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Scottish Premier League Update

Ali Hannah on the latest from the Scottish Premier League, April 2007

Celtic | Scotland | Rangers | Hibs

Celtic Roundup

USA | Japan

Gordon Strachan's side finally got over the winning line at Rugby Park to clinch their second successive title in dramatic style after Shunsuke Nakamura netted a last gasp free-kick against Kilmarnock.

Celtic's form of late has been stuttering and insipid but there were few complaints as the Hoops finally tied the ribbons on the SPL trophy and, with a Scottish Cup Final in May to look forward to, there is the prospect of further honours to come.

If the prizes weren't enough to keep the Hoops fans happy, the news that Nakamura and Strachan took the Players' Player of the Year award and the Manager of the Year award were further reasons to put a smile on their face and maintain the one-upmanship over their nearest rivals.

And, in the wake of the most recent triumph Celtic Chairman Brian Quinn has pledged that there will be money made available to Strachan to strengthen his side this summer. The Celtic boss has been criticised for a lack of flair within the team and the stodgy nature of the football played by the Parkhead side over the last few months has prompted grumbles from a section of the support.

Few, though, could quibble with his record since taking over from fans' favourite Martin O'Neill and Quinn's backing will be well received.

"Some players will leave, it happens to every club every season," said Quinn. "We'll have to think about replacements and strengthening and we'll sit down with Gordon.

"He has been an absolute model in this respect, he never carps, he never complains and we work together.

"And we'll expect to bring in some further class footballers in the course of the summer. Gordon, I think, enjoys being at Celtic. There's no indication whatsoever that he wants to move.

"He's taken a wee while to establish himself with the Celtic fans and that's understandable.

"But they were singing his praises on Sunday, and very deservedly in my opinion."

Quinn also believes that Strachan can improve on the European front.

He said: "Why not? We're already re-establishing the Celtic name in Europe after a period of years in which we were there but never progressed very much.

"You have to be realistic about things. We don't have the resources that other clubs command at the top of the main leagues in Europe.

"But we've carried it forward through application, through splendid management by Gordon Strachan, and by a commitment by all of the players, so why shouldn't we go forward?"

However, the Celtic chairman is also aware that Rangers will also spend big to provide more of a challenge next season.

He said: "I think they're obliged to, aren't they, because they haven't really had a very successful period in the last couple of years. I think they are determined to get back into business again.

"They are a big club, we've never denied that. They provide competition of a very high order.

"If it means a more competitive Scottish Premier League next year so be it, but I don't mind who comes second."

Hoops captain Neil Lennon could be one of those who quits the club this summer and he believes that the Celtic fans won't appreciate the job Strachan has done until for a few years to come.

Lennon, who celebrated his fifth title with Celtic, said: "It's always the case when people leave a club, you look back on their time and realise what a great period it was.

"Gordon has done a fantastic job and the players appreciate it.

"You're never going to please all the people all the time, so you try to please them some of the time. He knows what the players think of him. He has done an unbelievable job after Martin O'Neill and has taken us on again."

Lennon is the first player in almost 20 years to win five titles. It has eluded him only twice since a £6m move from Leicester in December 2000, on both occasions on the final day of the season. He also celebrated 300 appearances at Rugby Park and it remains to be seen what the future holds for him.

"There is no rush," he shrugged. "I'm sure I'll sit down with the gaffer, perhaps this week if we get time and if not then certainly in the coming weeks, and have a chat.

"Physically I feel good. I've managed 40-odd games again, which I've averaged every season since I came. But nothing lasts forever.

"I'll weigh things up and see what happens. For now, I just want to enjoy the moment.

"I remember the day at Rugby Park when we lost the title on the final day just after the UEFA Cup Final in Seville. It was a sickening feeling. I suppose those experiences make you appreciate it even more."

He added: "I'm pleased the new guys, and the younger guys, know what it feels like to win a championship, and what it requires. They'll be expected to do it on a regular basis."

As for Nakamura, the Japanese internationalist played down the accolades that have been heading his way, especially the prestigious Players' Player of the Year award which is expected to be joined next month with the Scottish Football Writers' Player of the Year award.

"It is a huge honour but I couldn't do it just myself," he said. "It has been won by the team who have been great.

"It seems to be on the news in Japan all over the place and for the people who cannot come over here I think it is a good thing as they are getting to know a lot about Celtic as well.

"I never thought I would get an award like that. The reason I came here was because I felt the manager really wanted me and he knows my style of play. It's important to play under a manager who has a similar feeling towards football."

Rangers

Rangers kept up appearances with another couple of wins this month that keeps Walter Smith unbeaten in the SPL since his return to the Ibrox hotseat.

The title, however, was all but done and dusted by the time the former Scotland manager pulled on the dark blue blazer of his club in January and this summer will be vital when it comes to clawing back Celtic.

Both teams have pledged to use the summer months to rebuild their squads and whoever has the best eye for a player over the coming weeks might just find themselves with a head start when it comes to next season's title.

Strachan's side will be going for a third successive Championship – something not even Martin O'Neill succeeded in delivering – and Rangers will need to improve dramatically if they are to prevent that.

There will be an exodus of players leaving Ibrox this summer, the bulk of whom have underachieved during their time in Glasgow, but one player who will wave goodbye is Dado Prso who has been an inspired signing for the club.

A crippling knee problem signals a premature end to his career and the 32-year-old is determined that is he cannot go out with any silverware this season that he leaves the SPL with one last goal against Celtic.

The final Old Firm derby of the season takes places next month and although there may appear to be little at stake for either side, the truth of the matter is that there is no meeting between the Glasgow giants that is insignificant.

The Croatian striker has four games remaining as a Rangers player and the game on May 6th at Ibrox has been ringed as a red-letter day.

"If it's possible, I'd like to score against Celtic next month," he smiled. "But I know that would be hard. I don't even know if I will play in the game!
"If I play in the last four games I will try to give everything I have to give the fans good memories of me.

"I really want the fans to remember me as a positive person. I didn't want to keep going on and be a cheat to myself, to them and the team. I wouldn't like to think other players have to do my job on the pitch.

"I don't want to finish with the fans booing as I'm always trying to do more and my body won't allow me to do it.

"It's time for me to say goodbye to the fans. It's hard to take but it was the right choice.

"I am pleased we won the game on Saturday. I really think we showed character, and we are close now to getting the Champions League spot."

David Weir has agreed an additional year to his Rangers contract after impressing since his move from Everton in January. The 37-year-old has sympathy for Prso and believes he appreciated his longevity in the game.

"It puts it in perspective," he said. "I realise I'm lucky. It's disappointing for people like Dado, who have a lot to offer playing-wise and can't do it because of medical circumstances.

"I've been okay but that can change very quickly. You have to appreciate every week and every game when you're doing this job."

And, according to Weir, it's that appreciation of the job which has allowed him to continue playing so effectively into his late 30s.

"I love it," he added. "I enjoy playing, I enjoy coming to my work every day.

"I know whatever I do after this won't be as good. I'm just trying to make it last as long as I can to be honest.

"If you're doing something you enjoy it goes a long way to prolonging it and I definitely enjoy what I'm doing." Whatever the future holds, Weir is certain of one thing - he is determined to leave Rangers with a championship medal in his pocket. The last two seasons have been barren for the Ibrox club but the veteran defender genuinely believes next season will see them back among the silverware.

"That's obviously the goal," he said. "You come to a club like Rangers and you're expected to win things.

"We haven't done that, and we're not going to do it again this season.

"That's been the disappointment for every player and every fan and it's got to change at a club like this.

"That has to be the goal for next season."

Rangers are currently on a 13-game unbeaten in the SPL, but the damage was done in the opening half of the campaign when inconsistency ravaged their title aspirations. Points were dropped to lower league teams such as Inverness, Motherwell and St Mirren but Ugo Ehiogu, one of the players brought in by Smith in January, has warned Celtic they will not have it all their own way next season.

The Englishman said: "I certainly believe, not having been here for the first half of the season, we won't be as many points off Celtic as we were before the manager came in.

"It won't happen again next season. You just have to look at the number of points we've picked up since the new regime came in here.

"There is a steely determination to the squad. If we can add a bit more quality in attack and a bit more pace in every department, we will give Celtic a much better run for their money."

Hibs

Hibs manager John Collins has quickly discovered the fickleness of football management after a mini player revolt at Easter Road, a revolution that came hard on the heels of the former Celtic player delivering the CIS Cup to Leith.

After barely five months in charge of Hibs after succeeding Tony Mowbray, a group of players reportedly sought a meeting with club chairman Rod Petrie when Collins was out of the country earlier this month to complain about training methods and air other grievances.

Collins has since rubbished talk of any dressing room unrest but it's clear that there have been problems since he took over from the laidback Mowbray. Collins is believed to be keen on a tough training regime with little room for slacking off and, as a tee-totaller, he expects the same level of commitment from his players.

It appears that has come as quite a shock to come of them but Collins has vowed to fight on.

"It's all positive as far as I'm concerned," he said. "When we came in I think we were eighth in the league and now we're sixth and also have a cup in the bag. We've had five young players make their debuts and we now have £2million in the bank."

That money has come in following Rangers' swoop for Kevin Thomson in January, and although Hibernian's league form has been below par in 2007 Collins insists morale is good.

"The key is not to allow these things to distract us from where we want to be and I don't worry about these stories," he said.

"Everything in the dressing room is fine and the spirit is good."

Scotland

Scotland manager Alex McLeish believes the idea of international fixtures being concentrated into two 'blocks' each season should be considered.

With fixture congestion an increasing problem tensions between club and countries continue to grow. English Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has backed a proposal for two three-week blocks of international football and McLeish is interested to know more about how and if it could work.

"I've heard about the proposal but I've not really looked at it in depth yet," said McLeish. "It's something that we have to look into and I'm sure that it's something that FIFA will take a big interest in.

"If they can get the calendar working to the satisfaction of both camps, international football and the clubs, it would be satisfaction all round."
McLeish's next Euro 2008 qualifier in Euro 2008 qualifying Group B is not until June 6 when he takes his side to the Faroe Islands, a week after they play Austria in a friendly in Vienna.

Scotland are tied with Ukraine and France on 12 points at the top of Group B and the former Rangers manager urged his players to find one last effort before they split for their summer holidays.

He said: "It's the same for the other teams, it just depends who is the most tired.
"I just have to make sure my boys are less tired than the Faroe lads.

"There are all sorts of training methods that we use, psychology of course comes into it as well.

"Sometimes it can be in the mind, after a long hard season.

"If you keep telling players that they have had a long hard season then they start to believe you.
"I'm sure they will make one final push to get Scotland the right result for the Faroes game."