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Sir Kenny Dalglish: Old Firm Australian friendly message was a wee bit messy and disjointed

© Mark Runnacles / Shutterstock FeedRangers’ Charlie McCann takes a shot in yesterday’s City of Glasgow Cup tie between the Old Firm’s B teams at Airdrie. It was played behind closed doors. In November, the first teams will be playing in front of 83,000 in Sydney, Australia
Rangers’ Charlie McCann takes a shot in yesterday’s City of Glasgow Cup tie between the Old Firm’s B teams at Airdrie. It was played behind closed doors. In November, the first teams will be playing in front of 83,000 in Sydney, Australia

Very rarely do Celtic and Rangers supporters agree on anything these days. But most are united in their condemnation of their clubs’ trip to Australia.

The Old Firm will make the 21,000-mile round trip to take part in the Sydney Super Cup, and will play against each other on Sunday November 20.

It has been billed as “Ange Postecoglou’s Homecoming”, and Rangers fans do not like themselves being seen as some sort of support act.

The Celtic support are also irked by this four-team tournament.

Many feel their club should not be helping to give their biggest rivals a healthy financial sum by riding on Ange’s popularity.

Some believe their board of directors should not be promoting the “Old Firm” brand anymore.

Supporters back their club financially and vocally, and they are entitled to their opinions.

They should never, ever be ignored. If you don’t take heed of their point of view, you could be heading for a slippery slope.

What is clear is there should have been a coordinated announcement of this tournament.

There has been a lack of cohesion and different messages put out.

Celtic appeared to take the lead on it, and got in first to bill it as “Ange’s Homecoming”, but the Old Firm fixture wasn’t mentioned.

A couple of days later, Rangers issued a statement to help explain and justify their reasons for getting involved, and the Celtic clash was mentioned.

It all looked a wee bit messy and disjointed.

Rangers have made it clear that they stand to earn a huge cash windfall from this tournament, as much – if not more – than they receive from anything the SPFL offers.

A financial injection such as this will allow Giovanni van Bronckhorst to be more flexible in the transfer market, and perhaps attract a better quality of player.

The same applies to Ange at Parkhead.

In midweek, both Celtic and Rangers fans were highly vocal in their objections to the Australian adventure.

So right now, it is all a little bit delicate, and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds in the coming days and weeks.

Whatever fans here think of it, at least Old Firm fans in Australia and nearby countries will get the chance to go to see their team play.

It’s scheduled for an 83,000-capacity stadium, and I’d be surprised if it doesn’t sell-out.

There will be another packed stadium on Thursday night when Rangers play Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League.

Ideally, Giovanni will want to take some sort of lead over to Serbia and, whatever happens, there will be work required in the second leg.

This tie will last the full 180 minutes. It will not be settled at Ibrox.

Rangers, obviously, can take heart for what they achieved against Borussia Dortmund. That tie, particularly, their home leg will have taught them so much.

They had to defend for long spells and cope with a highly-talented German side.

They soaked up pressure and counter-attacked well, and Giovanni will want the same again this week from Ryan Kent, Joe Aribo and Alfredo Morelos.

Allan McGregor will also be called into action. In the past three or four seasons, he has been outstanding in Europe.

He has made save after save after save. His contribution under Steven Gerrard and Giovanni has been enormous.

The Rangers fans will also be important, and the club stands a better chance of being successful in this tie if there is unity on and off the park.

It is a night for putting the frustration and anger over the Australia trip to one side.

It is 90 minutes for getting right behind the manager and the players.