Celtic’s Victory Last Weekend Knocked A Lot Of Ibrox Plans Out Of Orbit.

This morning, an interview by an Ibrox “investor” named Stuart Gibson is all over the papers.

It was given to a fan-media outlet and it is a preening, strutting and arrogant piece of work. It praises the Ibrox board to the nines, including the under fire members James Bisgrove, Stewart Robertson and Ross Wilson.

It repeats the manager’s lines about how the club is working with “limited funds” and makes claims about the Australia tour saga which are frankly astounding.

What is crystal clear – and confirmed by posters on the Ibrox forums – is that this was set in motion some weeks ago.

It was recorded before the cup final.

It was designed to go out in the aftermath of the win everyone at that club absolutely expected and to land with a support still in the flush of their glory and our humbling.

In the aftermath of what really happened at Hampden, of course, it hit during a firestorm of fury and negativity, none of which was lessened even a little by the win at the weekend just past, especially a second half in which, by all accounts, they were dreadful.

To say that his comments – ill judged to say the least, and now appallingly timed – have gone down badly on their forums is an understatement.

Fans are incredulous.

Even though this was recorded before the final, should it really have been released when it is blindingly obvious that it was meant to be dropped following a major victory and silverware?

The egotism of creating such a thing in anticipation of that – against the best performing Celtic side many of us have ever watched – is astonishing, but nothing next to the sheer stupidity of it ever seeing the light of day and especially right now.

It is clear that many people at Ibrox were making plans based on winning that game.

It is equally clear that this presumption is not the daftest part of it.

We have completely knocked those plans out of orbit, and that they released this anyway shows what they have up their sleeves in reserve; not a whole hell of a lot.

It warms the heart, doesn’t it?

One thing at least is clear now; their board is softening the landing for fans who expect that the summer will see them spend big money. The message could not be clearer that there is no prospect of this happening at all.

As I said yesterday, Ange and the Celtic board should now welcome all this talk about a finance gap.

It’s loser talk, and the Ibrox fans loathe hearing that message from inside their club.

They will be in open revolt long before this season ends, but in plenty of time to contemplate their response to season ticket renewal forms.