(Credit: Imago)
(Credit: Imago)

Rangers: Keith Wyness in 'complete agreement' with Celtic as Union Bears excluded from Old Firm clash

Ciaran Morrison

Correspondent AUTHORITY Football finance journalist specialising in the financial landscape of the Premier League and SPFL. FOCUS Financial analysis, club economics, and data-led coverage across the top flight and Scottish football. THE INSIGHT Ciaran utilises a network of financial and industry contacts to deliver verified, data-driven analysis. He provides the numbers behind the noise to ensure fans understand the fiscal reality driving decisions at the top of the game.

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Rangers' ultras group are right to be denied entry by Celtic to the final Old Firm game of the season.

That is the view of former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking to Football Insider, as the Union Bears will not be in attendance at Celtic Park for the next Old Firm derby.

An SPFL subcommittee said it would not overrule Celtic on their stance to not allow the Union Bears entry to the game based on a risk assessment carried out by the club.

Rangers have reluctantly accepted their allocation of tickets for the derby, which is a crucial match in the race for the Scottish Premiership title.

Whilst Rangers' title hopes faded in defeat at Hearts last time out, the Gers could put a massive dent in Celtic's aspirations by taking points off their rivals.

Celtic and Rangers in 'very dangerous' dispute

Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs - believes that Celtic's Green Brigade should also be excluded from the fixture.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness states that both the Union Bears and Green Brigade have brought "disgrace" to their clubs.

PositionClubPointsGoal Difference
1stHearts7632
2ndCeltic7327
3rdRangers6933
The Scottish Premiership top three as it stands.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: "As I understand it, it's not away fans overall, it's just the Union Bears.

"That's where I am in complete agreement with Celtic in the way they've approached this. But of course, it's very dangerous to get involved between Celtic and Rangers because no one side will ever give way to the other.

"It's perfectly fair to say that some of the Green Brigade from Celtic and the Union Bears from Rangers have brought, I think, some disgrace on each of their clubs. The clubs do know who they are, and they should be excluded from Old Firm games.

"There are plenty of more moderate Rangers or Celtic fans that could fill an allocation. That's what should be encouraged until there's some decent behaviour. I mean, turning up in your Spider-Man mask and pitch invasions, that shouldn't be the sort of thing that football is about."

Rangers make transfer decision on Thelo Aasgaard

With Rangers looking increasingly unlikely to claim the Scottish Premiership title, more changes are expected to be made to their squad this summer.

However, one player who could remain at the club is Thelo Aasgaard, despite the midfielder having not yet fully convinced the fanbase of his qualities during his first season at Ibrox.

Sources have told Football Insider that Rangers won't cut their losses at Aasgaard and still believe in the 24-year-old's potential.

Aasgaard could become a more important player at Rangers next season if the club fail in their attempts to keep Mikey Moore at Ibrox from Tottenham.

www.footballinsider247.com