Strachan steers clear of Gers’ fixtures row

GORDON STRACHAN refused to become embroiled in a war of words with Rangers chief executive Martin Bain on the subject of an extended season last night.

But the Celtic manager did back his own chief executive Peter Lawwell’s view that the Ibrox club should not be given more time to complete their packed fixture list.

This comfortable win moved Celtic to within three points of leaders Rangers ahead of the trip to Ibrox next week, a crunch game that had led to increased tensions between the two clubs over the weekend.

Walter Smith’s side are facing a pile-up of games due to their continued involvement in the UEFA Cup, a Scottish Cup quarter-final replay against Partick Thistle and two outstanding SPL matches to be rearranged over and above the Auld Firm game at Parkhead — postponed at New Year — which was pencilled in for April 16.

Lawwell turned up the pressure on the SPL on Friday by suggesting that an extension to the season would “threaten the integrity” of the competition.

Asked for his view on why Lawwell came out with his statement, Bain said: “It’s probably more to do with the fact that there is a points difference at the moment.”

Asked if he would respond to Bain’s comments, Strachan said: “I won’t,” although he carried on to give his own thoughts on the subject.

The former Aberdeen player pointed to the 1982-83 season when the Dons won the European Cup Winners’ Cup and the Scottish Cup, as evidence that a spate of games in quick succession need not affect any potential success.

He said: “In 1983 at Aberdeen, Willie Miller and Alex McLeish played about 73 games and I don’t think we extended the league.

“We got a good season out of it so we would advocate just getting on with it.”

Scott McDonald’s first goal in six games inspired Celtic to victory but he was substituted for Georgios Samaras after 65 minutes and pulled out of a trip to China to play for Australia in a World Cup qualifier which should give him time to recover for the trip to Ibrox.

Gretna, who went in to administration just under a fortnight ago, belied their problems with a gutsy display.

Caretaker manager Mick Wadsworth praised the SPL for giving them a cash advance on Friday to allow them to see the season out but slammed the decision not to have a pay-gate in operation, which reduced the crowd to 3,561.

He said: “I don’t know if I’m just a silly old sod but where is the common sense? If there is a pay-gate on the day, what are they expecting, the Khmer Rouge with Kalashnikovs or football supporters?

“If it was only another £10 or £50, that is very important for us. When common sense comes to the fore it will be a great day for us all.”

Wadsworth, who expects Chris Innes to return next week after the skipper failed to find another club, admitted that he was “very disappointed” that two French players Aurelien Collin and Mickael Buscher are exercising their right to leave.

Physio Kenny Crichton has left to join Falkirk and injured Uruguayan midfielder Fabian Yantorno also wants away after it emerged that the Borders club could not afford his treatment.

GRETNA: Fleming, Naughton, Hall, Meynell, Skelton, McGill (Griffiths 82), Murray, Osman, Baldacchino, Deverdics (Barr 66), Wilkinson (Makinwa 72).

Subs Not Used: Krysiak, Hogg, Schultz-Eklund, Taylor.

CELTIC: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Scott Brown (Hartley 72), Robson (Sno 80), McGeady, McDonald (Samaras 63), Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Riordan, O’Dea, Killen.

REFEREE: Craig Thomson.