John Barnes insists Celtic can close the gap on rivals Rangers after Steven Gerrard’s mid-season departure.
The Hoops trail the champions by seven points with a game in hand having finished a whopping 25 points behind the Light Blues last season.
Barnes - who had an ill-fated nine-month spell in charge at Parkhead - reckons Giovanni van Bronckhorst will take time to put his stamp on the Gers.
And the former Liverpool and England icon believes Ange Postecoglou and his men can capitalise on the Ibrox transition.
Barnes told BonusCodeBets : “Even with Gerrard at Rangers Celtic had an opportunity to close the gap.
“They’re going to get closer this season and it may take Van Bronckhorst time to put his stamp on the Rangers team.
“Their success was a combination of things. Steven didn’t improve them overnight.
"They were nowhere near Celtic in his first year, got closer in the second and then won the title.
“Managers in the past haven’t been given that time and support. But Rangers supported Gerrard and gave him money, and the support he had was fantastic.”
