Barry Ferguson defended Vaclav Cerny’s Parkhead water skooshie – but the incident continues to cause a Hotline stooshie.
Rangers caretaker boss Ferguson insists the Czech was just over-excited when he sprayed Celtic fans after the late Old Firm winner and says he’d have a problem if his players didn’t celebrate. But with the Premiership set to return from the two-week international break, not everyone was convinced as calls over water-gate continue to flood the lines.
Bobby Duncan, Skelmorlie, said: “I watched Barry Ferguson being interviewed and saying ‘I want my players to celebrate scoring goals’. Yes, absolutely. However, to suggest and condone ‘the boy just got overexcited’ firing water into the opposition support, is not acceptable and could have caused a major incident.”
However, Dave Cooke emailed: “Caller George Lamberth wants Vaclav Cerny punished for the water squirting and feels that the SFA should punish him for something that could have caused a riot.
“Has he conveniently forgotten the incident at Ibrox where Leigh Griffiths attempted to tie a Celtic scarf to a goalpost and then went on to wipe his nose on a corner flag? This could have caused a riot and the SFA did not punish Griffiths.”
Meanwhile Scott Gowers, Edinburgh, tongue in cheek, said: “The SFA are in no position to charge anybody regarding Watergate after turning the sprinklers on as the Greek players were warming up pre match. The Greek fans could have reacted and caused a riot but thankfully neither incident led to rioting.”
Ferguson will take charge of his sixth game against Dundee on Saturday night after replacing Philippe Clement on an interim basis last month. Former team mates Lee McCulloch and Paul Gascoigne this week joined calls for the former captain to be given the job permanently.
But Willie Mercer, Dumfries, said: “Rangers find themselves 13 points behind Celtic and out of the title race due to the fact 10 of those points have been dropped to the also rans of the league and only three to Celtic.
“This is what ultimately cost Clement his job. For Ferguson to put a serious marker down for getting the job permanently, he must at the worst be no more than the 13 points behind at the end of the season but, better still, be 10 points or less behind.
“Success in Europe did not save Clement and neither should it be the be all and end for Ferguson’s future. Results in the next eight domestic league games must be the only measure.”
Davie Wilson, Glasgow, agreed saying: “Dens Park is exactly the kind of venue where Clement’s Rangers were found wanting. They were lucky to scrape a draw there a few months back. Saturday night will be a big gauge of Ferguson’s impact on the team.”
Chris Lowe took issue with Gordon Ashley’s comment that Celtic had got top dollar for players who had turned on the style in the Champions League. But Gordon, Ayr, hit back: “What is Chris Lowe on about? Kieran Tierney, Jota, Moussa Dembele and Matt O’Riley provided goals or assists in teams that picked up points in the Champions League.
“Nico Raskin never will. He forgets his team will forever be the worst team to compete in 30 years of the original four team format.”
Moving down the leagues and Albion Rovers’ financial struggles have seen the return to the table of Project Phoenix – the consortium who previously tried to take over the Coatbridge side and tap into the town’s Irish heritage by rebranding them Shamrock Rovers Coatbridge.
However, James Forsyth, Bellshill, said: “Any investment should not include a name change or colour change – that would alienate those with no Celtic connection and stop them attending matches or supporting the club. There is enough division in the area as it is.”