Kris Boyd accuses Rangers of financial misstep as Celtic told £200m of surging cash influx can stay in the bank

The Ibrox hero has hit out at the Ibrox accountants in a brutal contrast with Celtic

 

Concerned Kris Boyd reckons Rangers have been “ran by the heart” with cash being splashed in an attempt to catch Celtic.

 

The fears of the Ibrox diehards escalated last month after the board revealed an operating loss of £17.2million in the most recent financial year. The annual accounts and accompanying financial statement and that deficit were grim reading for the punters amid a tough campaign on the pitch under Philippe Clement, despite the club also saying they have recorded record figures in core revenue of £88.3million.

 

The figures are only made worse when contrasted with the mega-money arriving at Celtic Park as Rangers watch Brendan Rodgers’ side bolster the Parkhead coffers in the cash-rich Champions League. UEFA have beefed up the prize pot for teams this season – and Celtic eyeing a spot in the knockout stages with seven points from their opening four fixture the cash will only continue to flow towards Glasgow’s east end.

 

And speaking to the The Warm-Up, Rangers hero Boyd pointed to a key misstep by his former club in recent seasons: “You only need to look at Rangers finances that were released a few weeks ago as well. It’s all well and good having money coming in, but if you don’t spend it wisely you could end up in trouble.

 

“Celtic are the opposite. Celtic have brought in a lot of money and a lot of their fans will be demanding ‘you have to go and spend that money’ – but it has been built up. I think Celtic have been ran by the head, and when you look at Rangers a lot of it has been run by the heart. It has been a case of ‘we need to put money in because we need to get there’ but there has been a proper business model for a number of years.”

 

Fellow pundit Craig Levein felt Celtic also had to adopt a cautious approach to spending despite rubbing shoulders with Europe’s elite. He said: “The thing with Celtic is, they know they can’t close the gap on the European giants, they can’t do it.”

 

 

O’Riley reunites with Celtic pals and his outfit choice is sublime

 

 

O’Riley shared the nostalgic snap to his Instagram (Image: Instagram)

 

Matt O’Riley has shared an image alongside some old friends, wearing some familiar clobber that might make some Celtic fans pine for what was once.

 

As posted to the Brighton and Hove Albion player’s Instagram, the midfielder can be seen posing alongside James Forrest, Callum McGregor, Stephen Welsh and Luke McCowan on a training pitch somewhere in the sun.

 

Shared with an Inbetweeners reference – “football friends” – the 23-year-old is also wearing last season’s Celtic training gear, adding a firm dose of nostalgia to the scene.

 

Shortly after moving south as Celtic’s most expensive export, O’Riley suffered a bag injury that ruled him out of contention for several weeks.

 

Now back to full fitness, however, the midfielder scored Brighton’s winning goal against Manchester City ahead of the current international break.

 

Brilliant: Matt O’Riley Spotted in Celtic Gear with Hoops Quartet

 

 

 

Former Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley delighted fans by sharing a heartwarming photo on social media, showing him catching up with some familiar faces from his time at the club. Captioned “football friends,” the image featured O’Riley alongside current Celtic captain Callum McGregor, James Forrest, Stephen Welsh, and Luke McCowan. The best part is Matt is wearing his Celtic gear!

 

The snapshot appears to have been taken during the ongoing international break, a welcome chance for these players to unwind. McGregor, who retired from Scotland duty earlier this year, and the others—none of whom are currently involved in international squads—seem to be enjoying a well-deserved respite.

 

Luke McCowan’s inclusion in the group adds an interesting twist. The winger joined Celtic in the summer after O’Riley’s high-profile departure to Brighton. While they didn’t overlap as teammates, they certainly crossed paths in Scottish football, with McCowan impressing at Dundee during O’Riley’s time in Glasgow.

 

A Record Move to Brighton

 

O’Riley left Celtic in a club-record transfer during the summer window, with Brighton paying a hefty fee to secure the talented midfielder’s services. However, his debut for the Seagulls was marred by an unfortunate injury that required surgery and a spell of rehab.

 

O’Riley bounced back in sensational fashion just before the international break, making his Premier League debut in dramatic style. Coming off the bench against Manchester City, he scored the match-winning goal, showcasing the flair and composure that made him such a standout at Celtic Park.

 

Celts Taking Time Off

 

For McGregor, Forrest, and Welsh, the international break offers a rare moment to step back from the relentless demands of the season. McGregor, as ever, has been an ever-present figure in Celtic’s midfield, while Forrest and Welsh have been squad players under Brendan Rodgers.

 

The sight of the quintet spending time together highlights the close bonds formed during O’Riley’s time at Celtic

 

Rangers push for triple January signing swoop as long-term Celtic target opens the door to January exit

 

 

 

The January transfer window could have huge implications for Celtic and Rangers’ title hopes

 

With just a month to go until the start of the January transfer window, Philippe Clement is already beginning to make plans about the next phase of his rebuild as he aims to bridge the gap between his side and Premiership pacesetters Celtic, who are already nine points clear of the Light Blues.

 

The Belgian added a grand total of 10 players to his squad during the summer window and is now hoping to bolster the team’s wide attacking options with a move for Peterborough United star Kwame Poku, according to Rangers News.

 

The 23-year-old is currently one of the most in-form players in League One with a remarkable 10 goals and five assists from his opening 15 matches for Darren Ferguson’s side.

 

The one-time Ghana international is believed to be the subject of interest from Championship sides such as Blackburn Rovers and Millwall as well as Premier League newboys Ipswich Town.

 

He is under contract with the Posh until next summer and would potentially be able to join Rangers at a cut price fee in January.

 

However, Rangers would also be able to take advantage of cross-border compensation rules to strike a cost-effective free transfer move for the attacker by next summer.

 

The Gers are also in the market for a right sided defender to potentially or provide further competition for club captain James Tavernier, whose form has regressed slightly in recent months amid reports of interest from Turkey.

 

Wrexham right-back Ryan Barnett is believed to be one of the names under consideration after a terrific start to his League One career which has seen him record one goal and five assists for the high-flying Welsh side.

 

Motherwell’s teenage midfield prodigy Lennon Miller, who has recorded two goals and three assists in 11 Premiership games, is also seen as a player that could hugely benefit Rangers’ team.

 

Long-term Celtic target hints at potential January move

 

Denmark Under-21 international Mathias Kvistgaarden has been on Celtic’s radar for the last two transfer windows after a string of impressive performances for Brondby in the Danish Superliga.

 

The Daily Record understands that Celtic scouts have been monitoring the versatile 22-year-old forward for a number of months and were in attendance for Brondby’s recent clash against FC Nordsaelland as Kvistgaarden continued his tremendous goalscoring run by netting his 10th league goal in 15 appearances.

 

Kvistgaarden has recently expressed his desire to move abroad and test himself in a new environment in the near future. He told Bold: “It would be great if a lot of things came from outside. You dream of leaving at some point. There are still games left, and if that were to happen, then you know that you are standing and suddenly you have the last few games in the Brondby shirt this time around.

 

“So right now I’m just looking towards the next game. I am enjoying every single second I wear this shirt.”

 

Belgian Media React as Arne Engels Impresses on First National Team Start

 

 

 

The Belgian media have been full of praise for Celtic’s Arne Engels after he made his first start for his country’s senior team last night.

 

The 21-year-old got the nod for Belgium’s match at home to Italy in UEFA Nations League A Group 2.

 

 

 

Soccer Football – Scottish Premiership – Celtic v Aberdeen – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – October 19, 2024 Celtic’s Arne Engels in action REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

 

Although the visitors won 1-0 courtesy of a first-half Sandro Tonali strike, Engels impressed before he was subbed off on 71 minutes.

 

Indeed, the media in his homeland have complemented his performance despite the loss.

 

Het Laatste Nieuws (via The National) praised Engels’ ‘maturity’, hailing his accurate passing ability as key when Belgium had the ball.

 

Elsewhere, De Standaard (via The National) noted the midfielder’s battling defensive work, writing: “Engels was tireless in winning the ball back and displayed impressive stamina throughout the entire match.”

 

Future Potential

 

Just like at Celtic, it would appear there are high hopes for Engels on the national team front.

 

Indeed, La Libre Belgique reckons he can nail down a consistent starting place in the Belgian engine room: “Engels proved that he is ready for the highest level and can become a mainstay in the Red Devils’ midfield,” they wrote (via The National).

 

Although teenage RB Leipzig midfielder Arthur Vermeeren replaced Engels in the second half, he will be eager to keep his place in the team when Belgium play Israel in Hungary on Sunday evening. He impressed last night, but the youngster may have an even better opportunity to catch the eye in the next match.

 

After that, though, Engels’ full attention returns to Celtic ahead of what manager Brendan Rodgers has described as an ‘ultramarathon’ of games.

 

Things kick off with a trip to Tynecastle next weekend before the Hoops face Engels’ old academy side, Club Brugge, in the UEFA Champions League.

 

New bhoy Engels makes huge international landmark

 

The development of Arne Engels took another huge step forward last night when he started for Belgium against Italy in the Nations League.

 

The team sheet for the match was loaded with players from Europe’s leading clubs with the Celtic man in good company with four appearances this season in the Champions League.

 

After coming on as a substitute against Israel and France, Belgian boss Dominic Tedesco gave the midfielder his first international start.

 

When Engels made the switch from Bundesliga side Augsburg to the SPFL there were a few sceptics questioning the decision.

 

Not that he needs to prove himself but last night’s competitive debut for Belgium reinforces the view that Celtic was the perfect step for him as his career development accelerates.