Excitement is brewing at Ibrox as Rangers’ American revolution gathers pace with the announcement of Kevin Thelwell as their new sporting director.
Over at Celtic Park, however, well the green half of Glasgow don’t seem all that bothered.
Bill Lockerbie, Northampton, was first up on the Hotline as he said: “Supporters of the Rangers must be salivating at the thought of mystery man Kevin Thelwell, the guy who has a viaduct named after him, having done such a masterful job at Everton that he’s now surplus to requirements.
"Mr T must be salivating himself at the thought of playing his part in ensuring a repeat of the 24/25 Treble and runners up spot, within the glamorous arenas of the SPFL as well as wintry evenings at Motherwell and Falkirk.”
Jim McSorley, Bothwell, said: “Now Rangers’ season is finished we turn to the annual pre-season cup and it's assuring to see them now miles ahead already, only this time it's the change in the boardroom that will see them 'coming'.
“As much as a change of ownership will improve business practices, sadly the state of the squad will mean they will be left watching Celtic in the Champions League and the riches that come from this will only keep the gap getting bigger while they take part in the Thursday Coefficient Cup!"
Regular caller Gordon Ashley, Ayr, had his big fishing rod out this week and certainly got a few bites with his claim that Brendan Rodgers is the leading candidate for Manager of the Year.
And he was back for more as he said: “Philip Borland is dreaming. You can’t be the world's most successful club if you haven’t won the world’s biggest club trophy.
“And of all the clubs who have won it, Celtic have won the most honours, giving us a genuine claim to being the world’s most successful club, something Rangers have never been.”
Sean McGarvey, Cumbernauld, added: “Look, it’s just getting silly now. After Celtic took the Rangers’ kiddy-on, made up nonsense crown that they had plastered all over Ibrox about being the world's most successful club, it’s now Al-Ahly’s silly made-up crown! Necks. Mark. Blow torch.
“As an aside, any Rangers fan who has the cheek to talk about the only Scottish team to have ever won the European Cup, when the only reason they have a second-tier European title is because they entered the tournament as the defeated finalist of the Scottish cup by…..oh I wonder who?
“Forever in our shadow and they know it. I’m sure being taken over by the Saint Francis 49ers will work out as well as the takeovers by Green and Whyte!”
Celtic fan Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon, added: “On the subject of Trebles, you can never get enough of success and we have had it in abundance. The only problem I have with our trophy-laden years is that I’m back on beers because I’ve grown bored of champagne!”
But Michael Emonds, Northampton, said: “The first time I heard that Rangers were the most successful club in the world, I nearly fell off my seat laughing. Now we’re getting my fellow Celtic fan Gordon Ashley giving us the same cringeworthy nonsense.
"Now that Celtic have overtaken Rangers trophy haul to become the most successful club in Glasgow, to save face, Rangers fans have now thrown Al-Ahly of Egypt into the world argument, absolute cobblers. Real Madrid are the most successful club in the world by a country mile, not just by the number of trophies but more importantly by the status of those trophies won.”
John Collins said: “Once again we have Ashley spouting off about trophies, trebles, blah, blah.
“Never does he mention Celtic had seven or eight years playing nobody and a free run to Europe - and yet they still got embarrassed every year. Neither does he thank the guy that made it all possible for them, Craig Whyte.”
