There was little seasonal goodwill from some Hotline callers towards Allan McGregor after the Rangers keeper’s sporting integrity remarks.
As the fallout from the SPFL vote to bring forward the winter break grows, it was the former Scotland number one who came under fire.
Brian Allan emailed: “ McGregor questions the sporting integrity of moving the winter break forward, what is wrong with this man? It is being moved to help cut down the spread of the virus. St Mirren were also against the move but they also wanted the Celtic and Rangers games postponed due to Covid in the squad, so they are not sure what they want.”
Martin McGarrigle added: “McGregor is unhappy about the lack of ‘sporting integrity’ in moving the winter break forward while the United Kingdom is being ravaged by Covid, again.
“Is this the same goalkeeper that was part of the purported ‘same club’ who gained an unsporting advantage over all Scottish clubs for more than a decade? And he is now moaning about a ‘lack of sporting integrity’. He must be on the wind up.”
Harry Fitzpatrick, Ontario, said: “I find it funny the words ‘sporting integrity’ are mentioned by someone who plays for the club who for years has ignored the rules and who have been catered towards. Maybe McGregor should take a good look in the mirror.”
Rob Harvey, Kirkintilloch, said: “The SPFL's decision to bring forward the winter break flies in the face of the purpose of why the measures were introduced in the first place, which is to prevent transmission of Covid during this highly infectious period.
“They are kidding nobody if they think after two years it’s miraculously going to disappear in three weeks.
“Does anyone really think they will immediately return to full stadiums? The games should have gone ahead and prevented the spread, as was the intention.”
Kevin Kean emailed: “Rangers only opposed bringing forward the winter break because the game was at Celtic Park. If the game had been at Ibrox, they would have lost out on over £1m of gate money and with only 500 fans, the crowd advantage would have been lost.”
John Kerr, Airdrie, said: “Rangers fans need to get a reality check. It was not just Celtic who wanted to bring the winter break forward but nine other teams and don’t get me started on sporting integrity. Remind me what team bought players they couldn’t afford with their EBT schemes.”
Muir Fulton, Ayr, said: “With all the latest shuffling games about to give Celtic an advantage and the SPFL organising it, it’s not really a vote. We all knew the outcome because every time there is a vote, all clubs vote against Rangers.
“Back in the late 80s a legend by the name of Graeme Souness said, ‘no one likes us we don’t care’, he could see through them back then and never a truer sentence was said in Scottish football.”
All glad we got that out of our systems? Good.
On to the Boxing Day action and the gap remains six points between leaders Rangers and Celtic after wins for both against St Mirren and St Johnstone.
Alan McGaw, Alloa, said: "Job done. Another win with three points and, again, a clean sheet. Going into the early winter break six points ahead. Gio has done well as our new manager and even the players have put in extra shifts on the park. Aribo has been our player of the season so far."
David Bryce, Troon, said: "Well done to Celtic for winning on a shocking pitch, albeit against a poor Saints side. Abada and McCarthy had their best games for the club whilst Rogic was mesmeric yet again. Once again another hamstring injury to Kyogo, who is looking increasingly injury-prone. Our sports science department is failing us miserably!"
George Wilson, West Sussex, said: "Rangers are relentless and are going to win most games now despite the usual Celtic suspects on here saying it’s a season of two halves and Rangers will fold. They are winning easily and not conceding. Celtic are going to have to win nearly every game including beating Rangers at least twice and they are simply not good enough to do that."
John Campbell emailed: "I can’t understand why Sky persist using Boyd as a pundit. He is totally inept and his bias towards the the blue part of the city is plain to see. He forgets most of the goals he scored were deflected off his oversized body, that’s only when he could catch up with play due to his inability to run more than 20 yards without a lunch break."
And the final word goes to happy Hibee Kevin Lord, Edinburgh, who said: “I can’t wait to see Shaun Maloney stamp his style of how he wants to play against Hibs.
“It’s definitely a ‘chalk on your boots’ type of mentality for the wingers. Scottish football needs the boost and change of attitude he will bring.”
