Influential TalkSPORT host adds to doubts over Sydney Super Cup

Jim White has joined the drip-drip of information suggesting that the Glasgow derby scheduled to be part of the Sydney Super Cup in November won’t go ahead. 

Last week Jason Pine became the first person in the media to claim that there were doubts over the tournament going ahead, later in the week Keith Jackson claimed that the Ibrox hierarchy were looking into the cost of withdrawing from the event. 

Celtic have been very coy over the Glasgow derby aspect of Ange’s Homecoming Tour with the club giving more attention to a match against Sydney FC on November 17 than the main event three days later. 

White retains strong contacts across Scottish football and has hosted a number of Ibrox related hospitality events. 

The Sun reports: 

White, speaking on his talkSPORT radio show with Simon Jordan, claimed he had heard “intelligence” that the game is in danger because it’s proving too much like hard work to organise. 

The veteran broadcaster said: “It appears the protests continue to be in response to plans to play this friendly against Celtic in the Sydney Super Cup in November. 

“When I was in Glasgow the other day for Rangers-Aberdeen there were constant outbursts of fans chanting that Rangers and others were told where they could stick their Old Firm match in Australia. 

“They’re simply not having it, they don’t want it. Even though James Bisgrove is on record saying, in terms of revenue, the finances it’ll bring in is absolutely undeniable. 

“What’s going to give here? The intelligence I’m getting on this one is that down under now the organisers are thinking [it’s too much like hard work], yeah. 

“There could well be a reason of timing, there might be some other reason but they might throw it into the mix that it seems as if it may not be taking place.” 

Tickets for all three matches went on sale last week but it seems that there are increasing concerns among the organisers about the reality of having two sets of hostile fans in the same city as the one time. 

Hearing football’s Sydney Super Cup may be in serious doubt.

Unresolved issues with organiser escalating behind the scenes according to local sources.

Launch may have been premature.

More to follow.

— Jason Pine (@pineynz) March 17, 2022