Willie Henderson lived through nine-in-a-row, now he fears Celtic are about to hit TEN.
In the first half of the sixties Celtic toiled to challenge Rangers (IL) as they dominated at home against a team of lost bhoys who hadn’t won a trophy in that decade.
Jock Stein turned that around, won the title, the European Cup and life at Celtic was never to be the same again.
Brendan Rodgers won’t lift the big cup but his arrival at Celtic has spread fear and dread across Ibrox as a frightening reality takes hold.
This week Stuart McCall, Kevin Thompson and Walter Smith have expressed their fear of Celtic reaching 10.
Less than nine months after celebrating a Scottish Cup semi-final success over Celtic the reality of a disastrous summer spending spree has created a climate of misery for everyone connected to the Ibrox clubs.
Asked about 10 Henderson told the Daily Record: “It’s a figure I’m not looking forward to seeing. With the way things are going I can’t see that there’s any way to stop Celtic doing 10 in a row.
“I just don’t see it. The money that’s getting spent- and it’s money that’s being spent wisely too.
“Brendan Rodgers is a huge step forward from the last manager Celtic had. He has done a great job, there’s been money to spend and it has been done wisely. That’s the big thing.
“It comes down to nothing else but money. Rangers can’t spend the money that Celtic spend.
“I would hope next year Rangers can challenge Celtic but being realistic? Two to three years at best.
“I was playing when Celtic won nine-in-a-row but it was a lot closer back then. We beat them in the Scottish Cup final the season before they won the European Cup in 1967.
“The Rangers team back then was a very good team. The difference between the Celtic team and the Rangers team was arguably the greatest manager to come out of Scotland – Jock Stein.”
Hendo added: “With the players Mark Warburton has I don’t know any other manager who would have got them better than second place right now.
“I don’t know any other manager that would take the league off Celtic.
“If the man has the right material he will bring improvement to the club – but there’s only so much he can do with what he’s got.
“This world is about money. With the amount of money in the Premiership and the Championship, if someone is going to offer you bundles of money which is better than you’re getting it’s the common thing that you’ll look at what’s being offered.
“But I don’t think Warburton will go to any club in the Championship. Irrespective of who is in the Championship, they don’t have a bigger reputation or a bigger name than Rangers.
“I think he is the type of guy who would like to see the job done at Rangers. I think he would love the pride of putting Rangers back alongside Celtic. He’s the kind of guy that would relish that and it would be a big feather in his cap.”
It’s unclear what event or events is going to change the landscape in two or three years time. Maybe in 2019 Rodgers will sign a Joey Garner type while Warbo snaps up the next Moussa Dembele.
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