Celtic Do Double Scottish Premier League News June 2013

Scottish Premier League News June 2013: Celtic Win Double

Lisa Dillon

Celtic

Neil Lennon followed in the footsteps of two Celtic legends when he added the Scottish Cup to the Parkhead side's silverware this season after his side comfortably saw off Hibs in the final with a 3-0 win.

The Celtic boss clinched his first league and Scottish Cup double to become only the third ever Celt - after Jock Stein and Billy McNeill - to achieve the feat as both player and manager.

And the Northern Irishman was thrilled to put himself in such esteemed company.

Lennon said: "They are two icons of the club. When I got the job I wanted to follow in their footsteps and we're progressing well now. That's the Double and a great European campaign."

However, Lennon has called on his side to get the credit they deserve. Lennon believes that the demise of Rangers has allowed the achievements of Celtic to be overshadowed this season, something that he thinks is eaten away him all season.

"People have nipped away at what we've done over the years, the tainted titles, no competition," he said.

"And they've missed what's really on the pitch. We've got a really special young team here. They should get the respect they deserve now because they've been fantastic. They've been at the sharp end all season - this is their 59th game - and they looked as fresh as daisies."

Having now matched the achievement of his former manager and mentor at Celtic, Martin O'Neill, and Lennon felt a sense of relief.

"I feel great now," he said. "I really wanted to get over the line with this one. That's four trophies in three years.

"Martin did that, so I'm happy with that. To emulate what he did in his first three years is pretty special to me."

Meanwhile, Lennon himself has played down any speculation that has arisen since his own future still seems uncertain. The Celtic manager has been in talks with the club since November regarding his own contract - he is on a one-year rolling deal - but he is relatively relaxed about the situation.

He met with major shareholder Dermot Desmond in the week following the Scottish Cup final victory and he believes that he has the ideal relationship with the Dublin businessman who is rarely around the club.

"My own situation is not a pressing issue for me. We started talks in November and I am comfortable with that," said Lennon.

"Mr Desmond is a private man but he has put a lot of money into the club over the years and we have now perfected a way of working, a business model that has got the club in very good health.

"It's not often a week goes by when we are not on the phone discussing the team - and only the team.

"He's more interested in the players than anything else we talk about, really. Obviously, he and Peter Lawwell talk about the business side of things.

"He is a perfectionist and a very successful man in his own right. He has been brilliant for me. He is only a phone call away. Through some really difficult times in the first couple of years, he was very supportive and very encouraging.

"That's another thing they do - they don't hire and fire people very quickly. They sit down and think clearly about things and like to keep managers at the club for a sustainable period of time.

"He's pretty happy with the season we've had."

So too is Lennon, and he is adamant he has no immediate desire to go anywhere else.

He added: "There's plenty more I want to achieve with Celtic.

"I'm in a precious position. I'm manager of a football club and I'm in a very stable job. There were times they could easily have turned away from me but in the tough times they actually gave me more encouragement.

"I believe it's a club that's underestimated - I wouldn't say by people in Ireland or in Scotland but certainly elsewhere.
"And I think we gave people a little glimpse, or a big glimpse, of what the club is all about last season in the Champions League. Now whether we can replicate that is the challenge that lies ahead of us."

The Celtic manager believes the club can continue to attract big players and reckons last term's exploits in Europe will help.

He said: "With what we achieved last year there's more of an incentive now for players to come to Celtic.

"I know the Scottish footballing scene isn't the most attractive for some and I know the economics of the environment are difficult because of the constraints we work in.

"However, football-wise, there's probably no better place to play.

"I read extracts of Craig Bellamy's book this week and he said, 'When you leave there, something leaves with you. There's just not the same edge to it.'

"And that's what Celtic can provide. Not only the chance to win trophies but just that real edge to your life and the atmosphere around the place.

"It's a hard environment to prosper in but when you do it gives you a real sense of satisfaction and pride."

Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland. — Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland

Rangers

After months of boardroom in-fighting and laundering their dirty washing in public, Rangers have announced that former manager Walter Smith has become the new chairman of the troubled club.

While Smith's appointment, which is likely to be a temporary role, has been made to give the impression of unity following a period of in-fighting in the boardroom at Ibrox, it is believed that he took the role with some reluctance.

There had been two attempts to force Smith's predecessor, Malcolm Murray, to resign and a dirty tricks campaign against the London-based businessman reached a new low earlier this month when a videotape was leaked to the media which showed Murray, clearly the worse for wear, needing assistance to leave a private function.

Rangers admitted that finance director Brian Stockbridge had made the recording and Murray, who had been waging a war with former chief executive Charles Green and former commercial director Imran Ahmad.

Smith's trophy haul since first becoming Rangers boss back in 1991 speaks volumes for his abilities as a football man. But he has no prior experience as a chief executive nor does he have any knowledge of corporate finance.

It is expected that the new chairman will bring stability and outing in a trusted and redoubtable Rangers figure will also help to shift season tickets in order to generate much needed income.

"It is a great honour to be asked to take up this position and it goes without saying that I feel proud as well as humble," said Smith. "However, no one should believe that I see my role as a passive one.

"That hasn't been my way in the past and it won't be my way in the future."

Meanwhile, Ally McCoist has already moved to strengthen his Rangers side for the new season, although none of the players he has signed can feature for the club until the 1st September.

Up to two at a time may play as trialists, but last year's imposed transfer embargo means that it will be September before they can formally be accepted as part of the Ibrox squad.

Goalkeeper Cammy Bell has left Kilmarnock to sign a four-year deal with the club, while Jon Daly has left Dundee United for Rangers, Nicky Clark has left Queen of the South , Nicky Law has left Motherwell to join with McCoist's side and Honduran internationalist Arnold Peralta has also been added to the squad as Rangers prepare to move forward.

And McCoist also hopes experienced internationals Carlos Bocanegra and Dorin Goian will return to Ibrox to complete their contracts.

The defenders went on loan to Racing Santander and Spezia respectively while Rangers were fighting in Division Three this season.

Whether they will be keen to play in Division Two against mainly part-time opponents remains to be seen.

"At this moment in time, I think they'll be joining us for pre-season training on 24 June," said McCoist.

Bocanegra and Goian joined Rangers for the 2011-12 Scottish Premier League season, the American from St Etienne and the Romanian from Palermo, but were farmed out after financial collapse led to the bottom tier.

But McCoist has insisted that the 34-year-old United States international Bocanegra and his 32-year-old former defensive partner could see out the last year of their contracts.

"Until I hear anything otherwise, that's great," said the manager. "Let's be honest about it - they are two international-quality centre-backs and I'd be delighted if they came back.

"They'd be like new signings. That's exactly what they'd be like and of a great pedigree at that.

"I'd be very hopeful and we'll certainly know in the next couple of weeks if the boys are coming back. If they are, I'll be delighted."

Scotland

Former Scotland manager Craig Brown believes that Gordon Strachan is capable of taking the country to the Euro 2016 finals in France.

Incredibly it is 15 years since Scotland were last involved in a major international tournament, when Brown managed the country at the 1998 World Cup in France.

The next European championships - which will be played in 2016 in France - has been expanded from 16 teams to 24 and Brown, who is now a non-executive director at Aberdeen, says that gives Scotland a greater chance to make the grade.

And while all hope is long gone in terms of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil next summer, nut Brown believes the remaining matches can help the national team boss build a squad for the next campaign.

"I'm absolutely certain," he said."We are well-managed and we've got good enough players. There are 53 countries who will compete and 24 get through. Surely, Scotland can be in the top 24. Hopefully we are in the top half of Europe."

"Whenever you play, you get something out of it. Gordon is a very astute manager and I think he will know that his job is to identify the players without having to give them a trial.One of the main jobs of the international manager is talent identification.

"He has got two good cohorts there in Mark McGhee and Stuart McCall. Among the three lads, they will be able to exchange opinions on players and, without having to experiment too much, get a right team.

"When he gets a settled team, I think Scotland will be okay. In his first game, he had four midfield players who were injured. Then, within a few minutes, Steven Fletcher got injured.

"You can't hope to get success with Scotland unless you're at full strength or nearly at full strength. Big countries - France, Italy, England, Germany - they've got resources. We haven't.

"They can replace players without weakening the team. We definitely weaken it so he needs his strongest team."