Why Rangers legend Ally McCoist doesn't think Celtic's title is tainted but requires an asterisk

McCoist has offered his sympathy to Neil Lennon’s men over not being able to win the title on the pitch

Rangers legend Ally McCoist doesn’t believe the awarding of the title to Celtic after a 30-game season means it is tainted, just that it will require an asterisk.

The SPFL confirmed the termination of the Scottish Premiership on Monday after it was accepted that the 2019-2020 campaign could not be concluded.

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It saw Celtic crowned champions for the ninth season running thanks to a points-per-game average of 2.6667 which was superior to Rangers’ 2.3103.

Ally McCoist has sympathy for Celtic. Picture: SNSAlly McCoist has sympathy for Celtic. Picture: SNS
Ally McCoist has sympathy for Celtic. Picture: SNS

Neil Lennon’s men picked up 80 points in 30 games with a goal difference of 70. The Ibrox side had played a game fewer with a points total of 67 and a goal difference of 45.

McCoist believes his former club could have clawed back the difference but noted it wasn’t likely.

However, he reckons an asterisk will hang over the title win, as it will over Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers’ successes in the Championship, League One and League Two respectively.

"They will have an asterisk next to it, of course they will," he told talkSPORT. "Because you're not going to tell me you're not going to look back on this season and say they were awarded the title, they were awarded promotion. Of course they were."There is a massive difference between the use of the words 'asterisk' and 'tainted'. The title and the promotions aren't tainted because it's through no fault of their own, but you can't argue there will not be an asterisk."The asterisk will say, through no fault of their own, this season has been different."

McCoist did offer a “degree of sympathy” to Celtic after they were denied the chance to win it on the pitch without any doubts or question marks."I've gone on record as saying, and I stand by it, if you're a Celtic player or a Celtic supporter, anyone involved with Celtic, you would have wanted to see the season finished,” he said. “As did everybody else, because that's the only fair way to do it."It's through no fault of their own, absolutely through no fault of their own, that the season has finished early and they have been awarded the title in this manner."Listen, you have got to say Celtic have been the best team in the league this season by a considerable margin. That's the facts of the matter."They're 13 points clear, Rangers have got a game in hand. Could Rangers have caught them? Absolutely. Was it likely? No, not at all, and probably highly unlikely that Rangers caught them."The fact of the matter is they still could have caught them. The unfortunate thing for all the teams is the league campaign hasn't been given the opportunity to finish."