Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has slammed Rangers for their media strategy this season ahead of the derby at the end of the month.
As we discussed earlier this summer, one of the first Scottish outlets to do so, the Ibrox side are charging press outlets a high fee for access to matches and media conferences.
The situation means that Steven Gerrard, and any brave opposition managers, are now facing a small group of Rangers fans representing websites like Follow Follow instead of established press outlets.
Sutton reckons it’s silly and will ensure rival bosses, including Ange Postecoglou, give it a swift swerve.
Writing in his Daily Record column, he explained: “The media stance is embarrassing for the league and it puts some of the opposition managers into a silly situation. I’m told Livingston boss David Martindale was being quizzed by those Rangers fan outlets after last week’s game at Ibrox.
“What sort of situation is that? How on earth can people who have no concept about what’s going on at Livingston manage to get any sort of proper information and news from another team’s manager to get across to their fans?
“Why will Ange Postecoglou, Jack Ross, or Stephen Glass or anyone else do post-match media at Ibrox in the coming weeks? That starves fans of info and, more importantly, the lack of coverage is going to have an effect on other clubs potentially with advertising.”
It’s fair to say Postecoglou definitely won’t be exposed to Rangers fans for a media conference win, lose or draw against the Ibrox outfit. The Greek-Australian takes charge of his first derby in just a few weeks time. Celtic are clever enough to avoid that scenario.
If Rangers want to be insular and pursue this media strategy, let them. It doesn’t mean others have to tolerate or entertain it, even if the Livingston boss was good enough to.
We’re all for fan media here at 67 Hail Hail for obvious reasons, but cash for access takes it too far, as does the exclusion of traditional press outlets. Not everything needs to be a war.
In other news, Celtic medical staff happy with James McCarthy’s individual training efforts.
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