Martin O’Neill is hoping that Celtic get a stronger challenge from Ibrox.
The former Celtic boss made an appearance on Alan Brazil’s TalkSPORT show where the nostalgic view of the O** F*** was the topic on conversation.
Whatever it takes seems to be the motto of the radio station and others as they ignore multiple rule breaches from a company that can’t even get a replica top on sale to their supporters.
O’Neill suffered more than any Celtic manager from the industrial scale cheating of the old Ibrox club with the Irishman denied five-in-a-row by teams rammed with ineligible players being paid off the books in an illegal tax scam.
Despite being cheated on a weekly basis it seems that O’Neill has mellowed, welcoming competition at any cost from a club whose debts match their turnover.
“At this moment, Rangers are hopefully getting a little bit stronger,” the former Celtic manager said.
“I say that hopefully and I mean it. If Rangers are going to get strong then Celtic have to try and remain strong.
“Not just for that particular challenge, the challenge there has been non-existent in the last couple of seasons but Celtic have to stay strong in Europe as well too and that’s the difficulty, that has been the difficulty.
“You’ve won your games in the domestic league but then you’re fighting an uphill battle against the very strong sides, even to get into the Champions League group stage itself. It’s terribly difficult.
“I think if you ask a Celtic fan now then they would feel differently.
“If Celtic are going to have any say in any stages of European football then they would need to stay strong.
“They would need to keep strong and obviously a challenge from Rangers, Hearts, Hibs or Aberdeen can only help.
“Celtic now running away with leagues is of less consideration than before. Of course it’s great to win and good to win well but until that challenge comes then it’s not going to help in European football.”
O’Neill managed Celtic from June 2000 to May 2005.