Former Celtic defender Ramon Vega feels that his old club and Rangers should be working together for the betterment of Scottish football right now, despite the rivalry between the two clubs, speaking to The Scottish Sun.
Vega spent a short time on loan at Celtic during the 2000/01 season under Martin O’Neill, making 18 appearances in total for the Hoops.
Now purported to be a football finance expert, he’s been asked for his opinion on the situation in Scottish football.
Like many other countries, a public health crisis is unfolding and has resulted in the suspension of football.
With that likely to put a financial strain on every club up and down the leagues, Vega has called on Celtic to show a united front with Rangers and help clubs further down the football pyramid.
As quoted by The Scottish Sun, he said: “There is plenty time in the future for Celtic and Rangers to rekindle their rivalry. Just now surely it should be all about these two massive clubs getting together and helping the smaller Scottish teams.
“It should be about them and the other big teams in the country leading from the front. If they attempt to help everybody I think the other clubs would appreciate it.
“This is the perfect time to show what they are all about. The stronger ones will survive, but there is an obligation on them to help.
“If they can cut back a little and provide assistance then the whole pyramid has a better chance of getting through this period. The smaller clubs are the ones who will struggle the most.”
Vega’s intentions are sound here but I think he might be being a little bit optimistic about the willingness of Celtic and the Ibrox side in working together in any sort of financial sense.
It’s unlikely that many fans of either side would be supportive of that in any case.
There’s obviously nothing wrong with taking a leadership role and as the two biggest clubs in the country, perhaps we should be hearing more from decision-makers at both outfits.
As for providing financial assistance to other clubs, that has never really been Celtic’s style.
I suppose, however, in such unprecedented times, anything could happen.
As has already been made clear though, Celtic are not immune to the challenges ahead and should be taking a self-interest view right now, after community and charity efforts, before turning their attention elsewhere.
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