard who would kick anything in a blue shirt for the cause.

They actually always liked each other, then as the years went on, they got to know one another better and are now the best of friends, a bond made stronger when they helped carry Tommy Burns' coffin.

Grant was unveiled as part of Tony Mowbray's coaching set-up at Lennoxtown and revealed McCoist had already left a message asking if the two would be rolling around again and adding that he and Ian Durrant would be waiting for him in the tunnel.

They will shake hands before and after the first Old Firm meeting of the season, at Ibrox on October 3, but for 90 minutes the word enemy would not be too strong to describe their feeling for one another.

McCoist said: "I love Granty and I'm delighted to see him back at Celtic. It's where he belongs. And while I wish him well as a friend, I can only hope he's not a happy man after the first time we play Celtic. I'm sure he would say the same thing about me.

"You can see how excited he is about all of this. I bet he wishes the season was starting tomorrow.

"It doesn't surprise me Granty is back. I always thought he would end up at Celtic because, like me when the manager took me back to Rangers, it's what I always had an eye on.

"I know for a fact he enjoyed living down in England. There was no hassle for him, nobody comes up to you in the street, which is what happens when you are an Old Firm player in Glasgow. And Granty got it more than most.

"He could have an ordinary family life and not have to watch where he's going. I would read interviews with Peter when he spoke about how his life had changed and you would be forgiven for thinking he was never coming back.

"But could anyone really imagine Peter Grant saying no to Celtic when Tony Mowbray got the job? Even I would have had a quiet word in his ear if he'd even considered knocking it back."

And while the rivalry between McCoist and Grant is intense, there is nothing bitter about it.

It is something that McCoist hopes can rub off on some of the supporters who are known to take things too far in Glasgow in the aftermath of Old Firm games.

"There is a great picture of Granty and me having an argument," he said. "I've got a hold of his shirt and he looks as if he's going to tear my head off. I can't remember the game or what it was about but I'm sure it was his fault.

"It looks a bit silly now but the Old Firm is a passionate game. We were both winners. You can't help but get a bit over-excited although that doesn't mean you can't have a beer later.

"I got on with Peter more than I did my own team-mates. I would always say that if the two of us could be pals after trying to knock lumps out of one another, then surely everyone else could give it a go.

"John Brown was like Granty. They both loved to win the Old Firm games more than anything.

"But at the end it was those two warriors who were the first to shake hands with the other team. You always respect guys like that. They were honest.

"Granty might give you a kick during a game but you'd never let it show. And the idea of him writhing around in agony after being hit was ridiculous."

So what will Grant bring to Celtic as a coach? McCoist said: "I visited him a couple of times when he was coach at West Ham and they played superb football. As did West Brom when he, Tony and Mark Venus were there.

"West Ham were unlucky not to win an FA Cup when he was there, losing on penalties to Liverpool in the final.

"I know players who have worked under him speak highly of him. He's been down in England a while now and has great experience and will have watched more matches than anyone, just trying to learn something new.

"And he also brings his personality, the guy is a force of nature. I'm sure he was a hero for guys like Stephen McManus who were brought up as Celtic fans. I don't think any new signing will go into a game against us without knowing what it's all about."

Of course, there is a line to be drawn regarding this friendship. McCoist wants Rangers to win, well, everything next season. That means bad news for his old mucker who finished behind the Ibrox club far too many times for his own liking during his playing days.

McCoist said: "Last season was fantastic.

"I loved winning the Double and what it mean to our fans. But we start all over again. What you can never do at the Old Firm is rest on your laurels. You always have to look forward."

SPL Round Up

The SPL have confirmed they are "actively engaging in the process of selling their domestic broadcasting rights" after broadcasters Setanta failed to make their outstanding payment of £3million.

The move comes just three days after the English Premier League terminated their contract with the Irish broadcaster when they were unable to make a £30million payment.

SPL executive chairman Lex Gold said: "Setanta has been unable to meet our extended deadline for the outstanding £3 million payment to the SPL and, in terms of the notice previously issued, our British broadcasting rights for season 2009/10 and beyond revert to us. We are now actively engaging in the process of selling our domestic broadcasting rights for next season and beyond."

Gold continued: "We aim to do that as quickly as possible given that start football season starts on August 15.

"That needs to be carried through quickly. We have not been able to get in to formal discussions because the rights have been with Setanta.

"But I believe that, in sporting terms, we have the most valuable sporting product in Scotland and Scotland is important to broadcasters, so I remain pretty hopeful that we will deliver an early outcome."

Gold claimed to be confident of reaching the same sort of figures that had been promised by Setanta. The new deal that was to start at the end of next season, had been negotiated would pay the SPL £125 million over four years.

Gold said: "I don't accept that we will have to take a reduced fee. We have a product that is valuable in the market place and we will be seeking to see that value covered. What I am saying is that I think the market believes that our right have a value and we will see where we get to. I have made informal approaches to no one.

"The clubs have been kept up to date on a regular basis so they are able to make prudent decisions.

"But I believe the clubs recognise the value of the rights we have and feel comfortable that they we will see a return on that."

Gold admitted the SPL will be seeking recompense from Setanta. He said: "We had built in to the contract safeguards so we had guarantees that we will now be pursuing.

"The lawyers are in the process of doing that.

"But I would hope there would be no court case, our relationship with Setanta has always been very good."

Gold refused to concede that the decision to forego a possible deal with Sky to go with Setanta last summer was a mistake.

Rangers, Celtic and Aberdeen were in favour of opting for Sky but were outvoted. Gold said: "Twenty-twenty hindsight is brilliant. You have to deal with the circumstances in front of you.

"Last year the board decided that we should go to the market place early.

"We still had two years of our contract to go and there was a judgement to make.

"We attracted two very good deals and the clubs made a judgement call on that and at that time it looked a good deal.

"Those clubs (Rangers, Celtic and Aberdeen) were clear that it was a balanced judgement on the best information that we had.

"It was a tightly run issue between Sky and Setanta. We are now looking for the best deal for the SPL.

"I would be hugely surprised if we don't have a broadcast or broadcasters in place for the start of the season, August 15.”

Ali Hannah

"The Onside In-Site" Copyright © From 2000. All rights reserved. Soccerphile Ltd.