Work still to be done, says Strachan

GORDON STRACHAN has warned there is still much work to be done for Celtic to become a "great footballing side".

The Hoops manager is coming to terms with winning the Bank of Scotland Premier League and CIS Insurance Cup double in his first season in charge at Parkhead. However, Strachan, who is still wearing the watch which stopped after their 5-0 defeat to Artmedia Bratislava to remind him of the bad times, will approach the future with caution.

He said: "We make no claims of being a great footballing side. We are trying to get better, but you can't take away the fact we have won this league by 20 points.

"It was difficult for the players. Those who haven't won the championship before looked nervous and a bit drained but the boys who have been over the course kept us together. The players have done magnificently throughout the season and I'm delighted for them and our supporters."

Those supporters are demanding more money is spent on players, but you will not hear Strachan moaning.

Former Wales international John Hartson hinted this could be his last campaign in Paradise and, with Kenny Miller coming in, his exit could see the end of the long-ball game at Celtic Park.

The emotional scenes in Glasgow's east end on Wednesday night were a far cry from those in Slovakia in July 27. Strachan's first competitive game in charge ended in disaster after a humiliating 5-0 thrashing by Artmedia Bratislava.

Strachan smiled: "If someone had said that night we would win the title by 20 points I would have done the exact same as anybody would have - I would have laughed at them."

He is still coming to terms with the success but he claims that seeing the jubilation on the faces of those around him and the supporters gives him more satisfaction.

Strachan added: "That's the greatest reward about being the manager of this club - you can make millions of people happy."

Strachan admits the campaign has been draining.

"How do I feel?" he pondered.

"The honest answer is I'm tired.

"I want to let it sink in.

"The last tine I was standing out in the middle of that park was when I was a player with Aberdeen and the fans weren't being so kind to me that night.

"In fact they were shouting something that rhymed with banker. I enjoyed the fans chanting my name.

"It is always nice to be appreciated and I wanted to win the title in front of our own fans.

"Winning it at Parkhead was everything I imagined."