ON CUSP OF IMMORTALITY .. NOT IGNOMINY

company. Hearts fans would rather accept an increase in Council Tax than see Celtic win the top prize on their ground.

It’s an intense rivalry that makes for a combative environment.

Tynecastle is the only ground where I’ve ever been physically attacked and where I’ve witnessed a fan come out of the crowd and assault a visiting manager. Neil

Lennon and I will always have that in common.

But I retain a strong regard for the club, one of the great institutions within our game.

It’s not their fault they have random supporters who don’t know there are 26 letters in the alphabet.

This is about what goes around comes around on the park.

Tynecastle is the place where Postecoglou had his first ever league game in charge of Celtic. He lost.

He’s only been beaten a further three times in the league since July 31 2021 when he became the first Celtic boss for 24 years to lose on the first day of the season.

Now he can join Jock Stein, Martin O’Neill, Brendan Rodgers and Lennon as a Treble winner and prove he’s a quick learner into the bargain. Any time now somebody is going to bring up the night Inverness eliminated Celtic from the Scottish Cup and submit that as evidence of nothing being impossible in football.

But that night at Celtic Park was 23 years ago and nine managerial changes later. It’s of no relevance to the Scottish Cup Final on June 3.

Losing at Hampden to a Championship side would leave a stain on Postecoglou’s record that would be indelible.

But there’s a Treble at stake and he doesn’t strike me as the type who does ignominy.

Good luck to the Caley boss Billy Dodds, who’s one of the good guys.

But Postecoglou has the scent of immortality in his nostrils. And he can achieve it today.