Rangers should concede league
JOHN HARTSON reckons Rangers should consider conceding the title to Celtic.
The former Parkhead striker believes Ibrox chiefs would emerge “with an awful lot of credit” if they were to make such a gesture in the event of football being unable to restart in the near future. Highland League chiefs awarded Brora Rangers their title at the weekend with no
prospect of being fixtures being concluded on schedule with the leaders having a 13-point lead with six games to play.
Celtic are also 13 points ahead in the Premier League race with secondplaced Rangers the only team in the division who can catch them.
Ibrox managing director Stewart Robertson has stated the season should be finished with all teams completing their remaining fixtures.
But Hartson said: “Rangers would come away with an awful lot of credit if they were to say, ‘You have been worthy champions, you have a massive lead’.
“I can honestly say I’d be saying exactly the same if Rangers had the lead. Celtic have got to probably lose five of their last eight games to be overtaken. That isn’t going to happen.
“It would be an incredible thing to do for Rangers but like everyone else I don’t expect them to.
“It would be a commendable thing to do but I’m not naive.”
Hartson accepted the stance taken by Robertson but insisted that drastic action may have to be taken in the light of the coronavirus epidemic that has halted world sport.
He said: “This is their prerogative and if they wanted to play all the games, that’s fine. You’ve got a similar problem at the bottom with teams going for places and the money that comes with it. Celtic would not want Rangers to do that. They wouldn’t want to be handed it but common sense has to prevail.”
The Highland League officials decided, with the coronavirus crisis, that there is unlikely to be any more football played this season and the main prize should be handed over at the weekend.
Inverurie Locos boss Andy Low, whose side were second, said: “It was the best decision. I have no complaints.
“Brora were the best team in the league and have shown that over season. The league takes a lot credit for making this decision now.
“Everybody in the league will agree – players, managers, staff and fans – that Brora are deserved champions.”
But the Lowland League won’t follow their Highland counterparts just yet because of relegation issues.
Barry Ferguson’s Kelty Hearts lead the way by six points from Bonnyrigg Rose but the former Rangers ace has already said he doesn’t want to win the title by default.
At the other end of the division Vale of Leithen, Dalbeattie Star, Gretna 2008 and Edinburgh University are all still in danger of the drop.
Lowland League chairman George Fraser said: “We have to be even handed – whatever we do at the top we have to replicate at the bottom.”