The Only Folk Surprised Ange Would Turn Down Brighton Are Those Who Invented The Story.

So the least unexpected news of the weekend came tonight when The Telegraph firmly knocked on the head any suggestion that Ange would be “tempted” in any way by the idea of moving to England to take on the role at mighty Brighton.

This has been greeted with some surprise in several quarters, and at least one Ibrox forum can now retire its thread on the subject which today went over a dozen pages and 600 replies. They, too, are surprised although they’re now framing it as “why would Brighton want him?” after days of telling us that the job was a good fit for him.

The only people genuinely surprised are those fantasists in and outside the press who thought that this would ever be a goer in the first place. As I’ve said, Celtic is so unconcerned about the prospect of Ange fancying a move elsewhere that he’s still on a rolling contract. The man is committed to this job. He has said so. He has made it clear.

Now, tonight, the hacks are backtracking and Sevco fans who had their fingers crossed have to cross them for something else. Avoiding a doing on Wednesday night might be a way to go, although they were also hoping to avoid playing Napoli all together.

Ange will, inevitably, draw attention. He’s too good a manager not to. And whilst that man owes us nothing in terms of ultimate loyalty, for some people there are more important things than chasing the money and managing in the “best league in the world.”

That man has found acceptance and adulation here. In that league down there every manager is treated as an expendable asset. Wait and see what happens to Rodgers before this year is out. Wait and see what happens to Gerrard.

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.