Its becoming more and more evident that Celtic will play the Ibrox side early in the remaining 5 post split fixtures

With only one more game to go for Celtic before the split, everybody is eagerly awaiting the release of the fixtures once next weekend’s games are complete.

Last night on the Trinity Tims, we discussed the possibility of a title decider being played at Celtic Park against the Ibrox side.

I felt that it would be unlikely due to what happened at Ibrox in the aftermath of the Scottish Cup quarter-final.

Things were volatile enough at that game, without then throwing a title decider into the mix.

Its pretty clear this is something Police Scotland wishes to avoid.

And the stories in the Record this morning would indicate as much.

Former SPFL fixtures chief, Ian Blair, believes its highly unlikely a title decider between Celtic and the Ibrox side will be facilitiated.

Taking into consideration what happened at Ibrox a month ago, this doesn’t come as a surprise.

So its clear the fixtures will be organised to accommodate the least chance of a repeat of scenes like that.

That’s not to say that Celtic won’t face a title decider against Hearts at Celtic Park.

There’s still a distinct possibility that could be in the mix.

But I think you can rest assured we won’t be playing the Ibrox side in a potential title decider.

Ian Blair just cannot see Police bosses allowing it to happen.

He refers to the May 1999 League title decider, something I also alluded to on the podcast last night, as being one of the main reasons for this:

I was secretary back when we had the Celtic-Rangers game at Celtic Park over the May bank holiday in 1999, which proved to be the league decider. And that was quite a challenging night for all as I’m sure everyone remembers.

Since then, the police have definitely wanted to avoid, if it was possible, having league deciders between the two main contenders.

We have had a couple of occasions when it’s ended up being that way – there was one at in 2012 when Rangers won to stop Celtic winning the league at Ibrox and another derby clincher at Celtic Park during Brendan Rodgers ’ first stint in charge.

The 2012 and 2018 League deciders were no where near as volatile as the game at Celtic Park in 1999.

Simply because the Ibrox side were in no position to win the title in either of those fixtures.

It was a different story in May 1999.

Both teams were in a position to win it then.

With that comes added spice, and the added chance of unsavoury scenes.

Which is clearly going to be avoided at all costs this time around.

However, that doesn’t mean that the SPFL should take the enjoyment entirely out of this run in.

Blair believes that they will try to ensure the fixtures are set up in such a way that there will be as much drama as possible.

The question is, who will profit most from the way the they’re drawn up?

When questioned on it, here’s what Blair had to say:

There are two sides to it. One is that you do want to try and maintain the overall interest in the league, and particularly the interest in the championship itself, as long as you possibly can.

You want to have the drama of the helicopters turning around and Peter Martin going nuts in the commentary box. All of that is part of the folklore now of the split, so it’s not something you avoid. But equally, that cannot be the only thing that you consider.

In reality, there are an awful lot of things to consider.

But the likelihood is that we’ll face the Ibrox side early post-split.

Personally, I see that as our most difficult fixture, so in a way, I’d rather get it out of the way.

If we win, then that’s a precious 3 points taken from them, and we can focus on getting the maximum from the remaining fixtures.

Losing that game could be a devastating blow for them.

Following that, they would still have to travel to Tynecastle to play Hearts.

So it could be a terrific psychological blow to the Ibrox side’s title aspirations.

Thus making them very fragile thereafter.

Ian Blair also believes there’s no way the police will allow possible title deciding games to be going on at Ibrox and Celtic Park at the same time:

You have to look at sequencing of fixtures, you have to look at where policing resources might come into it. For example, I can’t imagine the police agreeing to have a game at Celtic Park and a game at Ibrox at the same time.

And of course, on the final day of the season, you want them on the same time, because you don’t want anybody to have prior information and all the rest of it. So that’s a challenge to it as well. I genuinely will be fascinated to see what the fixtures look like when they come out.

All in all, it makes for the most intriguing split fixture planning we’ve seen in a long time.

No matter what the SPFL does, its going to be virtually impossible to reduce the drama factor.

They might try, but its unlikely to work out that way.

One thing we know for certain is that Celtic will have four home games.

Four cup finals.

If our board doesn’t ensure that we have Celtic Park packed to the rafters for those four fixtures?

Well, then they’re actively hampering our chances of winning this title.

Then again, it wouldn’t be the first time they’ve sabotaged anything this season, would it?

Surely they’ll do the decent thing and give us the best fighting chance?

Surely?

Won’t they?

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