Bitter Walter Smith has aimed yet another verbal attack on Celtic as he races out the exit door at Ibrox.
Rather than soak up the acclaim for winning a third championship with his expensively assembled squad led by the £8m strike force of Nikica Jelavic and Kyle Lafferty Smith has continued his attacks on Celtic.
Despite public acknowledgement of a referee lying to Neil Lennon and the eventual retirement of Dougie Dougie McDonald the outgoing Rangers boss dumps all the problems of the season at Celtic’s door.
“The season got off to a bad start, in that respect, when Celtic put up a challenge to referees and to everybody else,” Smith claimed without giving any details. “That got the season off to a bad start and it went downhill after that.
“From my own point of view, I hope everybody would realise that people who work in Scottish football – referees included – are always under terrific scrutiny.
“It was an unfair circumstance they were placed in this season and I just hope that now everybody gets on with it.”
Perhaps the ‘everyone else’ that Smith was referring to was the Referees Committee who hit Neil Lennon with a six match touchline ban for his first offence.
Lennon’s appeal got the punishment reduced to four games with an independent SFA review headed by Lord Carloway describing the interfering presence of SFA President George Peat at the hearing as contrary to the principles of fair play.
Smith may have forgotten Ally McCoist successfully appealing a two match touchline ban after his assistant attempted to get at Lennon in the Celtic dug out during a Scottish Cup replay.
The exiting Rangers boss continued: “I would hope Celtic realise that, if their team is good enough, then they will win.
“If they’re not good enough, they’ll not win – and they can’t look at anybody else, whether it’s referees or any other influence. I don’t say that in a smug way.
“I just felt that it set the tone for what has been a poor season for our country, in terms of publicity overall.”
Being a fair minded man it can be assumed that Smith’s views on Celtic not being good enough would apply to Rangers and their efforts in the Champions League.
With UEFA match officials beyond criticism Smith won one of his last twelve Champions League matches- at home to Turkish side Bursanspor.
Over two spells as Rangers manager Smith won 6 of his 36 Champions League matches, the same number as Gordon Strachan and less than Martin O’Neill.
The win over Bursanspor was the only one that the former Rangers boss enjoyed in his last 21 European matches stretching back over three years.
As Smith said: “If they’re not good enough, they’ll not win – and they can’t look at anybody else.”
Despite being acclaimed as Rangers greatest ever manager by outgoing chairman Al Johnston the Ibrox club have refused to offer Smith a seat on the directors board.
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I really hoped that he would come out and condemn the attacks on Lennon, but I guess that was too much to ask!
I also hope he realises that by making these comments he has helped continue the feud between both clubs and has heaped even more pressure on an already volatile atmosphere!
Here’s hoping no-one retaliates against Fat Sally next season or the finger of blame will be pointed firmly at the door of ‘The Wily Old Fox’
What a bitter old man. All he’s done is stir up more bad feeling. In reality should we expect anything less from a representative of Scotland’s Shame ?
He has that James, he knows the hatred his followers have for Lenny and Celtic yet he continues to give the media ammo to continue their witch hunt.
In the process giving the haters justification for their hatred. I listened to one of the phone ins last night, one Hun caller said he was ‘Prepared’ to give Lenny another seazon if he changes his ways etc!
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing going unchallenged by the panel what ever did he mean he Prepared to give Lenny another chance ?
Then numerous other Hun callers determined to see us turn on Lenny and see him sacked, that tells me one thing here, as much as they hate him, they fear him also.
They now know he got more to has locker than just a daft wee rookie. But because of that old Smith’s rant they are now all ranting about Lenny and Celtic instead of enjoying a title win, sad ol man indeed.
Hail Hail
I expected this from this old deranged over rated odious scrote.
This latest Smith rant is a classic case of DENIAL, like the Alcoholic they refuse to take responsibility, point the finger outwardly and blame everything and everyone else to deflect attention away from the Inwardl turmoil going on within them, a very dangerous and bitter old scounderel indeed.
Celtic, the manager, back room staff,the players and the Celtic family have ALL came out of this with clear consciences,pride and respect, No longer are we prepared to sit at the back of the bus, and the old Bus driver Smith understands this there for has departed the vehicle, as MR Chairman Reid says, “Those Days are Gone ”
Look at your European record Sir Walter ? No SFA or Dallas clones to give you tainted success eh, that is the real Sir Walter, a European flop, the people trying to put him up there along side the Steins, Shankly’s, Sir Alex etc have no shame.
If this was how Celtic and it’s supporters went about it’s business to win titles, cups etc well its simple I would not be a Celtic supporter, when I look back on my football medals from my younger days I have pride, they where won with total FAIR PLAY, hard graft integrity and honesty, if I knew they where won through outside influences, honest mistakes, diving, etc then how could I have any pride in myself self or my achievements ? They are a very sad Tribe indeed.
I’m hoping Celtic roll out the big gun here in Mr Chairman Reid to tear apart this latest Smith rant, after the cup final I would like to see a hard hitting reply to put this old clown in his place.
Classless bar stewards them all, they wouldn’t know dignity if it jumped up and bit them on the ass, If anyone wants to see the real face of Smith the Bully then head over to you tube and check That Smith & Chick young interview out.
‘ThoseDaysAreGoneCSC ‘
Mark Jason67 Hail Hail
P.S I’m so proud of the Celtic supporters who attended the game on Sunday, totally showed our class, that’s what separates us from the rest, I have two old Priests sitting next to me, they where in the Huddle, big large grins spread across their faces, tremendous, In defeat we are able to keep our dignity and stand up tall with pride as Real Men and Womam do, God Bless the Celtic and all her people, and old undignified Sir Walter you’s will never have what we’ve got, never!! J.C.G.E
Smith has sat back and allowed the hate campaign against Lennon to continue unchallenged, he could have condemned those involved like any normal person would but he refused to.
Not really surprising since he wouldn’t even condemn racist and bigoted chants, only saying they weren’t acceptable “anymore” because they could cost rangers money.
I remember comments he was making before, talking about an opposition goalkeeper time wasting by taking ages to kick the ball out from goal kicks, he was livid, in his dignified way he was saying it was a form of cheating, was unfair, and then questioned the referees performance saying he allowed it to go unpunished, he then went on to say that when his team went out in european games and used the same time wasting tactic european referees would warn his keeper and book him. So although he felt it was ok to send his own goalkeeper out to time waste from the minute the game started he was furious when another team done it against his side. Thats his mentality.
If this was down in England he would get ripped apart, but due to the his high profile status in certain circles he is feared among the media mongrels, you only have to look at that interview with him and chick Young on you tube to get a glimpse of the bully in him.
The thing you mentioned above, his hypocrisy, any decent journo would challenge that, and it’s not as if it’s not a regular occurrence with the old b*&*(, he’s at it all the bloody time, Yet it’s ass kissing all the time from journo’s and pundits.
Now that Moonbeam’s iz out the picture, I wonder who will be providing the food for the table now for theze mongrel journos
#ZucculentLamb
Or iz Moonbeamz the backer behind the Whyte Knight, Hmmm ?
Zorry about the Z in my comment keypad playing up. Hail Hail
Mr. Dignity? A typical Hun. He’ll have plenty of time time now to get his eye bags done.
Smith, Bougherra, Lafferty, and Weiss all not content to enjoy their victory, but have to have a pop at Celtic in the press.
As my Grandmother used to say, always consider the source, and these sources sum up Rangers in a nutshell.
Can’t win with grace, can’t lose with grace. Absolutely no class from top to bottom.
All season long, Smith, Sally, Laff, Joof, Weir etc. etc. could not speak about their own club without involving Celtic.
Lafferty twatting on twitter about Neil Lennon started the ball rolling on the hate campaign we’ve just witnessed. Smith’s refusal to condemn the actions of his own supporters.
They are a disgrace. Their “celebrations” only revolved around mocking Celtic. They have no supporters. Only thugs that pay in to spread hate.
Celtic Park on Sunday was the finest example of supporting your team you will ever see.
They are not capable of that. F*** Them
Its nice to see Lennon has spoke up and condemned the ira chants without “doing a walter” and bringing up the issues other clubs may have with their support, unlike wally he has not resorted to whataboutery, he has not asked fans to stop singing those songs because they might cost Celtic money.
He has asked that they are stopped for the sake of the clubs reputation, because it is wrong, unlike wally he has not used words like “not acceptable ANYMORE”, bearing in mind the songs are not actually illegal, (although obviously offensive and completely unacceptable), and the songs by rangers were illegal, racist and bigoted, he has spoken out without deflecting the blame, without excuses and without pandering to those responsible.
Well done Mr Lennon for being a real leader, for your dignity in addressing this issue without shirking responsibility and pointing fingers at others, it’s a shame wally hasn’t taken a leaf from your book, but they do say, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
LENNON TO THE CORE
I don’t know if you noticed but yesterday one journo twisted Lenny’s words again.
Lenny mentioned offensive chants, they have changed it to sectarian chants and IRA chants, nothing of the sort in Lenny’s article, I’ve also just spotted on twitter that another newspaper has just done the same thing twisting the words to suit their agenda.
What a sad we country scotland Is eh ?
If I was Neil Lennon I would be given serious consideration to what journalists I deal with next season and what action I’d be prepared to take against this sort of stuff.
After what we have had to endure this season with the media, I think it would be wise for the Celtic online community to get better organised for this stuff.
A complaints directory set up and be right on top of this sort of stuff, especially the phone in bias from pundits and let them away with nowt.
‘Forewarned is to be forearmed’
Mark Jason67 Hail Hail
Your correct he did not actually use the term ira, although going on the circumstances surrounding the game at hearts its obviously what he was referring to, the media should not be quoting words he has not used though, especially to headline articles as this obviously misrepresents what was said. Saying that i welcome his stance and refusal to point fingers at others to excuse bad behaviour, unlike other managers.
Has smith been appointed the Barcelona or Real Madrid job yet? Going by how highly rated he is by scottish sports journalists they must be fighting tooth and nail to sign him up. Poor Mourihno and Guardiola must be biting their nails to the bone wondering which one of them will be making way for the footballing genius wally smith.