Party time
Ibrox legend Souness is thrilled for supporters but admits he hoped to seal deal at Parkhead
GRAEME SOUNESS basked in the glory of Rangers’ title success yesterday and paid tribute to a support which refused to walk away.
The former Ibrox manager could barely contain his delight in the wake of Celtic’s draw at Tannadice which confirmed Gers’ 55th title and officially ended the Parkhead side’s decade-long dominance of Scottish football.
Souness, who managed Rangers to three titles before handing the reins to Walter Smith, insisted the success was just reward for three years of work put in by Steven Gerrard – and for the support that continued to follow their favourites on their journey through the divisions that followed the financial implosion of 2012.
Sky Sports pundit Souness, 67, revelled in the moment yesterday but mischievously admitted he’d have loved to have seen Celtic win in Dundee to set up a potential clincher at Parkhead on March 21.
He said: “I’m delighted for Steven Gerrard and all his team. It’s been a long time coming. Celtic have had a period of domination that was uncomfortable for us Rangers supporters.
“They thoroughly deserve it. They’ve been fantastic all season and I just wish I was in Glasgow right now.
“Part of me wishes that Celtic had won, so Rangers had to go to Parkhead in their next game and being the in-form team, winning it there and compounded Celtic’s problems. But I’ll take that today.”
Rangers clinched the title with six games to spare, having dropped only eight points all season in an unbeaten run that has seen them lose only nine goals throughout the campaign – and only two at Ibrox.
Souness added: “It’s phenomenal. Fantastic. Fair play to the players and the staff and, I have to say, the Rangers support. They’ve had a period in their history where they’ve never had turmoil like they’ve had in the last 10 years.
“They were thrown out the league, unfairly in my opinion, and the anti-Rangers brigade came out the woodwork up there.
“When you’re in the third tier and you’ve got 50,000 people turning up to your stadium, that’s a proper support.
“So I’m absolutely delighted. There will be some parties going on – they started on Saturday.
“He (Gerrard) has been fantastic. He’s worked away quietly, this is his third year, nothing was going to happen overnight for him because of where Rangers have been.
“It’s been a slow burn. He’s got them back and now they’re reaping the rewards of all the hard work he and his staff and his players have
put in. I’m delighted for everybody who is connected with Rangers Football Club.
“I have to throw in my old pal Water Smith. I see him occasionally and I hope he’s celebrating tonight.”
Rangers’ nine-in-a-row hero Stuart McCall – who had a short spell as manager at the end of season 2014/15 – echoed Souness’ belief that the Ibrox support deserved to milk the celebrations.
The former Gers midfielder said: “It’s been a tough decade. When you’ve supported a side that has struggled against their near rivals for a long while, it makes it all the sweeter. It’s thoroughly deserved.
“Getting put down the divisions was a sore one to take. But the key was the support.
“To get nearly 50,000 season tickets while playing in Division Three was an incredible support. That’s what’s kept the club going really.
“Dave King coming in with Paul Murray and John Gilligan was key. The culture changed. It had been a bit different prior to that.”
He also paid tribute to the manner in which Gerrard has transformed the fortunes of his old club, adding: “To lose two goals at home in 15 league games is an incredible stat.
“It’s so difficult to name a Player of the Year, from Allan McGregor in goal to Morelos up front. Stalwarts like Goldson and Tavernier, then the flair players like Kent and Aribo.
“Throughout the club, there is immense credit for getting Steven to come. What a good decision.
“A lot of management is about leadership. There was no better leader on the park than Steven Gerrard and he’s brought that.
“The standards that he brought, allied to a good coaching staff, and the players who have been outstanding this season.
“To get success, you need time. The key for Steven has been two really good European campaigns which have brought a few quid in. To challenge Celtic, with the Champions League money they had, was really difficult. This makes it an even greater achievement. “The board have backed him this season from the beginning and everyone deserves the plaudits but the support, first and foremost, deserve a day like this.” Another title-winning Rangers boss, Alex McLeish, added to the chorus of celebration. He told Sky Sports: “I was lucky to win a couple of titles. Number 50 was memorable, and 51, then Walter came and got a hattrick to tee it up for Stevie to get the 55th. They are phenomenal achievements. “In Stevie Gerrard’s first job it is sensational for him. “And you have no idea what it means to these fans.”