‘GERRARD NEEDS TO SORT IT’

Former Rangers striker Kris B oyd b elieves that his old club should make a statement by providing champions Celtic with a guard of honour when they take the field at Ibrox on Sunday in their first match since securing an eighth successive title at Pittodrie last weekend.

I t i s t r a d i t i o n a l f o r opposing teams to hono u r t h e c h a m p i o n s i n t h a t way a n d R a n g e r s captain James Tavernier complained when rivals Hibernian failed to do so when Mark Warburton’s team won the Championship in 2016.

S o m e s e c t i o n s o f t h e R a n g e r s s u p p o r t wouldn’t welcome such a g e s t u r e f r o m S t e ve n G e r r a r d ’s p l a y e r s b u t Boyd argues that it is the only dignified response to make.

“I t h i n k i t wo u l d b e the right thing to do and R angers would make a s t a t e me n t a b o u t wh a t t yp e of club they are if they do it,” said the Kilmarnock club captain.

“Over the years, it has always been the case that Rangers have held themselves in high rega rd – and rightly so – because of the way they have conducted themselves.

“It would b e the right thing to do and, for me, I think they should. At the end of the day, they might be your rivals but they have won the league’ pay them the respect they deserve.

“As a club, I think they s h o u l d m a k e a s t a t e - ment and do it, yes. I get the view of the fans. I get p eople asking why you would want to clap your rivals on to the pitch.

“But be the bigger man and do what’s right. And that would be to give Celtic a guard of honour on the pitch. They are t h e c h a m p i o n s so, for me, why w o u l d y o u not?

“I u n d e r - s t a n d f a n s might be frustrated but it’s not the end of t h e w o r l d i f you clap someone going on to a pitch.”