EX-SKIPPER URGES CALM
ANTHONY HAGGERTY
CELTIC ambassador Tom Boyd insists leaks couldn’t prevent his side stopping Rangers winning 10 in a row in the 90s.
And he says they won’t stall the Hoops’ spending spree this summer.
Boyd was part of Wim Jansen’s Celts side who won the Premiership title 21 years ago – and halted Gers’ historic quest – even when it was discovered the Dutchman had a release clause in his contract allowing him to leave after one season of his three-year deal.
Yesterday the Parkhead club launched a top-level probe and are still considering whether to involve the police after contents of a summer transfer dossier – believed to have been stolen – were leaked on to social media on Monday night.
However, Boyd has claimed that weeding out the Parkhead mole is not a major issue and will have no long-term affect on the Hoops.
The papers were circulated on fan forums and websites and appeared to be from a high-level recruitment meeting in April.
Hoops boss Neil Lennon and Parkhead chief executive Peter Lawwell were both made aware of the breach and ironically it comes after the Northern Irishman recently hit out at leaks from inside the club’s Lennoxtown training ground regarding team news.
But Boyd said: “Long before the internet came along details of Wim Jansen’s escape clause were leaked in 1998 when we were going for the title.
“Did it stop us winning the league? There you go – that’s the answer to that.
“If someone is doing that, what difference does it make?
“The club will work on the leaks themselves. They are investigating it and we’ll see where it goes.
“In terms of the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t make one bit of difference to any kind of work that Celtic are doing here.
“The club will try and find out who it is and deal with it appropriately.
“I saw the leaks regarding official transfer targets.
“I was looking for my name to find a.haggerty@dailyrecord.co.uk out if I was coming back again on it but didn’t spot it!
“I’ll start to leak a transfer document and it’ll have Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on it. There’s not an issue here.
“With social media everyone wants to get the story and say that they put it out there first. The club will deal with it however they see fit.”
Boyd also believes the recent trend of Celtic’s team-sheet being leaked the night before matches is having no detrimental effect on the club’s performances even though boss Lennon has publicly stated he’s unhappy with the problem.
Boyd said: “I know a lot of managers don’t like their team getting out beforehand.
“You look at rugby when teams are put out almost a week before. You put your team up and there’s not a problem.
“It makes no difference to me whether the team is leaked or not.
“Opponents could adjust their own line-ups and tactics accordingly but, for me, it makes no difference. On the playing side, you put your best team on the park and see how they go.”
Boyd lived and played through Rangers’ total dominance of Scottish football in the 90s.
He revealed he is now loving the fact the shoe is on the other foot and Celtic are the dominant team.
‘Gers fans seem chuffed Lennon is in charge at Celts. He has won more trophies in four months than Pedro and Stevie G put together’
The 53-year-old reckons the whole country is jealous of the Hoops’ treble Treble success.
Boyd said: “The magnitude of where we want to get to is not lost on anyone.
“Everybody at the club wants Celtic to win 10-in-a-row.
“I can sense an air of despondency around the rest of the country because Celtic are doing so well.
“What Celtic have achieved is stunning. There is maybe a hint of jealousy about the amount of success that the club is enjoying right now.
“I was around in the 90s when Rangers were doing it and you are jealous of what goes on – the success. Now Celtic have got it.”
Boyd was speaking as he presented the Lisbon Lions trophy which is an annual tournament organised by Celtic, Hyndland Secondary School and the Glasgow School’s FA to commemorate the club’s European Cup win in 1967. Over 250 pupils from 16 schools played. Rangers fans as I am a happy that Lenny is new Celtic manager.”
On to Rangers now and emailed: “There is talk about Rangers trying to bring up to five players on loan from Liverpool for next season.
“This will just serve to make Scottish football a breeding ground for English clubs.”
Meanwhile, caller Thomas Marshall stirred a hornets’ nest by accusing the Scots of hijacking Liverpool’s triumph because of Andy Robertson.
emailed: “Thomas attempted to belittle Celtic for not getting through to the group stages of the Champions League. Were Liverpool or Spurs the champions of England? No.
“He should actually look at how difficult it is for champions of some countries to actually proceed in the competition.” said: “Thomas has a real cheek slagging us off about Robertson winning the Champions League. “I don’t see German manager Jurgen Klopp’s team awash with many Englishmen.”
said: “If the competition was run properly then neither Liverpool or Spurs would be in the Champions League Final and Celtic would then be through to the group stages automatically.
“If Thomas thinks the two teams who contested the final and have not won their league since 1989 deserve to be in the tournament ahead of Celtic then that says it all really.” Finally still on the Champions League Final,
said: “Well done Liverpool but it was one of the worst finals ever. Every time English teams face each other it becomes a chess match.” CALL THE HOTLINE TODAY FROM 11 TILL NOON on: 0141 309 3306 or email us: hotline@dailyrecord.co.uk