Strachan is not surprised by grim plight at Ibrox

FORMER Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has admitted he has not been surprised by the plight of Rangers.

Strachan, who was in charge of Celtic between 2005 and 2009, felt a crisis at Ibrox had been coming for the last decade.

He said: “Well it is no surprise to anyone who knows Scottish football that this was going to happen.

“This has been building up for 11 or 12 years and it has been going on and on and on and everybody had an idea that this might happen to Glasgow Rangers. So it has not come as a surprise to anybody. Do we really know what the answers are? Well once the auditors go in and try and find out what has gone on then then you might have some answers.”

Strachan has no doubt that Rangers will survive but he hopes that their plight serves as a warning to the football club owners.

He added: “The first thing is that Rangers will not disappear, they will stay and there is absolutely no problem about that.

“As for people thinking that Celtic are quite happy about this, well they aren’t really because they would miss the derby games. There is nothing better for a Celtic manager, a Celtic player or a Celtic fan to beat Rangers and vice versa to give them that buzz. That’s for sure.

“I think for football clubs all over the place and for people coming into football this is a different business from any other business you have been in. It does not have any rules and if you don’t stick to your business plan then you have a problem.

“If you worry about what people say, fans telling you to spend money just to have a quiet month or so, then you will have a problem. You have to stay strong.

“You ask any Portsmouth fan whether they would swap winning the FA Cup final for stability they would say yes.

“Anyone who takes over a football club does not have responsibility to themselves.

“The have it to the community where they buy that football club. They have to have a strong business plan – don’t be sentimental and don’t be pushed by anybody else.”