It’s just two in a row

should be further ahead of Rangers than they actually are, despite the invincible Treble they racked up under Brendan Rodgers last season.

Now his latest statement that the league is irrelevant unless it’s a contest between the two Glasgow rivals is certain to provoke more incredulity, not just from Celtic but the rest of Scottish football.

King said: “I was asked recently if I thought Celtic could get 10 in a row.

“My response is that Celtic have got two in a row at this point in time.

“So they need to win another eight to get to 10.

“Do I think there’s any chance of them getting another eight?

“I don’t think there’s any chance of them doing that before us winning another league title.

“Celtic have six titles but the concept of nine-in-a-row is a competition between Rangers and Celtic.

“So if Rangers went into the English Premier League and Celtic stayed behind in Scotland and won 20 league titles, there would be no point them saying to Rangers fans, ‘ We’ve won 20 in a row.’

“It’s irrelevant if Rangers are not there. So it’s a challenge among ourselves.”

Celtic started their title run in season 2011/12, the campaign when Rangers went into administration after a finance collapse.

That led to Gers spending four years in the lower leagues and King said: “The fact that Rangers were removed from that league for four years suspended the nine-in-a-row pursuit.

“They’ve got the titles but they haven’t got six-ina- row in competition with Rangers.

“That only recommenced last season.

“So as far as Rangers are concerned, Celtic haven’t got six in a row.

“They’ve got two. And they’ll never get to 10. They won’t even get close.”