Things must be quiet for former ‘Rangers’ boss Mark Warburton these days. You’d think with the challenge he has on his hands with his current job that his focus would be on Queen Park Rangers rather than his former charges from Glasgow.
His current team sit 13th in the Championship and West London rivals Fulham and Brentford are both fighting for Premier League promotion in the play-off spots. His experience when it comes to challenging for honours then appears to be nothing if not consistent. When it comes to his local rivals he’s miles off the pace yet again.
Being unable to stop Celtic winning league titles cost Warburton and his sidekick Davie Weir their jobs in Scotland, now it appears he’s trying a different tack to try and stop Celtic. It’s as likely to be successful as his previous efforts.
Speaking to Daily Record the ex Ibrox boss has waded into the mainstream press Stop the Nine narrative when he said:
“I know there’s an argument in Scotland that says Celtic should be given the title and put forward into next season’s qualifiers for the Champions League.
“But think about that for a minute. We don’t even know when those qualifiers will take place. Also I believe you have to win a title. You can’t just be given it.
“That’s not me speaking with my Rangers head on. You’ve got to win a title and I think any honest Celtic fan would agree.
“Down here Liverpool need two more wins before they can rightfully call themselves champions. That’s why we have to finish the domestic programme. There has to be integrity to the competitions.
“Obviously that will cause problems further down the line in terms of next season’s schedule but, without being rude, we’re going through a global pandemic. Thousands of people are dying.
“So how can anyone expect next season to be the same as always? At some point football is going to have to feel a bit of pain.
“If that means doing something radically different to shorten next season, starting it in November or December, then that’s what we have to do.”
In a lot of ways he’s saying what Celtic fans have been saying for weeks, Celtic fans want the season played out and we want it won on the field of play, however if that cannot be achieved then the rule book is clear. Celtic are Champions. No ifs buts or maybes.
It doesn’t matter how many Alex Raes, Kris Boyds or Mark Warburtons are quoted in the press it will not change the cold hard facts. If this league cannot be concluded on the grass it will be concluded off it and that will result in Celtic’s ninth consecutive title heading for the Parkhead trophy room.
And despite Warburton’s attempts to muddy the waters over both Liverpool and Celtic’s right to their well-earned league titles, his statement that ‘you just can’t be given it’ is ludicrous. These titles have already been won, no-one is going to catch Liverpool or Celtic. The only question now is whether that will be done on the field of play or decided by the men in blazers.
He is of course right these are uncharted territories we’re negotiating as Covid-19 halts league campaigns but it doesn’t mean the conclusion needs to be illogical, it can’t mean we pause this season indefinitely and pick up where we left off. If this lockdown extends then clubs cannot survive without a line in the sand and a conclusion being reached. Prize money can only be distributed when the season finishes, season tickets for the next campaign cannot be sold until the current one is concluded.
UEFA have made it clear null and void seasons are not an option. The SPFL sides have ruled it out because of the huge damage it would cause and cost. That leaves two simple alternatives. Extend the season until it cannot be feasibly extended anymore and when that line in the sand is reached follow the SPFL rule book and award the title to Celtic.
Celtic fans lose out on this, we lose our day celebrating the title win, the Trophy Day celebrations and all the partying that we’d enjoy winning when the league.
It doesn’t take much to reach the proper conclusion. You’ve just got to use your loaf Mr Warburton. However much you may wish to avoid Celtic winning 9-in-a-row, that’s just the way this will pan out.
Niall J
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