Everyone will get a kick out of derby return
Glasgow is a world class centre of excellence in bitterness
SAY this for Walter Smith. Five years since he last led Rangers into the field of battle, the combat gear still fits. Quizzed on the aftermath of the Ibrox meltdown in 2012, the former manager and chairman had a few matters to get off his chest.
Rangers may be back in the big time. Promoted to the Premiership and going toe to toe with Celtic for the Scottish Cup again.
But ‘demoting’ a newco Rangers to the lower leagues, claimed Smith, was an example of Scottish football cutting off its nose to spite its face. Liquidation or otherwise.
‘I think there will be a bitterness in the Rangers ranks that it happened. It will be a massive motivation for the club — it would be for me.’
It’s doubtful, frankly, that guys such as Martyn Waghorn, James Tavernier or Wes Foderingham will spare a thought for the events of four years ago.
Neither can the rest of us be blamed for feeling a degree of confusion here.
Before Christmas, Rangers chairman Dave King issued a statement urging Scottish football to move on.
Ibrox directors Paul Murray and Stewart Robertson have further called for a period of reconciliation. For bridges to be built and fractures to be mended.
Now comes an admission from Smith, Rangers royalty no less, that the contrition has its limits. To be clear, he’s not a lone voice. When it comes to bitterness, Glasgow is a world-class centre of excellence.
For four years the new-club debate has rumbled on, losing none of its tedious traction with the passing of time.
The Chilcott report is likely to appear before the legality or otherwise of EBTs is finally settled.
And using the word Rangers on Twitter now guarantees a barrage of ‘they died’ responses.
It would be nice, if hopelessly naive, to think that the return of the Rangers-Celtic match will replace much of this.
Because, whatever its faults, this imperfect, often ugly, spectacle remains Scottish football’s most marketable commodity.
To claim otherwise is an act of delusion.
No one still believes it’s the world’s greatest derby. The heady days when these two clubs reached European finals have gone. They may not come back.
Travel to the Middle East or the Far East and you’ll find taxis festooned with Manchester United or Liverpool trinkets.
Possibly even Leicester City. Speak to the drivers about the problems in Stoke City’s defence and you’ll get chapter and verse.
Mention the words ‘Celtic’ or ‘Rangers’ and all you get is silence. Blank looks of confusion in the rearview mirror.
Scottish football has been left behind. It has slipped so far off the radar you now need a compass to find it.
The return of the national game’s biggest fixture, then, comes not a moment too soon.
Because Celtic fans may be loathe to admit it — but Walter Smith was right on one score this week.
Celtic have suffered in the absence of their oldest rivals. They have taken their eye off the ball. They have downsized and reined in their spending.
A benchmark UEFA report shows that revenues of Scottish clubs have fallen, on average by 25 per cent, over the last five years.
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell, meanwhile, estimates his club lost out on £10million a year due to lower gate receipts and off-field revenue in the absence of Rangers.
In their unguarded moments — privately, of course — Celtic directors welcome the return of Rangers to the top tier.
To say so publicly would be commercial suicide. Supporters already think they are out-of-touch Tory toffs.
But what made Rangers and Celtic tick before 2012 was one thing. Fear.
The fear of defeat. The fear of losing ground on their bitter rivals. The fear of facing the headlines or the gloating of the ‘other lot’ on a Monday morning if they lost.
You can count on one hand how many times Celtic or Rangers have really feared losing a game of football in the last four years. Aberdeen and Hibernian have offered commendable challenges.
But if supporters of Celtic and Rangers are honest they will concede that they never really feared the worst.
In the absence of Rangers games, Celtic Park has witnessed some apathetic and soulless days. The atmosphere has been flat. Matches lacked a competitive edge.
It’s far from certain Rangers will bring it back tomorrow. As Premiership champions-elect, Celtic remain favourites.
But for both of these clubs, tomorrow’s Scottish Cup semi-final will bring some old feelings flooding back. Fear. Trepidation. And bitterness. Most of all, bitterness.