Celtic are supposedly in crisis, while Rangers are said to be on the rise. Every summer follows the same script: sections of the Scottish media hand out the pre-season trophies before a competitive ball has even been kicked, and once again they are heading to Ibrox. This year, Derek McInnes is the latest figure to receive that unwavering optimism. To former Rangers players and pundits, he is not merely a solid appointment; he is being cast as the man destined to restore Rangers to glory. Kris Boyd (only in the studio for a carry on) has praised McInnes as a manager with “strong beliefs” who is “confident in his own ability”, speaking of his work at Aberdeen and Hearts as if Rangers have uncovered a managerial mastermind.
Andy Halliday has also talked up the appointment, presenting Rangers as a club making shrewd decisions while questioning Celtic’s direction. He recently described Celtic as “not a well-run club”, a striking claim given they have just won another domestic double. Are there issues at Celtic? Certainly. Recruitment, the speed of transfer business and uncertainty around parts of the backroom staff all deserve scrutiny. But context matters. This is a club that has just completed another double. This is a club that has had Martin O’Neill in place for a year. This is a club that remains the dominant force in Scottish football. Meanwhile, Rangers have won one league title since 2011.
Yet the media narrative casts Celtic as dysfunctional while Rangers are always portrayed as being on the verge of revival. Imagine if Celtic had appointed a manager with a record against Rangers as poor as Derek McInnes’ record against Celtic. Questions would immediately be asked about mentality, ambition and whether he had the credentials to lead the club. Instead, McInnes is being framed as a saviour.
Boydy has also argued that McInnes finishing second with Aberdeen and Hearts was “like winning the league”. It is an extraordinary claim. Finishing second deserves some credit, but when did repeatedly coming up short against Celtic become evidence that a manager is ready to overtake them?
Even more striking is how readily parts of the Scottish media seem to overlook uncomfortable facts. Mr Disgusting McInnes has previously been filmed singing a sectarian song about wading through people’s blood. In almost any other context, involving different clubs or individuals, that would prompt widespread debate and demands for accountability.
This is the wider problem with Scottish football journalism. Too much of the coverage is driven by former Rangers players or individuals with Rangers connections. Their opinions are perfectly entitled to be aired, but when the same voices dominate the conversation year after year, the narratives become predictable.
Before that, Keith “I see billionaires” Jackson had pushed the “missing minute” narrative. For weeks, questions were asked, suspicions raised and conspiracy theories allowed to grow. The implication was clear: something was not right. But when the officials’ audio emerged, the central claim fell apart. The match had been completed, the referee had ended proceedings, and there was no abandoned fixture, hidden scandal or smoking gun. Celtic supporters are entitled to ask why the collapse of the story received nowhere near the same coverage as the allegation itself.
Then came cheeky chappie Coisty on TalkSPORT. Rather than presenting evidence, he cited concerns allegedly raised during a phone call and claimed, “I’m hearing the possibility of corruption”. That is a serious allegation in any sport. Such claims demand evidence, not hearsay left hanging in public. Once corruption is raised, reputations can be damaged whether evidence exists or not, so what justified introducing it into the debate? To date, supporters are still waiting for an answer. Celtic lose a coach or take too long over a transfer, and it is portrayed as institutional decline. Rangers appoint a manager with a modest record against the country’s dominant club and suddenly the revolution has begun. It is pitiful.
If dominating Scottish football and winning doubles now qualifies as a disaster, what standard is success being measured against?
Holywell Street 
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