Financial logic is first casualty in Old Firm battle

THE first casualty of a ten-in-a-row season is economic logic. The UK is heading for its worst recession in 300 years. But the pressure of ‘the ten’ compels Rangers and Celtic to make a show of giving financial reality a bloody nose. While other businesses look for ways to raise money, Glasgow’s big two make a virtue of shoving it away. They hold on to players when logic dictates it’s time to sell. Rangers needed £10million simply to get to the end of last season. Home games with Braga and Leverkusen helped, while a new kit deal and injection of cash from new and existing investors was crucial. But the pressure to win a trophy under Steven Gerrard hasn’t gone away. It’s slowly building. And that’s the only logical explanation for the Ibrox board turning down £16m for Alfredo Morelos. Lille’s president, Gerard Lopez, says they have now ‘hit the pause button’ on the Colombian. And that leaves Rangers with two problems. One unsettled player and four strikers vying for two starting places. Taking the money made more sense. Gerrard has now issued a hands-off warning to Leeds over Ryan Kent. If the Yorkshire club go above £10m, the opportunity to make a hefty profit and reinvest the cash is one Rangers really should take. The trouble is that Celtic are not selling their top players either. In any other season they would hand Odsonne Edouard a packed lunch and wish him a fond au revoir. With supporters fixated on winning a tenth straight title, however, English suitors have been told to come back next year. Strip it down and this season’s title is nothing special. A contrived landmark, there is no extra prize money, no special trophy. Whatever they say publicly, the likes of Morelos and Edouard don’t care about ‘the ten’. Holding either against their will would be an act of folly. The trouble is that, to fans of Rangers and Celtic, this season is everything. And, when desperation seeps from the stands to the boardroom, bad decisions are inevitable.