Barry Ferguson believes that Scott Brown has got it all wrong with his claim that Hibs are the second best team in the country.
Less than a decade ago Ferguson and his tax dodging team-mates revelled in the claim that Rangers (IL) were Simply The Best but playing by the same rules as other clubs has been a sobering experience for Ibrox fans.
Sevco are currently ahead of Aberdeen on goal difference and three points clear of Hibs but with only Kilmarnock still to visit Ibrox that position seems certain to change.
It seems to have gone un-noticed that a below par Celtic is on the brink of a seventh successive title with Sevco about to appoint their third different manager since reaching the Premiership in 2016.
Most of Brown’s comments seem to upset Sevco fans with Ferguson trying to keep his cool as he took the Celtic skipper to task in the Daily Record.
He said: “I saw his comments and, to be honest, I can’t understand why so many people are getting their knickers in a twist over what he said. He was always going to say that. I just looked at it and laughed.
“Listen, I may not be the smartest guy in the world. I don’t know if I’m having trouble with my reading or if I can’t count but I’m sitting here looking at a league table right now and as far as I can see it has got Rangers sitting in second place.
“There’s an old saying in football which always holds true; the league table does not lie.
“Celtic are the best team in the country which is why they are out in front of the rest. Rangers might only be in second place on goal difference but it still makes them the second best in the country as things stand.
“The important thing for these Rangers players now is to go out there and make sure they end the season in second place. Then they can go back to Brown and ask if he still feels the same way.
“But I wouldn’t be overly concerned by what he’s said and I certainly wouldn’t feel insulted by it. This is just part and parcel of the build up to an Old Firm game. It’s just another bit of drama to add to the sense of occasion. It’s why people love this fixture.
“If I was in Celtic’s position I’d probably have said something similar just to wind the opposition up. He’s obviously done it to have a smarmy bash at Rangers. That’s fine. But let’s see at the end of the season which team is the second strongest in the league. That’s the only motivation Rangers need.”
There is an old saying in football that it isn’t over till the fat lady sings.
Once Sevco come off the park at Easter Road on May 13 on the back of facing Celtic, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock over 14 days Ferguson will know if his new club are simply second best or worse.
In 2012 the BBC claimed that Ferguson received £2.5m in EBT payments from Rangers (IL), more than any other player.