Bhoycie 
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MAY 16: Hearts' Lawrence Shankland (centre) looks dejected during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian at Celtic Park, on May 16, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Celtic Supporters Should NOT Fear the Arrivals of Last Season’s SPFL Bridesmaids.
It seems that Derek McInnes is set to join his boyhood hero’s this Summer. Or so he thinks.
It has became more and more apparent that Rangers 2.0 is exactly just that.
Gone are the heady days of £12m strikers, EBT loaded squads and Tainted Titles.
Rangers 2.0 have to live in the real world now – to be honest that is the only reason McInnes has been offered the gig for a second time, and he knows it.
I love the Close Season for many reasons.
From a Celtic perspective it gives you a chance to find out how many of our Supporters are actually Keeping Their Eyes on The Board for real and how many were simply kicking and stomping their feet due to some poor results.
The number is growing – spectacularly this Summer compared to previous ones.
Finally many are seeing past the usual Domestic Bliss green tinted optics and are seeing this incapable Board for what they are.
Hallelujah.
Another reason to enjoy the Summer of course is the Pre Season Cup Tournament is already fully under way and as usual the red hot favourites have made a storming start as they look to retain their title for the millionth time in a row.
The Summer of Staunch you could call it this year as they bring in Two Lads Who Had A Dream.
Yes, the pair were crucial in Hearts surging clear of the club they are now joining and securing a 2nd placed spot behind the biggest Club in Scotland – Glasgow Celtic.
With no European football to worry about, a huge point gap at the top at one stage and Celtic having 4 different managerial spells in the one season, Hearts secured a silver medal.
Their seemingly outgoing manager McInnes has plenty of those to admire in his collection.
With each Silver he has achieved in Scotland over the years at both Aberdeen and Hearts, it has been Celtic who’ve taken the Gold.
If he can secure the same at Rangers then they will have made serious progress from this Season’s 3rd place finish after a £40m spend.
Of course his talisman has already signed for the Club with Conference League Group Stage Football guaranteed.
With Derek to follow Shankland shortly it is a reunion to make this The Summer of Staunch.
It will be seen as a coup to attract the player reportedly on £25,000 a week at Tynecastle last year.
After a stunning 13 goals in his clubs best SPFL Season in decades, it is clear to see the hype is justified…
Only 2 goals behind a much maligned yet title winning MIDFIELDER at Celtic – Benjamin Nygren.
A goal-less, soul-less and invisible World Cup debut against the mighty Haiti surely had the Ibrox fans salivating.
His stock is so high and with his former boss arriving, it is inevitable the phone smasher will be the Rangers captain next year too.
This will also be lapped up in the Media, a master stroke from the 49ers who have really gotten so much right since arriving 12 months ago.
A penny for the thoughts of Hearts supporters who must now feel their season really was a flash in the pan keeping up with Celtic till the final day.
I have to admit though I am wary what they do next.
See, McInnes was what would seem a common sense appointment initially for Tony Bloom.
However was he perhaps the least stereotypical Jamestown Analytics appointment they have made?
Was the decision to go for McInnes one that allowed them to transition in to Scottish Football?
I have to admit, I am far more concerned with who is next in line for that job and what their succession planning looks like than I am at the usual madness across the City.
A striker upgrade to partner Braga – incidentally a player Celtic could and should be enquiring over.
A manager upgrade to Celtic’s chief Bridesmaid McInnes.
A crack at qualifying for the Champions League.
(Imagine our Board trying to style that one out if Hearts were to qualify and we were not!)
Yep, I would be definitely keeping a more concerned eye on our Edinburgh rivals during the Summer of Staunch festival.
Hearts may be runners up for the first time in the Pre Season Cup this year but I feel that will be McInnes only taste of Gold with Rangers 2.0.
Eric Knott 
Aodhán Ó Conchobhair 
Three managers in a year , third place , Champions League gone , not even a cup to show for £40m + spent
and the media are now hailing their new owners as geniuses because they’ve started raiding the team who finished 2nd
Exactly this mate
Our only concern should be Desmond and his cabal of corporate greed and austerity fc, they do not care anything about this club they care only about money and every season it gets worse , Martin O’Neil saved their skin last seasons and now they will have no compunction about throwing him under the bus , Desmond wanted Rabbi tel aviv Keane that should speak volumes about Desmond and his cabal. Stop giving them your money or you are complicit